Drummer Boy of John John

by Mark Greenwood, Frane Lessac (Illustrator)

Overview

The perfect book for aspiring young drummers, where a young boy in Trinidad discovers he can create tunes on discarded metal tins, and goes on to win the Carnival band competition.

Carnival is coming, and the villagers of John John, Trinidad, are getting ready to jump up and celebrate with music, dancing, and a parade. Best of all, the Roti King has promised free rotis--tasty fried pancakes filled with chicken, herbs, and spices--for the best band in the parade.

Young Winston dreams of feasting on those delicious rotis. But there's a problem: he's not in a band! Pondering his predicament as he wanders through the village junkyard, Winston makes a curious musical discovery that may be just the ticket to realizing his dream. With ingenuity and the help of his friends, Winston takes on the Carnival bands, drumming his way to victory--and to the Roti King's prized treat.

Musical text and sun-drenched paintings joyously transport readers to the Caribbean in this exuberant story inspired by the early life of Winston "Spree" Simon, a pioneer in the development of the steel drum.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781620140345
Publisher:	Lee & Low Books
Publication date:	10/01/2006
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
File size:	29 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	5 - 10 Years

About the Author

Mark Greenwood is the author of numerous children's books published in both the United States and his native Australia, several of which were created in collaboration with his wife, illustrator Frané Lessac. Greenwood is also an accomplished drummer. His interest in world music and his frequent travels to the Caribbean led him to this story of a drummer boy based on the life of musician Winston "Spree" Simon. Greenwood and Lessac live in Fremantle, West Australia.

Frané Lessac has illustrated more than thirty-five books for young readers, several of which she has also written. Born in New Jersey, Lessac later lived on the island of Montserrat. Her time there inspired her to create many stories with Caribbean settings and themes. Working on Drummer Boy of John John gave Lessac an opportunity to visit the Caribbean again and research her illustrations. She currently lives in Fremantle, West Australia, with her husband, author Mark Greenwood.

Mark Greenwood is the author of numerous children’s books published in both the United States and his native Australia, several of which were created in collaboration with his wife, illustrator Frané Lessac. Greenwood is also an accomplished drummer. His interest in world music and his frequent travels to the Caribbean led him to this story of a drummer boy based on the life of musician Winston “Spree” Simon. Greenwood and Lessac live in Fremantle, West Australia.

Editorial Reviews

A roti (a folded pancake "filled with chicken and secret herbs and spices") might not seem like a rich enough prize to inspire the creation of a musical instrument, but Winston is hungry, and he knows that the best band in the Carnival parade will win one. He discovers that cookie tins and paint cans in the junkyard make sounds ("tom ping tom pah") and that he can "tune" the metal surfaces by hammering them. This is a biography of a real person: Winston "Spree" Simon is the creator of Trinidad's signature steel drum. Working in gouache, Lessac, who worked with Greenwood on The Donkey of Galli-poli, combines bright tropical backgrounds of lemon yellow, sky blue, and palm green with the crowns, feathers, streamers, and rhinestones of Carnival costumes to make folk art–style paintings with firecracker energy. Funky onomatopoeia should give out-loud readings pizzazz ("The chac-chac players rattled rustling sounds. shoush-shap shukka-shap shoush-shap shukka-shap"), and dynamic type makes the words shimmy on the page. Valuable both for its portrait of a child inventor and a vibrant community of color. Ages 5–10. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

* "Greenwood's story is based on the childhood of Winston Simon, the 20th-century musician credited with the invention of the steel drum. The text is filled with a cacophony of musical words that are fun and challenging to read aloud. Lessac's gouache paintings pulsate with sun-drenched island colors and often resemble a folk-art quilt.

A joy to read. Play calypso music and celebrate!" — Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Lessac's vibrant gouache scenes in her signature folk style radiate the energy of the music and the lushness of Trinidad." — School Library Journal

"Great for sharing in the classroom, kids will want to read this many times over." — Booklist

"While it could be used straight as a story of invention or music history, it cries out for a choral performance with kids on found instruments letting cacophony merrily ring out." — Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Américas Award Commended Title - Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs
Best Children's Books of the Year - Bank Street College of Education
CCBC Choices - Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)

From the Publisher

PreS-Gr 2—Lessac has long been a lively interpreter of Caribbean culture. In her latest collaboration with her husband, they imagine the childhood of Winston "Spree" Simon, who is credited with developing the steel drum. Greenwood sets the story in the days preceding Carnival, when the bands are preparing for the parade and anticipating the prize-free rotis (spiced chicken wrapped in dough) from the Roti King. Winston desperately wants that reward, but what are his chances without a band, much less an instrument? Lessac's vibrant gouache scenes in her signature folk style radiate the energy of the music and the lushness of Trinidad. As the author introduces each group of musicians, he spells out their unique sounds-an invitation for listeners to repeat the refrains. So the Chac-chac (gourds with seeds) players produce a "shoush-shap/shukka-shac/shoush-shap/shukka-shac." Munching on a mango near the junkyard, Winston ponders his dilemma; a casual toss of the pit against metal objects produces the "pong, ping, pang" that leads to a solution. He discovers that the number of dents and bumps and the size of the metal container all affect the pitch. Friends gather to paint, rehearse, perform, and celebrate victory. The finale pulses with color and pattern. A bit of colloquial speech adds flavor, as do the humorous visuals, such as the matron in her pink plastic curlers. A glossary, two-page author's note, and list of sources round out this upbeat celebration of creativity.—Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library

School Library Journal

Winston, a boy in Trinidad, wishes that he could play in a band and win free rotis, the delicious island specialty prepared by the Roti King and presented to the best performers at Carnival. In the weeks before Carnival, the people of the Caribbean island are busy sewing costumes, and bands are busy rehearsing with their gourds, bamboo sticks, bottles-and-spoons and drums. Winston hears the sounds that his mango pit makes when he chucks it into a junkyard. Inspired, he tries out different can and tins, listening carefully to their different notes. More experimentation follows, and soon, he is performing for his neighbors. Friends join him to form a band made up of "pots and pans, tins and cans in a rainbow of colors." The sounds are winningly irresistible, and Winston and his fellow musicians soon enjoy their "folded pancakes filled with chicken and secret herbs and spices." Greenwood's story is based on the childhood of Winston Simon, the 20th-century musician credited with the invention of the steel drum. The text is filled with a cacophony of musical words that are fun and challenging to read aloud. Lessac's gouache paintings pulsate with sun-drenched island colors and often resemble a folk-art quilt. A joy to read. Play calypso music and celebrate! (author's note, glossary and pronunciation guide, author's sources) (Picture book/biography. 3-8)

Kirkus Reviews