When Louis Armstrong Taught Me Scat [Hardcover]

Muriel Harris Weinstein (Author)

Book Description

Grade Level: K and up

In a CRACKITY-SNAPPITY-POPPITY-POP bubblegum dream, a young girl learns to scat from the master himself, Louis Armstrong! Written in prose and scat with wild and wonderful illustrations by R. Gregory Christie, this joyful tribute is downright contagious. CHEW-ITEE CHEW-ITEE CHEW-ITEE CHOP, CRACKITY SNAPPITY POPPITY POP!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

With the synergy of a veteran jazz duo, debut author Weinstein and Christie (Jazz Baby) pay rollicking tribute to Satchmo and the singing style he popularized. Freewheeling verbal and visual riffs elevate the simple plot: after a mother and daughter dance to the radio before bedtime (We spin an' twirl around, waggle our heads an' wiggle our hips), the girl learns to sing scat—about her bubble gum—when Armstrong visits her in a dream. Rippety wrapper/ glittery new/ pinkety sweet/ stickety chew. Children can both giggle at the bouncy non sequiturs (Cricket's throne/ puppy's bone/ bug's umbrella/ mozzarella???) and absorb some musical history from endnotes on Armstrong and scat. Christie's vibrant acrylics offer a pleasing, surreal fluidity. Floating purple trumpets, a winding musical staff and appearances by some hep-looking animals all jell with the anything-goes nature of the subject. Ages 5–9. (Feb.)
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From Booklist

Scat, the grown-up art form of sounding like a baby, finds a home in this energetic picture book featuring scat’s pioneering practitioner and a little girl who loves bubble gum. After her momma teaches her what scat is, she’s visited by Louis Armstrong in a dream. Together, they chew up a musical mouthful: “squash-itee / stretch-itee / gummity thick / squooz-itee / oooz-itee / blowitty quick!” Decked out in bubble-gum pinks and soulful blues, scenes of the little girl and Satchmo cool-catting it across the pages will gets kids moving, but it’s the bop-happy nonsense words themselves that highlight the art. The frenetic mix of font sizes, types, and layouts mimic the wild variations of vocal timbre and staccato rhythms that kids should have no problem glomming onto with a little bit of help. Ideal for group settings and early music classes, this book will encourage what kids do best: gleefully spouting nonsense, bouncing out of their seats, and being as silly as possible. Preschool-Grade 2. --Ian Chipman

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (December 24, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811851311
• ISBN-13: 978-0811851312
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 8.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #199,632 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Blow Me A Bubble, June 5, 2009

By 

Helena Basket (CT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When Louis Armstrong Taught Me Scat (Hardcover)

This book is so wonderful it kept not one but 2 classes of preschoolers in rapt attention. They loved repeating the scat, feeling the cadence, letting it flow to create their own scats. It captured their imaginations and creativity. And it taught them a little music history to boot. What a great read, or do I mean ride!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SCATACULAR!!!!, May 27, 2009

By 

Sue Wilkowski (Long Island, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: When Louis Armstrong Taught Me Scat (Hardcover)

Absolutely wonderful! I read this book to my nephew and by the last page we were both bopping our heads and scatting right along with Muriel Harris Weinstein's rhythmic, magical words. She's clearly a pro and her love of jazz oozes off the page right into the reader's swinging shoulders and tapping toes. Loius Armstrong must be scatting his praise for Weinstein and this perfect book. I highly recommend it!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bubbling with musical enthusiasm!, May 16, 2009

By 

Susan Astor "Poetry Teacher" (Mineola, NY United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: When Louis Armstrong Taught Me Scat (Hardcover)

What a delight! This book is full of joy and lyricism. A pleasure for anyone of any age to read! The author knows what makes children want to jump up, sing and dance.