The Lick and Sniff Reviews: I Can Make Jazz Tunes too!

Okay so maybe I've relaxed the past month or so, or maybe two, okay it was three months. But, the good news is, I'm back with the first of several tail wagging reviews. The book we just finished is called Before John was a Jazz Giant by Carole Boston Weatherford. The story is a picture book representation of legendary jazz musician John Coltrane. The story tells about about John's like growing up in the 1930's and all of the influences as far as music is concerned in his life. These influences range anywhere from his grandmother's banging of hambones in a pot to mama's phonograph to listening to the big bands on the radio.
Not having ever heard John Coltrane before, I assume he was a very influential person in jazz history. Thankfully the author included a brief biography about the legendary jazz saxophonist, and provided a list of links and resources to continue to explore this and other jazz greats. The book was a very short read with some vibrant and interesting illustrations. The illustrations were colorful and dominated by lots and lots of circles. While I can't play the saxophone like Mr. Coltrane did, after eating some of those veggie flavors dog biscuits, I can sure belt out a jazzy tune of my own, although it has more effect on people's noses than their ears.
Because of the unique illustrations I am giving this book

I liked the unique look of the pictures and they went along well with the story. Kids will like the pictures as well as the shortness of the book. I doubt they will get the hymnal feel of the story as it was written as a song, but I do think it is a good book to get themselves acquinted with some of those influential people in history without boring them to death.

The Happy Dachshund - Milo