Dante Plays His Blues

"A resonant tale of a boy dealing with change in his own way." —Kirkus Reviews

From debut author Allen R. Wells and New York Times bestselling illustrator Shamar Knight-Justice comes a tender and heartwarming picture book about a boy affected by housing insecurity who learns the power of expressing his feelings through music.

When Danté and his mother lose their housing, they move in with Uncle Ron and Uncle Joe. It’s tough at first, as Danté misses his friends and his neighborhood, so Uncle Ron teaches him to play the saxophone. Together they practice every day, DO-RE-MI-FA-RROOWWRR! Learning how to play is hard, especially when you have the blues. Can Danté turn his blues into his muse? 

Allen R. Wells grew up in Jackson, Mississippi, where he spent a lot of time with his head stuck in a book or creating worlds through his words or solving problems and puzzles. He is the author of It’s Pride, Baby! When he isn’t writing, Allen is trekking around the world, designing and building engineering systems. He lives in Virginia, and you can visit him online at allenwriteswell.com. 

Shamar Knight-Justice is an illustrator and educator based in Atlanta. His artwork focuses on mixed media and unique textures and patterns. Shamar intentionally highlights Black and Brown children in his work because he wants the fullness of their identities to be celebrated in picture books. He is the illustrator of Ari J.’s Kinky, Curly Crown; Big Tune: Rise of the Dancehall Prince; and Repeat After Me: Big Things to Say Every Day. Visit him online at shamarknightjustice.com.