Book Detail

I See the Rhythm

Publication Information
Author:  Igus, Toyomi Illustrator:  Wood, Michele
Title:  I See the Rhythm Date:  1998
Publisher:  Children's Book Press City:  San Francisco
ISBN, paperback:  0-89239-151-0 ISBN, hardback:  

Recommended audience:
ABE/ABLE:   Yes ESOL:  
Family:   Young Adult:  
Picture:   Yes

General Information:
Book Type(s):    nonfiction, poetry, easy reading, reference, biography and autobiography

HSE Descriptor(s):    language arts - reading

Summary:
The author and illustrator use different type faces, colors, a timeline, and paintings to involve the reader in the history, mood and movement of African American music. Types of music included are blues, ragtime, jazz, swing, bebop, cool jazz and gospel. Many famous musicians are also mentioned. A timeline gives a broader historical perspective. Some readers may find the different types of print distracting.

Teaching Ideas:
This unusual book can be used in text sets on music (Shange's I Live in Music and Hughes' The Book of Rhythms) and biography (excerpts from Katz' Black Legacy). Readers' Theater would be a good strategy to explore the wonderful sounds and rhythms of the text. Teachers can excerpt pages for the study of special historical events like the Great Migration. Students might enjoy creating lists of the uses of dialect. Great Migration www.peak.org/~mransom/pioneers.html; blues www.worldbook.com/fun/aamusic/html/blues.htm; jazz www.jazzreview.com; gospel www.sogospel.com; ragtime www.bestwebs.com/vaudeville

Keywords: select any link below for a list of resources which also have that keyword
bullet Ethnic Groups > African-American
bullet Literature and Language > dialect
bullet Music > jazz
bullet Music > blues
bullet Social Studies > sociology > social issues > racism
bullet Music > gospel
bullet Music > ragtime
bullet Literature and Language > poetry


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