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Primary Junior Music, Drama & Dance
A Selection of Music, Drama & Dance Children's Books
When Louis Armstrong Taught Me Scat by Animated Read-Aloud
In a CRACKITY-SNAPPITY-POPPITY-POP bubblegum dream, a young girl learns to scat from the master himself, Louis Armstrong! Written in prose and scat with wild and wonderful illustrations by R. Gregory Christie, this joyful tribute is downright contagious. CHEW-ITEE CHEW-ITEE CHEW-ITEE CHOP, CRACKITY SNAPPITY POPPITY POP!
Annie's Gifts by Call Number: Available OnlineTells the story of a family that loves music and plays instruments well, except for Annie, but Annie finds her own special gifts.
Before John Was a Jazz Giant by Young John Coltrane was all ears. And there was a lot to hear growing up in the South in the 1930s: preachers praying, music on the radio, the bustling of the household. These vivid noises shaped John's own sound as a musician. Carole Boston Weatherford and Sean Qualls have composed an amazingly rich hymn to the childhood of jazz legend John Coltrane. Before John Was a Jazz Giant is a 2009 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book and a 2009 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.Ben's Trumpet by
Ben wants to be a trumpeter, but plays only an imaginary instrument until one of the musicians in a neighborhood night club discovers his ambition.
Fiddle Dancer by "While spending time with his grandfather Nolin discovers his Métis heritage and the importance that Elders have as role models. He conquers a childs apprehension at learning new things and forms a special bond with his grandparents."--Publisher's description.
Island in the Sun by Call Number: Available OnlineTaken from lyrics to a calypso song co-written with Lord Burgess, famous entertainer Harry Belafonte tells of his childhood days growing up amidst the bright colors and sounds of Jamaica. Reprint.
Jingle Dancer by The affirming story of how a contemporary Native American girl turns to her family and community to help her dance find a voice. Jenna loves the tradition of jingle dancing that has been shared by generations of women in her family, and she hopes to dance at the next powwow. But she has a problem--how will her dress sing if it has no jingles? The cone-shaped jingles sewn to Grandma Wolfe's dress sing tink, tink, tink, tink. Jenna's heart beats to the brum, brum, brum, brum of the powwow drum as she daydreams about the clinking song of her grandma's jingle dancing. The warm, evocative watercolors of Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu complement author Cynthia Leitich Smith's lyrical text in this picture book. Perfect for classroom and library sharing.
The Man with the Violin by Winner of the 2014 TD Children's Literature Award Now in paperback! Dylan is someone who notices things. His mom is someone who doesn't. So try as he might, Dylan can't get his mom to listen to the man playing the violin in the subway station. But Dylan is swept away by the beautiful music that fills the air as crowds of oblivious people hurry past. This gorgeous picture book is based on the true story of Joshua Bell, a world-renowned classical violinist who famously took his instrument down into the Washington D.C. subway for a free concert. More than a thousand commuters rushed by him, but only seven stopped to listen, most of them children. Kathy Stinson's vividly imagined text combined with Dusan Petričić's illustrations that pulse with energy and movement, expertly demonstrate the transformative power of music. With an afterword by Joshua Bell.
The Minstrel Boy by "Winner of the Canadian Children s Book Centre Choice: Best Books for Kids & Teens" David Baird, a talented young rock musician, accompanies his estranged father to Wales. Fleeing after a quarrel, David has a bizarre motorcycle accident which hurls him back in time to medieval Prydein. A variation on the Arthurian legend, The Minstrel Boy introduces us to Merlin as a stern music teacher who takes David under his wing and a young King Arthur who becomes his friend. David eventually wins the respect of the town with his strange but beautiful songs, becoming a popular minstrel boy and quickly settling into the rhythm of this ancient society. Amidst a whirlwind of conflict and romance, David discovers a new path for his music, the source of his troubled dreams, and the heart he never knew he had. "
The Piano Recital by As Momo nervously waits for her first piano recital, she tells herself, 'I'll be okay... I'll be okay...' Then she hears a voice nearby, also saying, 'I'll be okay... I'll be okay...' It's a mouseling, who's nervous about her first performance, too. The mouseling invites Momo through a small door backstage, where Momo is amazed to find a miniature theatre filled with an audience of finely dressed mice! When it's the mouseling's turn, Momo agrees to accompany her on piano. The mouse audience is so appreciative! But then, as she rises to take her bow, Momo is surprised to discover - it isn't a mouse audience at all!
Play, Mozart, Play! by Listen. A little boy named Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is playing the piano. Look. He is playing backward! He is playing blindfolded! Imagine. What must his life be like? Play, Mozart, play! Acclaimed artist Peter S s introduces very young children to the child genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in this picture book tribute to the beauty of listening, looking, imagining, and -- most of all -- playing!
The Orchestra Pit by When a slightly befuddled but surprisingly endearing snake wanders into the wrong pit--the orchestra pit--peculiar things start to happen. A well-meaning snake interacts with the orchestral instruments, scares the musicians and conductor, and causes general chaos in this sweet and funny book by Johanna Wright, author ofBandits andBunnies on Ice. A Neal Porter Book
Frida Kahlo by Discusses the life of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, including her childhood, her art, and her marriage to Diego Rivera.
Great Musicians from our First Nations by Michael Bucher (Cherokee) : vocalist and composer of music to protect sacred sites -- Mary Youngblood (Seminole/Aleut) : Native American flutist -- Crystal Shawanda (Ojibwa) : country music singer -- Blackfire (Navajo) : punk rock and traditional Navajo -- Leela Gilday (Dene) : vocalist and composer with a message of hope and empowerment -- Four Rivers Drum (variety of tribal affiliations) : pow wow drum group -- Jamie Coon (Creek/Seminole) : vocalist combining jazz and pop rock -- Mato Nanji (Nakota Sioux) : guitarist and leader of the band Indigenous -- Shane Yellowbird (Cree) : country music singer -- Gabriel Ayala (Pascua Yaqui) : classical guitarist.
Indigenous Peoples in Arts and Music by Introduces the art and music of Indigenous Peoples from across Canada.
I Want to Be a Musician by The I Want to Be... series gives young children a realistic insight into the working day of adults. Easy-to-read captions and colour photographs of women and men from different cultures help children understand what's involved in each occupation. Young readers learn to respect the importance of doing a job well and appreciate the contributions these workers make to our life and the world around us. These books are perfect for reading alone or in group story times. They are certain to spark questions and encourage dialogue and prompt children to learn more about these occupations. I WANT TO BE A MUSICIAN is a behind-the-scenes look at the professional musicians who compose and perform the live and recorded music we hear everyday. AGES: 4-7 AUTHOR: Dan Liebman is a magazine writer and the author of many children's books. He is a specialist in plain language for both young and adult readers. ILLUSTRATIONS: Colour photographs
Jazz on a Saturday Night by Two-time Caldecott Medalists Leo and Diane Dillon open your heart with the pure magic of a "dream team" jazz session. Bright colours and musical patterns make the music skip off the page in this toe-tapping homage to many jazz greats. From Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, and Thelonious Monk to Ella Fitzgerald, here is an evening sure to knock your socks off. Learn about this popular music form and read a biography of each player, featured at the end of the book. From start to finish, here is a book to share and savor again and again.
The Voice That Challenged a Nation by 2005 Sibert Medal Winner A 2005 Newbery Honor Book "A voice like yours," celebrated conductor Arturo Toscanini told contralto Marian Anderson, "is heard once in a hundred years." This insightful account of the great African American vocalist considers her life and musical career in the context of the history of civil rights in this country. Drawing on Anderson's own writings and other contemporary accounts, Russell Freedman shows readers a singer pursuing her art despite the social constraints that limited the careers of black performers in the 1920s and 1930s. Though not a crusader or a spokesperson by nature, Marian Anderson came to stand for all black artists -- and for all Americans of color -- when, with the help of such prominent figures as Eleanor Roosevelt, she gave her landmark 1939 performance on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, which signaled the end of segregation in the arts. Carefully researched, expertly told, and profusely illustrated with contemporary photographs, this Newbery Honor and Sibert Medal-winning book is a moving account of the life of a talented and determined artist who left her mark on musical and social history. Through her story, Newbery Medal-winning author Russell Freedman, one of today's leading authors of nonfiction for young readers, illuminates the social and political climate of the day and an important chapter in American history. Notes, bibliography, discography, index.
When I Get Older by Somali-Canadian poet, rapper, singer and songwriter K'naan tells his own story. When the Somali Civil War began in 1991, K'naan was just thirteen. His mother made the difficult decision to move her family so that they could grow up in safety. First in New York and then in Toronto, K'naan faced many challenges. Like so many other immigrants, he had to make a place for himself in a world of alien customs, clothes, and language. His road was a hard one and he lost many friends to violence.
