Carefully chosen details paint a portrait of a remarkable young person.
A profile of the early life of a 19th-century musical prodigy.
As a child, Amy Cheney Beach (1867-1944) hummed in perfect pitch and sang an entire anthem at age 2 to amazed family and friends. Ironically, her music-teacher mother, who had “strong religious beliefs” and didn’t want her child drawing attention to herself, was one of her biggest obstacles to progress. DeLems presents the ongoing battle and the child’s perseverance with an abundance of strong verbs: Aunt Franc, who ultimately intervened, “plopped” the 4-year-old on the piano bench. “Mama objected. Aunt Franc persisted. And Amy pounced into action.” Three original waltzes flowed out. Jay’s New Hampshire landscapes channel Grant Wood’s painting The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, with its saltbox homes and curving pathways. The crackle varnish on her oil compositions lends an aged appearance appropriate to the subject. Jay creates energy and interest by displaying classical composers dancing through the sheet music as Amy practices and Mother Goose characters skipping through dynamic musical staves as the girl composes her own melodies for the nursery rhymes. Readers see multiple images of her beautifully poised hands as she plays at her Boston Music Hall debut, indicating the fullness of her sound. The narrative concludes with that performance at age 16, but extensive backmatter covers the rest of her life. Amy was White, as are most of the characters depicted. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Carefully chosen details paint a portrait of a remarkable young person. (author’s note, photographs, timeline, glossary, bibliography, websites, places to visit, picture credits) (Picture-book biography. 5-10)Pub Date: March 21, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-66268-008-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Calkins Creek/Astra Books for Young Readers
Review Posted Online: Dec. 23, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
Blandly inspirational fare made to evoke equally shrink-wrapped responses.
An NBA star pays tribute to the influence of his grandfather.
In the same vein as his Long Shot (2009), illustrated by Frank Morrison, this latest from Paul prioritizes values and character: “My granddad Papa Chilly had dreams that came true,” he writes, “so maybe if I listen and watch him, / mine will too.” So it is that the wide-eyed Black child in the simply drawn illustrations rises early to get to the playground hoops before anyone else, watches his elder working hard and respecting others, hears him cheering along with the rest of the family from the stands during games, and recalls in a prose afterword that his grandfather wasn’t one to lecture but taught by example. Paul mentions in both the text and the backmatter that Papa Chilly was the first African American to own a service station in North Carolina (his presumed dream) but not that he was killed in a robbery, which has the effect of keeping the overall tone positive and the instructional content one-dimensional. Figures in the pictures are mostly dark-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Blandly inspirational fare made to evoke equally shrink-wrapped responses. (Picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: Jan. 10, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-250-81003-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
A work whose lyrical and artistic genius only becomes more apparent upon rereads.
A journey through American music history as shaped by Black artists and traditions.
Fittingly, given the U.S.’s long and complicated racial history, this work takes its title from the beloved hymn “Amazing Grace,” written by a slave trader turned abolitionist. The book begins on the African plains: “Listen to the fireside chorus / of the motherland / to the talking drums / dancing beneath the gold sun / that beat a bold tapestry / of yesterday’s stories / and tomorrow’s dreams.” Likewise, the author has created a beautiful tapestry, woven with song titles and musical references. With each introduction to a different genre, he implores readers to “listen.” Laced with powerful imagery, alliteration, and onomatopoeia (“BUM-DUN! BUM-DUN!”), his verse begs to be sung. Taking a comprehensive approach, Alexander explores regional styles such as go-go alongside internationally known genres, including gospel, jazz, and hip-hop. Palmer’s distinctive illustrations offer the perfect accompaniment. Bold colors set the mood, while his brush strokes evoke movement and convey strong emotion as he depicts everything from enslaved people joyfully dancing in New Orleans’ Congo Square to fists raised high for Black power to performances by Chuck Berry, Prince, Lauryn Hill, and other musicians. Detailed backmatter defines terms and explains the significance of the music referenced.
A work whose lyrical and artistic genius only becomes more apparent upon rereads. (Informational picture book. 5-10)Pub Date: Jan. 14, 2025
ISBN: 9780316442497
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Oct. 12, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2024
SEEN & HEARD
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