Hip Cat

Rating:
Summary: Jazz transcribed to text and illustrations
Review: A determined, jazzy cat tries to, and finally succeeds to, make music in a dog-run city, letting the reader see the importance of persevering even in tribulations. The impressionistic, curving illustrations that bleed to the edge every page, as well as the beat poem rhythm of the text, flow together to give the reader an understanding of what jazz is about: improvisation and expression of feelings. Even the placement of the text itself, which sometimes swirls, sometimes indents, and sometimes changes fonts, suggests the unpredictability of jazz music.

Rating:
Summary: Jazz transcribed to text and illustrations
Review: A determined, jazzy cat tries to, and finally succeeds to, make music in a dog-run city, letting the reader see the importance of persevering even in tribulations. The impressionistic, curving illustrations that bleed to the edge every page, as well as the beat poem rhythm of the text, flow together to give the reader an understanding of what jazz is about: improvisation and expression of feelings. Even the placement of the text itself, which sometimes swirls, sometimes indents, and sometimes changes fonts, suggests the unpredictability of jazz music.

Rating:
Summary: Cool Jazz...
Review: This book is definitely hard to get into, but once you do, you're hooked. The jazz theme is awesome (although I wouldn't have chosen a cat...) and the pictures are brilliant. What a great picture book!

Rating:
Summary: Hip Cat
Review: This is one of the most amazing children's books I have ever read. Jonathan London is able to convert prose into music. You have a sense of being inside jazz and understanding what it is from a completely emotional standpoint. I was thrilled to have the pleasure of reading this book to my 5 year old son and to introduce him to what jazz feels like. We listened to several Jazz albums after reading this book and the book helped to make a connection to the music. Thank you, Thank you Mr. London for this incredible experience!