Citation: Calmenson, S., & Degen, B. (2008). Jazzmatazz! New York, NY: HarperCollins Childrens Books.
Ages: 2-8
Grades: PreSchool – Grade 2
Description: With rhyming text, Calmenson tells the story of what happens when a piano playing mouse enters into a house on a cold, winter’s day. Eventually, the piano playing mouse has the whole family, then the whole town making music. The characters dance, sing, and fiddle throughout the town, and throughout the book.
Use:The rhyming and sing-song nature of the text makes Calmenson’s Jazzmatazz! a great storytime option. The book can be used as part of a larger program about music and/or dance. Teachers and librarians can read the book, then give students instruments, so they can parade around and dance to their own music. Teachers and librarians can also play jazz music for students to dance along.
Review Sources:
Kirkus Reviews. (2007). Jazzmatazz! [Review of the book Jazzmatazz!]. Kirkus Reviews, 75(23):1243
Hutley, Krista. (2008). Jazzmatazz! [Review of the book Jazzmatazz}. Booklist, 104 (9/10):94.
Dean, Kara. (2008). Jazzmatazz! [Review of the book Jazzmatazz!] School Library Journal, 54(3):155
Tags: animals, mice, jazz, children, dance