Jazz (Hopkins Award)

Myers, Walter D. Jazz. Ill. by Christopher Myers. New York: Holiday House, 2009. ISBN 9780823421732

 Walter Dean Myers has provided an excellent collection of poetry in Jazz. It begins with an interesting history lesson on the musical art form and ends with a glossary and time line. These added elements provide the reader with the background knowledge necessary to appreciate the poems on several levels, including sound and meaning. Vibrant imagery is used throughout, such as music that is “burning up the ceiling” in “Oh, Miss Kitty,” and the “blood dark studio” in “Session 1”. White space is used skillfully, like in “Stride” where it is used to show off the beat of swing music. Throughout the book, key words are emphasized in colorful embellished handwriting that contrasts with the straight white font of the poems, hinting at the spontaneity of jazz music. Bold paintings give another element of movement to the rhythmic, fluid poetry.

“Twenty-Finger Jack” is a joyful poem from Jazz that begs to be read aloud with a smile and some foot tapping. First listen to a little jazz music while reading the book’s introduction. Read the poem aloud, paying careful attention to line breaks as they build into the poems rhythmic structure.

Twenty-Finger Jack

Well, the walls are shaking,
and the ceiling’s coming down
‘Cause twenty-finger Jack
has just come back to town
The keyboard’s jumping,
and the music's going round
and round
If he had and sense,
he left if in the lost-and-found
Here he go

Be ba boodie, be ba boodie, boo
Be ba boodie, be ba ba ba, boodie, boo

There’s a steady beat walking,
and the melody’s talking, too
If you ain’t moving,
there must be something wrong with you
My knees don’t like it,
but my feet just got to dance
My heels can’t follow,
but my toes will take a chance

Be ba boodie, be ba boodie, boo
Be ba boodie, be ba ba ba, boodie, boo

Drop your blues,
and throw away that frown
‘Cause twenty-finger Jack
has just come back to town

After reading this poem give students drums, tambourines, and maracas. If no instruments are available, instruct students how to use open palms to make beats on their desk tops. Practice making steady rhythms as a class. Next, tie in what students have learned about fractions, having students create half beats and quarter beats. For an extension activity invite the local high school’s percussion line to play at your school.