JAZZ by Walter Dean Myers

Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award

Myers, Walter Dean. 2006. JAZZ. illustrated by Christopher Myers. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 9780823415458.

Beginning with an introduction and history of jazz, Walter Dean Myers presents various forms of jazz in poetic form.  Myers includes blues, modern jazz, ragtime, and swing. The poems in the book are beautifully written, with a two-tapping rhythm. While reading, you can feel the beat, and cannot help but move your body along with the words. JAZZ is a joyful celebration of the history of jazz and its beginnings in New Orleans. 

Christopher Myers illustrates the poems throughout the book using black ink and acrylic paints. The illustrator uses movements of the brush, along with the beats of the poems, make the illustrations come to life on the page. The colors are vibrant and exciting, something that children and adults will fall in love with. The font used in the poems play an important part of the book, as well. Words in the poems meant to be emphasized are larger, and in a curly style font. 

A glossary of jazz terms is included, giving definitions of words, such as chops, chord, fusion, and riff. Concluding the book is a "Jazz Time Line", starting with the 1800s in Congo Square, New Orleans. The time line then takes us through the Civil War and the first time that black musicians play for a white audience. 

The audio version of this book is sensational! Narrated by James 'D'Train' Williams and Vaneese Thomas, the book has backdrop of original jazz. The narrators sing and read the poems, setting the mood and tone. It is a beautiful combination of poetry and jazz. 

Spotlight Poem

OH, Miss Kitty

Oh, Miss Kitty,

she's as round as she is tall

I said Oh, Miss Kitty,

she's as round as she is tall

Ain't nothing about Miss Kitty

you would say is small

Dance, Miss Kitty

Dance till the break of dawn

You been dancing, Miss Kitty

Since the day that you were born

Oh, Miss Kitty

she's in love with the piano man

"Tickle them ivories, boy!"

Oh, Miss Kitty,

she's in love with the piano man

"Hit the white keys, too."

He's a slitty-eyed gangster

but plays like he got a plan

Dance, Miss Kitty

Dance till the break of dawn

You been dancing, Miss Kitty

Since the day that you were born

Classroom Activities

Play some samples of jazz music for the students and allow them to hear the rhythm.

After reading the above poem, or any poem in the book, stop and let students discuss the rhythm and sound they hear or see in their mind.

If you have access to the audio version, let students hear the performance of James 'D'Train' Williams and Vaneese Thomas.  Then, assign pairs or groups of students a poem from the book and have them read and perform the poem for the class. Consider allowing students to video their performances to show on the morning video announcements.