Jazz by Walter Dean Meyers

Jazz by Walter Dean Myers
  1. Bibliography
Myers, Walter Dean. Jazz. Holiday House, 2008. ISBN 0823421732.
  1. Plot Summary
A collection of fifteen poems, all centered around the title’s namesake, Jazz music. Walter Dean Myers takes the reader on a journey to discovering all that this music genre encompasses. Not only is jazz a type of music, but it is a life-style, stretching “From Mississippi to Harlem”. Myers mentions jazz great Louie Armstrong and discusses the many instruments used to create jazz music, such as piano, trumpet, bass, and drums.    
  1. Critical Analysis
This has not been one of my favorite reads, but that is okay because not everyone is going to like everything, all the time. I think the reason I didn’t like this read, was simply because I couldn’t really relate to it. Afterall, that is what poetry is; taking the message from an author and relating it to your own, personal life. As far as Jazz is concerned, I don’t really know much about this culture. I use the word culture, because there really is an entire culture behind the music. As expressed throughout the many poems, Myers shows readers how jazz music is apart of an everyday lifestyle. Whether it is Ms. Kitty “dancing till the break of dawn”, or the funeral of old Bob Johnson, “Every face is smiling and every eye is dry”,  jazz music makes an appearance. One thing that I did really like about this story was that at the end, there is a glossary full of jazz terms and a timeline of the development of jazz music. This helped a jazz newbie like me learn more about this musical genre. Because of these two added features, it will help students learn more about the genre, like it did for me. I highly recommend adding this to your classroom library, or even just your home library. This book is suited for all ages. 
  1. Review Excerpts
  • Publishers Weekly's 100 Best Books of the Year
  •  "A welcome addition to the literature of jazz."—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review 
  • Booklist Top Ten in Black History
  • "[A] mesmerizing verbal and visual riff on a uniquely American art form." —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
  • ALA Notable Children's Book
  1. Connections

  • When teaching the Harlem Renaissance, use this book to add more context to the literary movement.
  • Other poets that pair well with this reading are Gwendalyn Brooks and Langston Hughes.

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