Customer Reviews

The Blues of Flats Brown

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Friends are more important than money. Making music is better than fighting. These are the two lessons Myers successfully conveys in this story. The language used in this tale flows like the words in a blues song. Although I widh that the dogs were a little less anthropomorphically drawn (Flats looks like a teenager in a dog suit), the illustrations reflect the "down home" tone of the story. Overall, this is an excellent picture book.

Walter Dean Myers has written many children's books with musical themes. Both his book "Jazz", as well as "Blues Journey", are illustrated by his son Christopher. I just got this earlier book with illustrations by Nina Laden. I can't say I'm as impressed by Laden's characterization of "Flats", the young dog blues player, but she gets the older characters right. Myers continues to write his stories with the real slang of the south and this can lead to further discussion by the young reader (or the person reading this to others) of what these words mean.

This is a simple book in a value-priced paperbound format. I collect blues records and, the fact that, the history of blues singers is getting exposure to young children is the reason I'm recommending this book. Check out the other books that Myers (the senior one) has authored. Nearly all of them flow like a nice three-stanza blues (one of which -including the tablature - is included on the last page.).

Steve Ramm
"Anything Phonographic"

This was a very cute story about the desire of two animals that wanted to follow their dream, to play blues music. It also shows that fighting is not something you have to do, even if you are pushed into it. The author made a point of explaining to the reader that if you show someone kindness and caring (even though they may not be kind or caring), it may turn that person's feelings around. This is a wonderful story that has several themes, and should be shared with children.