Rap a Tap Tap: Here's Bojangles - Think of That!

by Leo Dillon, Diane Dillon, Diane Dillon (Illustrator), Leo Dillon (Illustrator)

Overview

With bold paintings and a simple, rhyming text, Caldecott Medalists Leo & Diane Dillon bring young readers a rap a tap tap celebration of dance that will have readers clapping and tapping along.

"There once was a man who danced in the street / He brought pleasure and joy to the people he'd greet / He didn't just dance, he made art with his feet / Rap a tap tap—think of that!" This simple book for young children has the added bonus of describing the life of a ground-breaking African-American tap dancer. Bill "Bojangles" Robinson was one of the most popular entertainers of the 1920s-30s. People said he "talked with his feet," and in the Dillons' graceful paintings of old New York, he dances from page to page to the tune of a toe-tapping rhyme. Rap a tap tap—think of that!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780590478830
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	09/01/2002
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	86,522
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.38(d)
Lexile:	AD360L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Leo & Diane Dillon are two of the most acclaimed illustrators of our time. They collaborated for more than five decades. Their long list of awards includes two Caldecott Medals, the NAACP Image Award, five Coretta Scott King Awards and Honors, four Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards, and induction into the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame. Leo and Diane created award-winning picture books, book covers, magazines, and other art until Leo’s death in 2012. Love and the Rocking Chair is their final collaboration. Diane Dillon lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Editorial Reviews

* "This jazzy introduction to an important contributor to American culture will entrance the youngest music and dance fans." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review * "An exuberant picture-book tribute to African-American tap dancer Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson." — Publishers Weekly, starred review * "This fancy-free introduction captures the ebullience of [Bojangles'] dancing as well as the way he touched audiences." — Booklist, starred review

From the Publisher

PreS-Gr 3-Leo and Diane Dillon's book (Blue Sky Press, 2002) about tap-dancer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson (1878-1949) received a Coretta Scott King Honor for its illustrations. The audio format greatly enhances the story, as Charles Turner narrates the tale of the man who "talked with his feet." Live background music from the 1920's, punctuated by the rhythmic tapping of feet enliven the reading of the rhymed text. In the book, Diane Dillon's colorful gouache illustrations of inner-city scenes are met with cleverly designed graphics of Bojangles, his tapping feet depicted in shades of grey prompting the illusion of movement. This wonderful introduction to a talented African-American entertainer is appropriate for group or individual enjoyment, and will be a welcome addition to the music, movement, and art curriculum.-Kirsten Martindale, formerly Menomonie Public Library, WI Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

The deep, enthusiastic voice of Charles Turner energizes this repetitive rhyme celebrating the life of Bill Robinson. Known by the stage name "Bojangles‚" Robinson was one of America's most talented tap dancers. Dixieland jazz, city noises, and the snaps and clicks of a tap dancer are some of the sound effects that make each page come to life. Since the pacing allows time for the listener to enjoy the colorful urban details of the vibrant illustrations, the book is an essential part of the listening experience. A short afterword gives the details of this African-American dancer's life. "He didn't just dance; he made art with his feet." R.H.H. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine

OCT/NOV 07 - AudioFile