Wynton Marsalis and Paul Rogers, through both of their genius, have
created a children's book, that quite frankly, any parent would want to
keep for themselves. With poetic, jazzy, riff-like text and big, bold
illustrations so magnificent they should be featured in any art museum,
Jazz ABZ: An A to Z Collection of Jazz Portraits
will delight young children as well as adults
who have a deep appreciation for jazz.
Utilizing the alphabet for his guide, Marsalis
features every jazz great from A for Armstrong to Z for Dizzy. Detailed
biographical sketches of the artists written and compiled by Phil Schaap and
notes on poetic style round out the book. Plus, there is a music list of
suggested songs to listen to while reading the book to your children as
well as a Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra poster in the back. This is
definitely a book you should get two copies of -- one for your children
and one for you -- to sit down and read with a nice cup of coffee and Ella
singing some tunes.
Parents and children alike will adore this book
about heroism, ingenuity, escape and bravery.
The Patchwork Path: A Quilt Map to Freedom
shares a story about a slave girl and
her father's flight to freedom by leaning on
nothing more than their recollections and the codes
lovingly sewed into their quilt.
The Patchwork Path: A Quilt Map to Freedom
serves as a resourceful book to teach one's
children about the brilliance of slaves who
wanted nothing more than to be free.
Those Shoes
Written by
Maribeth Boelts
Illustrated by Noah Z. Jones Candlewick Press
5 - 8 years, K-3
Those Shoes is a heartwarming
story of a poor boy, Jeremy, who lives with his
grandmother. All Jeremy can think about are the
new shoes all the children in school are
wearing. He quickly becomes the laughing stock
of the cool kids because a guidance
counselor gives him tennis shoes with Velcro -- no
less -- to wear
after noticing the soles of his shoes had come
undone.
Like every kid who wants to fit in, Jeremy
begs his grandmother for a pair of "those shoes"
but they are too expensive for her small budget.
Those shoes teach Jeremy a timeless lesson about trying
to fit in and finding greater meaning and
purpose in life.
Those Shoes is a wonderful
story overflowing with robust illustrations and
oozing with a moral lesson all children should learn.
Those Shoes
will aid children in
understanding that material possessions,
although nice, are not
nearly as important
as the love of family and the thrill of having
good friends.
