Jazz

 

Poetry Book Review

Bibliography:

Meyers, W. D. (2006). Jazz. Holiday House.

ISBN 0823421732

Plot Summary:

This beautiful book of poems by author Walter Dean Myers gives a look into the history of jazz, and each poem describes a different part of the style of music or pays homage to some of the greatest jazz artists. The vibrant illustrations, created by the author's son Christopher Myers, add a sense of movement and musicality to each poem. It is a creative and educational look at an influential music style.

Critical Analysis

Walter Dean Myers uses rhyme and rhythm to create a glimpse into the history of jazz. He uses rhyme, as well as free verse, to describe and demonstrate different aspects of the musical genre. He introduces famous musicians, instruments, and styles of jazz in each of his 17 poems. The different stylized texts also create a sense of movement and rhythm within the lines of each poem.

Illustrator Christopher Myers uses the technique of painting black ink on acetate and placing it over acrylic. His colorful illustrations add to the emotion of each poem. Very few straight lines in the images give the effect of movement throughout the illustrations on the book.

Review Excerpts:

"Awakens interest in listening." -School Library Journal, starred review

"This offering stands as a welcome addition to the literature of jazz... Excellent." -Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"The father-son Myers team has put together an absolutely airtight melding of words and pictures that is perfectly accessible to a younger audience." -Booklist, starred review

Connections

Music teachers and writing instructors can both find something to love about Jazz. Music teachers can utilize the book for jazz terms and style. Writing instructors can use the different poems to discuss poetic structures and figurative language, and have students apply those ideas to their own writing. This book is also a great peek into the lives of the musicians around the genre. 

Here are a few other titles with a similar theme of poetry and jazz:

Charlie Parker Plays Be Bop by Chris Raschka (ISBN 0531070956)

Little Melba and Her Big Trombone by Katheryn Russell-Brown (ISBN 1600608981)

Ellington Was Not A Street by Ntozake Shange (ISBN 9780689828843)

Before John Was a Jazz Giant by Carole Boston Weatherford (ISBN 9781250822703)

Awards

Christopher Myers received a Coretta Scott King Award Honor for his illustrations in Jazz in 2007.