Stompin' at the Savoy - Hardcover

Campbell, Bebe Moore

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0399241973 ISBN 13: 9780399241970

Publisher: Philomel, 2006

Synopsis

On the night before her big jazz dance recital, young Mindy has made up her mind not to go—she's just too nervous. But when she finds herself transported to the Savoy Ballroom, she quickly changes her tune. Filled from wall to wall with legends of the swing era, the Savoy is a place where the dancers move like acrobats and the seats stay empty all night long. It's an all-night party, and with all that fun going on around her, Mindy has no choice but to move her happy feet!

In his picture book debut, renowned watercolorist Richard Yarde adds brilliant illustrations to this jazzy story by bestselling author Bebe Moore Campbell. It will keep toes tapping and pages turning!

About this title

About the Author:

Bebe Moore Campbell was a bestselling author and a journalist. Her nonfiction work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Ms., Essence, Black Enterprise, Ebony, Working Mother, USA Weekend, and Adweek, among other publications. She was a regular contributor to National Public Radio.

Bebe Moore Campbell was the author of such national, critically acclaimed bestsellers as Brothers and Sisters, Singing in the Comeback Choir, Your Blues Ain't Like Mine, and What You Owe Me as well as the award-winning children’s book, Sometimes My Mommy Gets Angry and the recently published Stompin’ at the Savoy.

Campbell was born and grew up in Philadelphia and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh, where she earned a bachelor of science degree in elementary education. She taught elementary and middle school for five years. She is survived by her husband, Ellis Gordon, Jr., her daughter, the actress Maia Campbell, and a son, Ellis Gordon III.

From School Library Journal:

Kindergarten-Grade 4—Apprehensive about her jazz dance recital despite the encouragement of her three bebopping great-aunties, Mindy stomps off to her room to cry. Spying a talking drum outside her window, she follows it down the fire escape to find herself whisked back in time to the Savoy Ballroom of the '20s or '30s. Stepping inside, she is swept up with dancers doing the Lindy Hop to the bouncing music of Chick Webb, Benny Goodman, and Ella Fitzgerald. "Somebody's trying to mess with my mind," she says, puzzling over the clothing and hairstyles. As a Battle of the Bands begins, clarinets wailing and drumsticks pounding, Mindy dodges the club bouncer and finds herself entered in the dance competition, along with her suddenly youthful aunts. She performs her recital dance for the enthusiastic crowd, then lands back on her bed at home where she announces that she's ready for her performance. Her aunties respond with perfectly executed splits. Rhythmic gouache and pastel paintings depicting swinging dancers and jiving musicians perfectly complement the lyrical energy and magical realism of the cadenced prose. A terrific read-aloud, Stompin' at the Savoy is brimming with the irrepressible energy and "happy feet" of the Lindy Hoppers. A splendid shelf-mate would be Ntozake Shange's Ellington Was Not a Street (S & S, 2004).—Joyce Adams Burner, Hillcrest Library, Prairie Village, KS
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About this edition

• Publisher: Philomel
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0399241973
• ISBN 13: 9780399241970
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 40
• Illustrator: Yarde Richard