When Louis Armstrong Taught Me Scat

"With the synergy of a veteran jazz duo, debut author Weinstein and Christie (Jazz Baby) pay rollicking tribute to Satchmo and the singing style he popularized. Freewheeling verbal and visual riffs elevate the simple plot: after a mother and daughter dance to the radio before bedtime ('We spin an' twirl around, waggle our heads an' wiggle our hips'), the girl learns to sing scat — about her bubble gum — when Armstrong visits her in a dream. 'Rippety wrapper/ glittery new/ pinkety sweet/ stickety chew.' Children can both giggle at the bouncy non sequiturs ('Cricket's throne/ puppy's bone/ bug's umbrella/ mozzarella???') and absorb some musical history from endnotes on Armstrong and scat. Christie's vibrant acrylics offer a pleasing, surreal fluidity. Floating purple trumpets, a winding musical staff and appearances by some hep-looking animals all jell with the anything-goes nature of the subject. Ages 5 — 9. Implementing pop-ups, tabs and flaps, these clever books offer kids more than meets the eye." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

In a CRACKITY-SNAPPITY-POPPITY-POP bubblegum dream, a young girl learns to scat from the master himself, Louis Armstrong Written in prose and scat with wild and wonderful illustrations by R. Gregory Christie, this joyful tribute is downright contagious. CHEW-ITEE CHEW-ITEE CHEW-ITEE CHOP, CRACKITY SNAPPITY POPPITY POP