arts and music

I have a horrible nasty habit that I've been fighting against for years and years. When I see that a book, whether for adult or child, has won an award of any sort, I immediately become the Queen of the Critique. Suddenly, no matter how wonderful or well written the book is, I'm continually underwhelmed. I read through the tale and think to myself, "Well, it was good. It just wasn't THAT good". Now that is my usual reaction. Thankfully, it is not my only reaction. And after reading "My Family Plays Music", I am proud to say that it wasn't my reaction in the least. My response to this fine creation was something far more along the lines of, "It WAS that good! Well, I'll be darned".

Following a spunky girl sporting cornrows and a purple bow smack dab in the middle of her head, we observe her pointed observations about each member of her family. The child of a uniquely musical fam, each person related to her excels in a different genre. Her mother plays in a country western band, as her father lends his talents to a string quartet. Some people in this family play rock and roll. Others pipe out cool jazz in clubs like "The Blue Note". There's swing music, and bongos in poetry cafes. The girl even has relatives involved in everything from church organs to (and my credulousness was stretched a bit on this one) polka bands. Mmm. Nonetheless, everyone has their part to play. As each person is described, the young girl plays some type of a percussion instrument to accompany them. I liked this fact, if only because it gives percussionists the respect they are due. This girl is every bit as much a musician as her family members, whether she's beating out a tune on a soup kettle, cowbell, and woodblock or shaking her tambourine and maracas. This swell story focuses on diversity without making its point and shaking it in your face.

A helpful glossary is included in the back of the book that explains each term that might be considered difficult for kids to understand. These are accompanied by small pictures that define the terms clearly and concisely. Anyone wishing to explain the difference between woodwind and brass instruments will be able to do so with this resource. In terms of the book's construction itself, Judy Cox has written a great story. Elbrite Brown's illustrations act as a perfect match, making it difficult to believe that this is the illustrator's first picture book. I've rarely seen cut paper pictures that get the small details down so well. Whether he's creating a tiny finger lifted from a fiddle or the delicate black lines that make up a man's goatee, Brown is adept at his work and we are the ones who benefit. All in all, a great book that is entirely deserving of the 2004 Coretta Scott King Award that it has received.