{"product_id":"struttin-with-some-barbecue-isbn-9781580897402","title":"Struttin' with Some Barbecue","description":"\u003cb\u003eLil Hardin and her man, Louis Armstrong, were musical royalty--inventing a new kind of sound--makin' jazz. Believe it, baby!\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is the true story of Lil Hardin Armstrong: pianist, composer, and bandleader in the early days of jazz. Ahead of her time, Lil made a career for herself--and for Louis Armstrong, her modest, unassuming husband. Louis might never have become the groundbreaking jazz player he was, if it hadn't been for Lil. Scat-inspired verse celebrates how Lil overcame race and gender barriers to become the first lady of the Chicago jazz scene.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"Brimming with a contagious love of jazz and its first lady, this work brings down the house\"--\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews, \u003c\/i\u003eSTARRED review\u003c\/b\u003e♦ Lil Hardin, dubbed \"the first lady of jazz,\" gets a loving ode in this biography in free verse. Raised by \"Mama and Grandma \/ in Memphis, Tennessee, \/ two blocks from \/ wild, wailin' Beale Street,\" Lil was a precocious musician from childhood. But the night life of Beale Street with its \"devil's music\" pulled her away from the proper, ladylike college life her mother wanted for her. She got a job at a music store and then won a place in an all-male band, an exceptional feat at the time. She met Louis Armstrong, a shy trumpet player, when they played in the same band. She told him he couldn't stay playing second trumpet and was behind much of his success. \"Dang, they were musical royalty— \/ inventing \/ a new kind of sound— \/ makin' \/ jazz.\" As she earlier demonstrated in Josephine (illustrated by Christian Robinson, 2014), Powell is a die-hard fan of jazz, and it shows in the hum of her lines. She writes in her introduction that she hopes this biography inspires readers \"to explore early jazz—and makes you want to get up and dance.\" On both counts, her writing succeeds. Himes' ink-and-graphite illustrations are inspired by the time period and add to the immersive feel of the work. Brimming with a contagious love of jazz and its first lady, this work brings down the house. (notes, timeline, glossary, resources, sources, index)\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews,\u003c\/i\u003e STARRED review\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis biography in verse tells the story of Lil Hardin Armstrong, the first lady of jazz and Louis Armstrong’s first wife. While the book starts with Hardin Armstrong’s birth, most of the text focuses on her time as a jazz pianist in the 1920s and her influential role in Louis Armstrong’s success. The poetry is free form and peppered with bits of scat as an ode to early jazz, and it works well as a vehicle to tell the story of such a strong figure in this movement. Hardin Armstrong’s life is compelling, and readers will be inspired by her perseverance and rise to success in a male-dominated field and in the face of segregation. However, details about her life are less realized than in a typical biography partly because of the book’s lyrical format. Thankfully Powell includes a variety of back matter including more information on Hardin Armstrong, jazz music, and the rise of jazz clubs in the 1920s. The charming illustrations nicely enhance the text. VERDICT Recommended for most libraries, especially where biographies circulate well.\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003eAcclaimed author Patricia Hruby Powell grew up in a musical family, became a concert dancer and choreographer, and married a jazz musician. When she hears Lil's music, she can't help but dance. Patricia's debut book, \u003ci\u003eJosephine\u003c\/i\u003e, received a Sibert Honor and a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor. Her equally moving and powerful second book, \u003ci\u003eLoving vs. Virginia\u003c\/i\u003e, established Patricia as a commanding voice in children's literature.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRachel Himes is a museum educator, author, and illustrator. Her debut picture book, \u003ci\u003ePrincess and the Peas\u003c\/i\u003e, puts a modern African American spin on the classic fairy tale. In \u003ci\u003eStruttin' with Some Barbecue\u003c\/i\u003e, Rachel conveys Lil's energy and verve through acrylic and collage illustrations inspired by period art and music. www.rachelhimes.com\u003cb\u003eStarting in 1898 \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Yessir, Lillian Hardin \u003cbr\u003e was proud to be who she was. \u003cbr\u003e Her mama made sure of that. \u003cbr\u003e Grandma made double sure. \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Grandma was a slave— \u003cbr\u003e a bought-and-sold slave— \u003cbr\u003e till the Civil War ended \u003cbr\u003e and she was freed— \u003cbr\u003e free to earn wages \u003cbr\u003e free to raise up her daughter \u003cbr\u003e Dempsey. \u003cbr\u003e Raised her up proud.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Dempsey became Lillian’s mama. \u003cbr\u003e She worked as a cook \u003cbr\u003e for a white family \u003cbr\u003e to give Lillian chances \u003cbr\u003e she’d never had. \u003cbr\u003e Lil’s daddy was \u003cbr\u003e long gone.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Lil was reared by \u003cbr\u003e Mama and Grandma \u003cbr\u003e in Memphis, Tennessee, \u003cbr\u003e two blocks from \u003cbr\u003e wild, wailin’ Beale Street —\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e where you got \u003cbr\u003e dee-licious \u003cbr\u003e ham, beans, greens \u003cbr\u003e and bar-be-cue \u003cbr\u003e (mm-hmmm) \u003cbr\u003e but also \u003cbr\u003e blues music \u003cbr\u003e juke joints \u003cbr\u003e and pool halls, \u003cbr\u003e yessirree.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e All that whoopee worried Mama. \u003cbr\u003e She had a daughter to raise up right. \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e1900-1915\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e At two years old \u003cbr\u003e Lil fiddled around, \u003cbr\u003e fingering the keys \u003cbr\u003e on the rooming-house organ, \u003cbr\u003e her feet dangling \u003cbr\u003e off the bench. \u003cbr\u003e Her cousin stomped on the pedals \u003cbr\u003e below— \u003cbr\u003e making that pump organ \u003cbr\u003e moan, wheeze, and groan. \u003cbr\u003e Mama said, \u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eThis girl— \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eshe could be \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003ea piano-playing lady— \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003ea concert pianist.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Yes ma’am, \u003cbr\u003e that’s what Mama said, \u003cbr\u003e but bright bold Lil \u003cbr\u003e could make as much music \u003cbr\u003e on an upturned bucket. \u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Still, Lil learned note reading \u003cbr\u003e and piano playing \u003cbr\u003e thanks to schoolteacher \u003cbr\u003e Miss Violet White. \u003cbr\u003e Lil said, \u003cbr\u003e “I used my fingers any way I wanted.” \u003cbr\u003e Sure enough, her fingers went \u003cbr\u003e every which-a-way, \u003cbr\u003e but long as she hit the right notes, \u003cbr\u003e Miss Violet said okay.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e At nine, \u003cbr\u003e Lil’s feet reached clear to the pedals. \u003cbr\u003e She became the Sunday-school organist \u003cbr\u003e at the Lebanon Baptist Church— \u003cbr\u003e played “Onward, Christian Soldiers” \u003cbr\u003e so it bounced \u003cbr\u003e with a beat so snappy \u003cbr\u003e the kids couldn’t help but dance. \u003cbr\u003e Lil just had to dance, too, \u003cbr\u003e sittin’ right there at the organ. \u003cbr\u003e Reverend Petty, up in the pulpit, \u003cbr\u003e glared at Lil. \u003cbr\u003e Mama shook her head, said, \u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eVulgar\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003cbr\u003e Grandma crossed her arms, said, \u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eCommon\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Shucks, \u003cbr\u003e Lil was just followin’ \u003cbr\u003e her heart— \u003cbr\u003e or maybe her gut.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e ’Round about high school \u003cbr\u003e Lil played piano in a recital, \u003cbr\u003e competing for best in her class. \u003cbr\u003e Mama beamed. \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Oh no! \u003cbr\u003e Lil lost her place \u003cbr\u003e in the music \u003cbr\u003e but used her noggin \u003cbr\u003e to make a new ending— \u003cbr\u003e improvised it. \u003cbr\u003e The audience thought, \u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eThis little girl’s so clever— \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eshe’s thinking \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eand making music \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eat the very same time\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e My oh my, \u003cbr\u003e didn’t she just bring home \u003cbr\u003e first prize! \u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eWOW za DOO\u003c\/b\u003e","brand":"Charlesbridge","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46302963433701,"sku":"NP9781580897402","price":18.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9781580897402.jpg?v=1767737450","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/struttin-with-some-barbecue-isbn-9781580897402","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}