Jam, Too? [Hardcover]

Lustrous illustrations and a rhythmic text featuring a cumulative list of sounds bring to life the thrill of an impromptu jam session and the joy of making music together.

A drum circle is forming on the beach, and one fascinated child would love to join in. Soon there’s everything from a conga’s pat-a-pat-a, pat pat to some bongos’ taka taka, ta ta—and it looks like so much fun! But what do you do when you don’t have a drum? Well, when you let the music move you, you just might find other ways to jam, too!* “A cumulative story with rhythm, rhyme, and a bopping bunch of percussionists. . . . Each percussion instrument has its own onomatopoeic sound that undulates across the pages as the beat variations grow. . . . In Alcántara’s richly colorful illustrations, the blues of sky and ocean, the tan sand, and the lush, green land remain constant while the musicians add as much color as they do sound, illustrating the amazing way that making music can bring people together and create community. Alcántara effectively captures the diversity of the characters in this African diasporic setting, illustrating various skin tones, hair styles and textures, clothing styles, fabric patterns, and more. With nearly singable text, this tale beckons readers to move. A fantastic book-jam that delights the ear just as much as the eye.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* “Readers can clap, tap, and drum along to a rhythmic jam session in this joyful seaside introduction to percussion. A conga player on a beach attracts other percussionists, the impromptu ensemble growing to include a djembe, a shekere, zills, maracas, and bongos. . . . The 'PAT-A-PAT-A PAT PAT' of the conga, the 'SLAP-SLAP. TIP-A-TAP' l3M