Bebop Express [Library Binding]

H. L. Panahi (Author), Steve Johnson (Illustrator), Lou Fancher (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

The whistle's a-blowin',
the engine's a-pumpin' --
conductors are dancin'
and passengers jumpin'!
Quick! Climb aboard
the Bebop Express.

This rockin', rhythmic railroad adventure celebrates the uniqueness of America and the beboppin', doo-woppin' sound of jazz, from jammin' New York City all the way to New Orleans. With bold, powerful art by the "New York Times" best-selling team of Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher, H. L. Panahi's text comes alive with a pulse and beat all its own.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5-With a rhythmic "...chug-a chug-a Choo! Choo!" this train adventure is a cumulative expression of bebop. A New York saxophonist, a "slam-jammin'" drummer from Philadelphia, a bassist from Chicago, and a scat singer from St. Louis all head for New Orleans aboard the Bebop Express, "the jazziest train from the east to the west." Variations in font accentuate the onomatopoeia of the text. "Blee bah, blee bah./Doot doot bah!/Blee blee, doot doot./Blee! Doot! Wah!" Collages of vintage photos place jewel-toned figures on the train and in city streets. More alert readers will discover musical references in the text incorporated into the illustrations, the dining car's wallpaper design of fragmented instruments, and music notation on clothing, buildings, and puffs of smoke. Johnson and Fancher perfectly match the text's catchy repetition with a blur of images reflecting the speed of the instrumentalist.-Mary Elam, Forman Elementary School, Plano, TX
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

K-Gr. 2. There are a number of picture books that try to express the rhythms and power of jazz. This one does it better than many. Here the beat of jazz is tied into something children can relate to, the sound of the railroad train moving down the tracks from New York to New Orleans. Dense collage artwork is an essential part of the experience. This train is the Bebop Express, and passengers are rushing to climb aboard. A sax man's "blee blah, doot doot bah!" mingles with the chug of the "Choo! Choo!" At the Philly stop, a man beats his drum so fast that his arms are everywhere. Each stop brings another instrument, and in St. Louis, Song Lady's voice is as rich as buttermilk. In New Orleans, all the musicians jam. The rhyme of the text is punctuated by the sounds, but for kids to really get this, there should be music in the background. The terrific artwork needs no backup. The intricate collages use old photographs and vintage fabrics to obtain a unique look. Teeming with life, the art visually complements the noisy text; both say jazz. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Library Binding: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (May 24, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060571918
• ISBN-13: 978-0060571917
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 9.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,346,444 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars major success, August 3, 2005

By 

Nora Etheridge (jackson, mississippi) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bebop Express (Library Binding)

My grandaughter loves books, all books, I have always depended on reviews to help me select so I wanted to share her love of this book. She cannot get enough of it. We read it over and over, now she has it memorized and says it as we read, she is thrilled with it. We are using it to teach her in addition to her simple enjoyment of the rythm and story about muscial instruments, about cities and where they are and where they are located. I cannot recommend this book enough. I found myself reading it when she was not around. Great book, every child should have it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Captures the spirit of jazz for kids, December 10, 2008

By 

Mark M "Mark M" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bebop Express (Hardcover)

We initially checked out this book from the library, and now we're hoping to get it from my wish list for Xmas. Because my daughter and I really like this book. She likes it for the rhythms embodied in the text and the dynamic pictures. I like it because it captures the spirit of jazz in a kids book that: (A) isn't historical and boring; and (B) reflects the core features that make jazz special. Various instruments are introduced with text that play on their sounds and bright, colorful pictures. If you're an enthusiastic reader, you can really bring out the rhythms and sounds of jazz in a way that engages your little audience.

I'm always looking for books (and other ways) to pass the spirit of jazz along to my kids. This is one of the best that I've found.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Picture Book, March 29, 2006

By 

Jim "Jim H." (new york, ny) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bebop Express (Library Binding)

As a lover of jazz, and father of two young boys who love trains, I couldn't have been happier with Bebop Express. The language is funky and bold, offering even the youngest of jazz officianados a taste of the instruments and their sounds. This, coupled with absolutely beautiful illustrations helps to make the book a fun read. We've read it over and over again. My kids love to recite it, and we're always finding something in the collage-inspired artwork that we'd never seen before. A must have on your child's shelf!