jacky&andy+book+r

"Jazz Age Josephine"  by Jonah Winter  and illustrated  by Marjorie Priceman



This book is a great tool that can be used in the classroom. The story of a girl named Josephine that takes place in the middle 20th century during the age of jazz is a colorful plot of how Josephine grows as an individual. Josephine's creativity and freedom is constricted where she lives in St. Louis. During this time St. Louis is a shade of grey displaying a lack of enthusiasm and life. Josephine cannot stand this and learns to express herself through movements even when the rest to the city isn't. Josephine moves all around the world over time and sees the different styles of movement associated with music in different cultures. From St. Louis to New York to Paris Josephine is able to finally express herself through movement.

The author uses this inspirational story to depict how movement can be used as an expressive tool. Even though Josephine was not presented with many opportunities to express herself she still found her natural movements to show off who she is. This can be used to teach students about individual expression through movement. This book also has a great introduction into the different types of jazz dance! Priceman uses vivid colors in images to catch the eye of the reader. This book could also be used to teach students about following their dreams. Josephine tried many new things on her path of creating individual expression. Although some of these things did not work out, she continued to pursue her dream of finding herself. The combination of these two ideas presented in the book make "Jazz Age Josephine" a hot tool for teachers to use in all disciplines!

"Jazz" by Walter Dean Myers and illustrated by Christopher Myers
This text is a great way to introduce students to jazz. The ambiance of jazz is displayed through the use of picture and poetry. The author and illustrator together are able to take the reader on a journey through the history, major musicians, styles, instruments, and influences of jazz. Instruments are described using emotions. The glossary and historical timeline aid the reader in the understanding of this musical genre. The text is driven by the most important element of jazz: improvisation. Jazz is an expression of oneself. The use of poems to tell this story reflects the importance of expression.