Sunday, March 19, 2017

Let's Clap, Jump, Sing and Shout: Dance, Spin & Turn it Out by Patricia McKissack - ESSENTIAL

McKissack, Patricia C. Let’s Clap, Jump, Sing & Shout; Dance, Spin & Turn It Out! : Games, Songs & Stories from an African American Childhood, illustrated by Brian Pinkney, Non-Fiction/Poetry 173 pgs, Schwartz & Wade (Penguin Random House), 2017. $24.99. Content: G.  

When Patricia McKissack was a child, these were the songs she learned from her parents and teachers, the games she played with her friends and the stories she was told, both at home and in church. Includes clapping games, jump rope rhymes and dances.  The song chapters talk about the underground railroad, Spirituals, Hymns and Gospel Music, while the stories come from The Bible, Aesop, superstitions and Mama.  Also included are some Harlem Renaissance poems, perfect to memorize and perform, and some traditional African American folktales and scary stories.  

This is a well compiled collection.  Each entry includes an historical context, origin story and how it relates to the African American community, including McKissack’s personal recollections.  Large print selections - perfect for the early reader, with a different font for the introductions makes this a perfect mix of cultural information, tradition, and fun.  Author notes along with a bibliography and index make this an excellent research source.  

EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL, MS - ADVISABLE Lisa Librarian

No comments: