Dig It!

“Then, like a chef stirring dinner in a pot, he put it all together and dished it out hot: 'Zop. TING! Zop-a doom baby. SWISH-zapa BOOM-zapa, ZEE-zah Ooooo!’” Matthew Gollub’s Jazz Fly knows that the secret to cool jazz is a hot mix of sounds that get an audience on its feet, moving and grooving along. Mixing some unexpected jazz into the curriculum beyond music class engages students on a visceral level, appealing to their creative side with its syncopated rhythms and soulful sounds. “If a melody was like a rule, jazz was like breaking the rules, like inventing new rules,” writes Jonah Winter in Dizzy. “Jazz was like getting in trouble—it was FUN!” Jazz particularly lends itself to interpretive design, and the picture books suggested here will count off the beat to get students creating their own verse and artwork. In Walter Dean Myers’s Jazz, supple poems dance with expressive paintings in an all-ages arrangement of visual and aural appeal. “A shaved reed tongue is crying/In the blood dark studio/Drums add bark and grumble/As a trumpet blares something rude.” And Wynton Marsalis’s Jazz A-B-Z astonishes in its variety of sophisticated verse tributes to jazz greats. “Charlie Parker plays perfect music./Pithy passionate phrases proclaim peace, pride, pain.”

In Becoming Billie Holiday, Carole Boston Weatherford writes, “Racism ripped America at the seams,/and jazz stitched the nation together/one song at a time.” Tracing the history of jazz through biographies of great singers and musicians reveals personal insights into race relations and social issues while evoking the excitement of this uniquely American musical genre. Similarly, fiction with a jazz theme puts readers in the middle of the action, from Harlem to southern California to New Orleans. Whether in literature or art class, music or social studies, add a little bebop and watch students dig it!

CROW, Kristyn. Cool Daddy Rat. illus. by Mike Lester. Putnam. 2008. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-399-24375-2.

K-Gr 2-Little rat Ace stows away in Daddy Rat’s bass case, accompanying his father on an all-night tour of the New York scene from Times Square to Soho, discovering along the way that he can scat, too. Comical, colorful watercolor and pencil illustrations swing with the clever zingy text, mixing rhyme, scat, and syncopation.

DILLON, Leo & Diane Dillon. Jazz on a Saturday Night. illus. by authors. w/CD. Scholastic/Blue Sky. 2007. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-590-47893-9.

K-Gr 4-An all-star band of jazz musicians gathers to perform the ultimate jam session before an enthusiastic audience. Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Ella Fitzgerald, and others thrill the crowd, depicted in muted, graphically stylized paintings against swirling backgrounds. An accompanying CD features the instruments solo and in ensemble.

EHRHARDT, Karen. This Jazz Man. illus. by R. G. Roth. Harcourt. 2006. RTE $16. ISBN 978-0-15-205307-9.

Gr 1-5–A traditional counting song becomes a lively jazz romp, with a prominent jazz artist featured in each verse. Bright, bouncy mixed-media collage illustrations offer clues to the nine musicians’ identities, which are revealed in brief bios at the book’s end and include Louis Armstrong, Charles Mingus, and Charlie Parker.

GOLLUB, Matthew. The Jazz Fly. illus. by Karen Hanke. w/ CD. Tortuga. 2000. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-1-889910-17-8.

PreS-Gr 1-The drummer fly for the Jazz Bugs combines all of the animal sounds he hears on his way to a gig into a scorchin’ scat solo that wows the Queen Bee. Bright pastel patches punch up the gray-toned computer-generated illustrations. Gollub narrates the CD with a joyous, jazzy beat.

MYERS, Walter Dean. Jazz. illus. by Christopher Myers. Holiday House. 2006. Tr $18.95. ISBN 978-0-8234-1545-8; pap. $8.95. ISBN 978-0-8234-2173-2.

Gr 5-9-Fifteen syncopated poems celebrate jazz genres including stride, bebop, vocal, blues, and a New Orleans funeral procession. Sinuous acrylic paintings overlay bold colors with black ink, depicting hot clubs and cool performers. The improvisational verse evokes the collaborative spirit of jazz and its historical roots, spotlighting New Orleans. Audio version available from Live Oak Media.

RASCHKA, Chris. Mysterious Thelonious. illus. by author. Scholastic/Orchard. 1997. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-0-531-33057-9.

Gr 1-5-In a stunningly imaginative tribute to pianist Thelonious Monk’s “Mysterioso,” Raschka pairs 12 musical tones with 12 values from the color wheel, then places patches of color on the page in an increasingly complex grid, using watercolor washes to create visual and aural harmonies around Monk and his piano.

ROBERTS, Brenda C. Jazzy Miz Mozetta. illus. by Frank Morrison. Farrar. 2004. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-374-33674-5.

Gr 2-5-Miz Mozetta persuades her apartment house neighbors to jitterbug to the Fat Cat Band on the radio, just like she danced at the Blue Pearl Ballroom as a girl. Colorfully clad, elongated twirling and jiving figures illustrated in pastels attract two young hipsters to their dance, showing the universal appeal of jazz.

SEEGER, Pete & Paul Dubois Jacobs. The Deaf Musicians. illus. by R. Gregory Christie. Putnam. 2006. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-399-24316-5.

K-Gr 3-Jazz pianist Lee loses his hearing and learns sign language. He recruits two other deaf musicians on sax and bass to “play” music, miming instruments with their hands and adding an interpreter on vocals. Rhythmic text and colorful paintings of their subway-station concerts depict performers enjoying imaginative collaboration.

WHEELER, Lisa. Jazz Baby. illus. by R. Gregory Christie. Harcourt. 2007. RTE $16. ISBN 978-0-15-202522-9.

PreS-It’s a movin’ and groovin’ dance party where parents, siblings, grandparents, aunt, uncle, cousins, and neighbors bop and swing, passing the wide-eyed baby from arm to arm in the heart of it. Simple vigorous verse accompanies vibrant gouache paintings depicting long-limbed, joyful people of varied hue dancing with abandon.

CREASE, Stephanie Stein. Duke Ellington: His Life in Jazz with 21 Activities. Chicago Review. 2009. pap. $16.95. ISBN 978-1-55652-724-1.

Gr 4-8–Numerous black-and-white photos illustrate this comprehensive and readable overview of Ellington’s life experiences and influences. Frequent sidebars highlight his musical contemporaries, significant events, and trends. Creative activities invite readers to compose music, build and play instruments, dance, design album covers, and explore various facets of jazz.

KIMMEL, Eric A. A Horn for Louis. illus. by James Bernardin. Random. 2005. PLB $13.99. ISBN 978-0-375-93252-6; Tr $11.95. ISBN 978-0-375-83252-9.

Gr 2-4-Growing up poor, young Louis Armstrong receives his first real trumpet as a gift from his Jewish employer in this fictionalized account based on an unpublished memoir. Expressive black-and-white drawings portray New Orleans life in 1908, illustrating a vibrant story rich in ethnic diversity and youthful longing.

PARKER, Robert Andrew. Piano Starts Here: The Young Art Tatum. illus. by author. Random/Schwartz & Wade. 2008. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-375-83965-8; PLB $19.99. ISBN 978-0-375-93965-5.

K-Gr 4-Impaired vision only increased Tatum’s early fascination with the piano, as recounted in a first-person narration of performing in church, for friends, and later in bars and on tour. Jewel-toned ink and watercolor paintings combine with an elegantly paced text to re-create Tatum’s world, appealing to scent, sound, and touch.

PINKNEY, Andrea Davis. Ella Fitzgerald: The Tale of a Vocal Virtuosa. illus. by Brian Pinkney. Hyperion/Jump at the Sun. 2002. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7868-0568-6; PLB $17.49. ISBN 978-0-7868-2493-9.

Gr 1-4-Feline hipster Scat Cat Monroe traces Fitzgerald’s life, from her teenage discovery at Harlem’s Apollo Theater through her career with Chick Webb’s and Dizzy Gillespie’s bands, all the way to Carnegie Hall. Colorfully muscular scratchboard-and-acrylic illustrations pop, and the scat-laced narrative sings with rhythm and excitement. Video and audio versions available from Weston Woods.

WEATHERFORD, Carole Boston. Before John Was a Jazz Giant: A Song of John Coltrane. illus. by Sean Qualls. Holt. 2008. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-8050-7994-4.

Gr 3-6-An evocative poetic text recalls the sounds Coltrane absorbed as a boy, from steam engines to sermons, bird song to sobbing. Moody, surrealist illustrations in acrylic, collage, and pencil set a soulful blue tone, with red ribbons of sound finally flowing from his saxophone, “every sound he’d ever known.”

WINTER, Jonah. Dizzy. illus. by Sean Qualls. Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine. 2006. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-439-50737-0.

Gr 3-8-Abused by his father and victimized by bullies, Dizzy Gillespie turned to his trumpet, and his penchant for breaking the rules led to his innovation of bebop. Acrylic collage illustrations in a muted palette complement the free-verse text tracing his career.

BOLDEN, Tonya. Take-off: American All-Girl Bands During WWII. w/CD. Knopf. 2007. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-0-375-82797-6; PLB $21.99. ISBN 978-0-375-92797-3.

Gr 5-8-Women played swing and jazz at home and on USO tours in the 1940s, despite gender and racial discrimination. Bolden interviewed women from three bands and relates their experiences through firsthand accounts. Written in breezy jazz vernacular, this title is studded with black-and-white photos. A CD of vintage girl-band jazz is included.

DELL, Pamela. Miles Davis: Jazz Master. (Journey to Freedom Series). The Child’s World. 2005. PLB $28.50. ISBN 978-1-59296-232-7.

Gr 5-8-Pioneer of cool jazz, Davis struggled with heroin addiction, a violent temper, and extreme shyness. Dell tells Davis’s personal story in a straightforward manner filled with the notable people who touched his life as he went on to experiment with funk and develop fusion. Illustrated with sepia-toned and color photos.

GOURSE, Leslie. Sophisticated Ladies: The Great Women of Jazz. illus. by Martin French. Dutton. 2007. RTE $19.99. ISBN 978-0-525-47198-1.

Gr 7 Up-Fourteen ladies of song are included in this lively compilation that ranges from Bessie Smith to Diana Krall. Childhood poverty, addictions, health challenges, and disordered lives are common themes in Gourse’s recounting of the singers’ individual experiences, influences, and accomplishments. Each entry is introduced with an expressive full-page color painting.

KALLEN, Stuart A. The History of Jazz. (The Music Library Series). Gale/Lucent. 2003. PLB $28.70. ISBN 978-1-59018-125-6.

Gr 7-10–A readable, chronological history of jazz, this volume emphasizes the genre’s American roots, from New Orleans ragtime through the Jazz Age, swing, bebop, cool jazz, hard bop, free jazz, and fusion. Black-and-white photographs, maps, and interesting sidebars enhance the fast-paced, thorough coverage of great musicians, cities, movements, and influences.

MARSALIS, Wynton. Jazz A-B-Z: An A to Z Collection of Jazz Portraits. illus. by Paul Rogers. Candlewick. 2005. Tr $24.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-2135-3.

Gr 7 Up-This astounding compilation features a snazzy poem for each of 26 jazz giants, penned by the musical legend himself. The poems, each written in a distinctly different style, go heavy on alliteration, rhythm, and syncopation. A large poster-style image in a muted palette portrays each musician, with bios in the back.

SHIPTON, Alyn. Jazz Makers: Vanguards of Sound. (Oxford Profiles Series). Oxford Univ. 2002. Tr $55. ISBN 978-0-19-512689-1.

Gr 9 Up-Fifty-plus jazz greats are profiled in this chronological history, progressing from roots through swing, piano, bebop, cool jazz, hard bop, and fusion to contemporary. Black-and-white photos, quick biographical sidebars, and discographies supplement the readable text with its emphasis on musical training and accomplishment.

STONE, Tanya Lee. Up Close: Ella Fitzgerald. (Up Close Series.) Viking. 2008. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-670-06149-5; pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-0-14-241264-0.

Gr 7 Up-Fitzgerald overcame a difficult childhood, rebellious teen years on Harlem streets, and overwhelming shyness to achieve legendary status as a jazz vocalist. This warm portrayal of her life, illustrated with black-and-white photos, offers keen insight into the racial prejudice faced by the performer and her fellow African-American musicians.

WEATHERFORD, Carole Boston. Becoming Billie Holiday. illus. by Floyd Cooper. Boyds Mills/Wordsong. 2008. Tr $19.95. ISBN 978-1-59078-507-2.

Gr 8 Up-One hundred conversational free verse poems comprise a first-person narrative of Holiday’s life, from her difficult childhood to her success as a singer. Softly colored mixed-media illustrations match the soul of the verse, touching the candidly emotional core. The poems’ titles are borrowed from Holiday’s repertoire.

CURTIS, Christopher Paul. Bud, Not Buddy. Delacorte. 1999. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-385-32306-2; pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-0-440-41328-8.

Gr 4-7-Ten-year-old Bud Caldwell flees his Michigan foster home to find the jazz musician he believes is his father, Herman Calloway. Embraced by Herman’s band but rejected by Herman himself, Bud provides unexpected proof of his story. Keen humor mixed with Depression-era hardship and the jazz scene result in a great read.

MYERS, Walter Dean. Harlem Summer. Scholastic. 2007. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-439-36843-8.

Gr 6-9-Mark Purvis, 16, works for W.E.B. du Bois and longs to play jazz with pianist Fats Waller in 1925 Harlem. Then Waller’s bootleg whiskey delivery disappears on Mark’s watch, and the Mob is after him. An all-star cast populates this humorous novel portraying the highlights and perils of the Harlem Renaissance.

RITTER, John H. Under the Baseball Moon. Philomel. 2006. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-399-23623-5; pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-0-14-241090-5.

Gr 7-10-Skateboarding California trumpeter Andy Ramos, 15, plays funky Latin jazz/rock/hip-hop/fusion and loves girlfriend Glory Martinez, a softball prodigy. Meshing their respective dreams becomes tricky, complicated by a mysterious man in black who promises Andy fast-track fame, in this comical novel shot through with notes of mysticism and legend.

TOWNLEY, Roderick. Sky: A Novel in Three Sets and an Encore. S & S/Atheneum. 2004. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-689-85712-6.

Gr 7-10-Avant-garde Alec “Sky” Schuyler, 15, and his widowed dad disagree with increasing vehemence about his passion to play jazz piano. When Sky finally runs away, he encounters a blind black pianist who teaches him about music and life. A rich story set in 1959 New York City’s beatnik scene.

VOLPONI, Paul. Hurricane Song: A Novel of New Orleans.Viking. 2008. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-670-06160-0.

Gr 8 Up-Miles, 16, has just moved in with his jazz trumpeter dad when Hurricane Katrina hits New Orleans. They escape their nightmarish shelter in the Superdome, worried about their favorite jazz joints. Confronting looters stealing a club’s piano, father and son retune their rocky relationship amid violence in the Big Easy.