Song Shoots Out of My Mouth: A Celebration of Music [Hardcover]

Jaime Adoff (Author), Martin French (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 11, 2002

Each word running fast across lips./A direct line to my hips, twist and shake./My voice another arm, another leg./My throat the Cape Canaveral of my soul.

This rockin' collection of twenty-four dynamic, original poems vividly captures a variety of musical experiences from the teen perspective. From playing in the school band to playing air guitar, from performing a favorite song to dreaming of stardom, the power of music is explored in passionate text and bold, energetic illustrations.

The rhythm and language of each poem reflect a different musical genre, including classical, hip-hop, jazz, folk, and reggae. Whether hitting drums "with more force/than a million recess bullies," rapping "no one can touch me, don't even try to front," or depicting the struggles of a garage band, this vibrant collection celebrates the importance of music for teenagers.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up-Adoff, a musician and the son of Virginia Hamilton and Arnold Adoff, debuts here with poems about music. His free verse is highly rhythmic and demands to be performed, like these opening lines from the title poem: "Each word running fast across lips./A direct line to my hips, twist and shake./My voice another arm, another leg./My throat the Cape Canaveral of my soul./Song shuttle/blasting off/into deep blue/soprano sky-." Jazz, rap, hip-hop, and Mozart are equally celebrated. Young musicians will also recognize their own lives in the poems about school bands and playing air guitar. Only musicians will get the pun poems "2#" (too sharp) and "Way 2b" (way too flat), though these terms are defined in the backnotes. These notes also contain a brief paragraph about each musician mentioned in the poems, along with "suggested listening" for each artist. Young teens will get the most out of these poems, with their raplike wordplay and puns, although the picture-book format might turn some of them off, and the poems are in tiny, cramped print. The splashy, colorful illustrations picture contemporary teens of various ethnicities. While many young adults may not be immediately drawn to the book's physical package, it should find a small and appreciative audience in most collections.
Nina Lindsay, Oakland Public Library, CA
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 6-9. Adoff, a musician and son of Arnold Adoff and the late Virginia Hamilton, struts his own creative stuff in this auspicious debut collection of 24 poems. Though free in form and diverse in mood and tone, all are about music, from Hip Hop to classical and from reggae to gospel. Another common element is the energy underscoring Adoff's language, which invites readers to move to the rhythm of the words. Some of the poems are slyly funny. Others are more serious; "88," for example, uses the piano, with its black and white keys, as a metaphor for civil rights and integration. A few are forgettable, but all shine with the poet's obvious love of music and musicians. As for French's vividly colored pictures, at their worst they resemble greeting card art lacking originality and coherence; at their best, they radiate a sun-drenched energy that harmonizes beautifully with the poet's words. Michael Cart
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile; 1st edition (November 11, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525469494
• ISBN-13: 978-0525469490
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 9.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #812,978 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jaime Adoff was born in New York City but grew up in Yellow Springs, Ohio. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from Central State University in Ohio, where he studied drums and percussion. Moving to New York City in 1990, he attended the Manhattan School of Music and studied drums and voice. Jaime then went on to pursue a career in songwriting and fronted his own rock band for eight years. He released two CD's of his own material and performed extensively in New York City and throughout the US.

He is the author of the "all ages" original poetry collection "The Song Shoots Out of My Mouth": A Celebration of Music,(2002)(Downloadable at audible.com 08') which was a Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Honor book,(2003) an IRA Notable book (2003), A NY Public Library book for the teenage(2003), a VOYA poetry pick (2002) and a CCB Best Book for 2002.

The critically acclaimed "Names Will Never Hurt Me" (2004) was his first young-adult novel and almost instantly became a MUST HAVE for teens around the country. In 2005 it was named a NY Public Library book for the teenage, and was nominated as a Best Book for Young Adults.

"Jimi & Me" (2005) was the recipient of the 2006 CORETTA SCOTT KING/JOHN STEPTOE NEW TALENT AUTHOR AWARD.
It was named as a 2006 YALSA QUICK PICK FOR RELUCTANT READERS, A 2006 NY PUBLIC LIBRARY BOOK FOR THE TEENAGE and was selected to the VOYA TOP SHELF FICTION LIST FOR 2005.
It received a *starred* review from LIBRARY MEDIA CONNECTION and was cited as "an exceptional story" and "a tremendous addition to any collection" by VOYA magazine.

Jaime's latest young adult novel "The Death of Jayson Porter"(April 08) has been receiving rave reviews nationwide. Including *Starred Reviews from *Booklist*, *Library Media Connection*, and *VOYA* magazine,(5Q). It was also selected for the 09' "Choose to read Ohio program." A project of the State Library of Ohio, to promote reading across Ohio. As well as an Ohioana Book Award finalist in the Juvenile category.

His first picture book "Small Fry"(NOV 08) was cited as "Cathartic and Encouraging fun" by Kirkus Review.

Jaime is a highly sought after speaker, presenting across the country on teen issues, diversity, YA literature and Poetry. His Rock n Roll school visits have been knocking the socks off students and teachers alike, for years. Jaime has worked with students from Kindergarten through High School and even college and graduate students as well. Giving them all a "backstage- all access- pass" into the life, creative process, and works of one of the most groundbreaking, unique and innovative voices writing for children and teens today.

Jaime Adoff is the son of the late Newbery Award-winning author Virginia Hamilton and renowned poet Arnold Adoff.
Jaime lives in his hometown of Yellow Springs, Ohio, with his family.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ...And shoot they do, October 4, 2002

By 

Evan Scott (Yellow Springs, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Song Shoots Out of My Mouth: A Celebration of Music (Hardcover)

I first heard poems from this book read aloud at a summertime pool party and it was true entertainment.

The words themselves flow musically -- as do the rhythms of the poems. They're just as fun to read aloud as they are to hear aloud.

Not for cozy, bedtime reading, The Songs Shoot Out of My Mouth should be "played."