In this toe-tapping jazz tribute, the traditional "This Old Man" gets a swinging makeover, and some of the era's best musicians take centre stage. The tuneful text and vibrant illustrations bop, slide, and shimmy across the page as Satchmo plays one, Bojangles plays two...right on down the line to Charles Mingus, who plays nine, plucking strings that sound "divine." Easy on the ear and the eye, this playful introduction to nine jazz giants will teach children to count - and will give them every reason to get up and dance! It includes a brief biography of each musician.

About the Author

KAREN EHRHARDT makes her picture-book debut with This Jazz Man. R. G. ROTH is a freelance illustrator whose award-winning work has been displayed in New York City.

Reviews

Gr 1-5-Karen Ehrhardt's lively retelling (Harcourt, 2006) of the traditional song, "This Old Man," introduces nine African-American jazz greats, including Louis Armstrong, Charles Mingus, and Charlie Parker. For example, "This jazz man, he plays four/He conducts 'em through the score," is conductor and composer Duke Ellington. The musicians are identified by name in the back matter, where Ehrhardt provides biographical information about each one. The book perfectly captures the loose, improvisational rhythms of jazz. The CD enriches the experience with music and lively narration by James "D Train" Williams. The bright, bopping jazz score presents the creative energy of this most American of musical forms. The soundtrack also nods to the stars featured in the book. For instance, jazz man number seven is bebop pioneer Dizzy Gillespie. Adult jazz aficionados will recognize riffs on his classic "A Night in Tunisia" in the background as Williams reads about him. R.G. Roth's collage illustrations are seamlessly integrated with the audio component. Each performer's signature sound is represented in bright, colorful letters that span their double-page spreads. In this package, text, art, and sound work together to create meaning. Roth's bright palette also underscores the lively energy of the text and of the music it celebrates. An outstanding selection for classroom units or library programs about music or African-American history and culture.-Mary Landrum, Lexington Public Library, KY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

"This Jazz Man . . . is gentle and upbeat. Here the idea is that every great musician joins one big imaginary jazz band, and it's a whole lot of fun." The New York Times Book Review