This month we’re feaÂturÂing Jazz Day, a book that’s all about jazz and a phoÂtoÂgraph that recordÂed a moment in time, peoÂple at the top of their musiÂcal careers and peoÂple who were just getÂting startÂed. Author RoxÂane Orgill is familÂiar with the jazz culÂture; she’s writÂten sevÂerÂal books about the music and the peoÂple. IllusÂtraÂtor FranÂcis ValleÂjo took eleÂments of phoÂtogÂraÂphy, graphÂic design, acrylic, and pasÂtels to illusÂtrate his first book. This powÂerÂful team has received no fewÂer than six starred reviews for the picÂture book biogÂraÂphy they’ve creÂatÂed together.
In Jazz Day, each stoÂry is told with a poem, among them free verse, a panÂtoum, and a list poem. There are poems about the phoÂtogÂraÂphÂer, the musiÂcians, the young neighÂborÂhood boys who showed up for the phoÂtoÂgraph out of curiosÂiÂty, the jazz life, and the process of takÂing the phoÂto, Harlem 1958, which is famous for capÂturÂing a large numÂber of musiÂcians in their time, their clothÂing, their comÂmuÂniÂty, but withÂout their instruÂments (except for one guy, Rex StewÂart, but it earned him a poem).
In each BookÂstormâ„¢, we offer a bibÂliÂogÂraÂphy of books that have close ties to the the feaÂtured book. You’ll find books, webÂsites, and videos for a variÂety of tastes and interÂests. This month, we’re focusÂing on books about jazz, music, singers, and photography.
Downloadables
You’ll find more inforÂmaÂtion about RoxÂane Orgill on her webÂsite. The illusÂtraÂtor’s webÂsite will show you more of FranÂcis ValleÂjo’s portfolio.
BOOKSTORM TOPICS
Jazz MusiÂcians in PicÂture Books. Here you’ll find excelÂlent picÂture books about jazz musiÂcians includÂing TromÂbone Shorty, John Coltrane, TheloÂnius Monk, Louis ArmÂstrong, Dizzy GilleÂspie, Mary Louise Williams, MelÂba LisÂton, Duke EllingÂton, and BenÂny GoodÂman. Many of these books help us underÂstand how the childÂhood of these renowned musiÂcians launched them into their careers.
Jazz Singers. Ella FitzgerÂald? Scat. Josephine BakÂer? ShowÂmanÂship. CivÂil rights. The SweetÂhearts of Rhythm? Swing musiÂcians who rose to promiÂnence durÂing the war. ExcepÂtionÂal books about excepÂtionÂal singers.
Jazz for OldÂer ReadÂers. From RoxÂane Orgill’s own book, Dream Lucky, one of the best books about jazz musiÂcians, to highÂly respectÂed books like Jazz 101, and The HisÂtoÂry of Jazz, and Marsalis on Music, there’s a lot of inforÂmaÂtion here to get you talkÂing proÂfiÂcientÂly about, and teachÂing, jazz.
PhoÂtogÂraÂphy. Art Kane wasÂn’t a phoÂtogÂraÂphÂer but he took one of the most famous phoÂtographs, Harlem 1958. But there are chilÂdren’s books about famous phoÂtogÂraÂphers such as GorÂdon Parks and Snowflake BentÂley. You’ll find more sugÂgesÂtions in the Bookstorm.
The Music. Your stuÂdents who are already interÂestÂed in rap or jazz rap or hip-hop or pop music, will be fasÂciÂnatÂed to lisÂten to the difÂferÂent genÂres of jazz music that came before … and we’ve includÂed URLs where you can find excelÂlent examÂples. Or perÂhaps you’re a jazz afiÂcionaÂdo and you have your own music to share.
WebÂsites. There are helpÂful webÂsites such as the Jazz EduÂcaÂtion NetÂwork and SmithÂsonÂian Jazz that will help you put togethÂer a mulÂtiÂmeÂdia set of lesÂson plans for explorÂing jazz, our most AmerÂiÂcan form of music.
Let us know how you are makÂing use of this BookÂstormâ„¢. Share your ideas and any othÂer books you’d add to this Bookstormâ„¢.