Book Buds Kidlit Reviews

A multi-culti feast for the senses

Drumbeat in Our Feet
by Patricia A. Keeler and Julio T. Leitao; illustrated by Patricia A. Keeler

I tried an experiment. 

Before opening this book on African dance, I put on Baaba Maal's Missing You (Mi Yeewnii). It didn't take any careful timing to be deeply into a discussion of ancient rhythms during the anthemic Miyaabele, a folk song artfully updated into a call for African unity. Maal pairs an acoustic guitar with soulful string instruments, plus a xylophone made more resonant by placing gourds underneath.

I found a picture of the xylophone, and many other instruments, in the book. By the time I got to the page about talking drums, my son had heard one, and any number of other pulse-quickening percussions. When the subject of call-and-response comes up, we had fine examples of that too, from children in Maal's Senegalese village.

I don't normally plug music here, but the CD is a perfect compliment to these splashy, energetic lessons on the origins of the dances, rhythms and rituals from across central and southern Africa. End notes explain how Keeler found Leitao, a native of Angola, at a dance studio in Harlem and persuaded him to create this feast for the senses.

A child prodigy turns 250

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

by Ernst A. Ekker; illustrated by Doris Eisenburger

Mozart turns 250 this year, something worth celebrating even if you're skeptical he can work wonders with your own kids. Sheesh, talk about marketing.

I got suckered into videos and CDs from Baby Einstein, Baby Genius, Baby Miracle Worker, Baby Mad Scientist and Baby God Almighty and they all feature Eine Kleine Nachtmusik.

But that poor Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart had it tough as a kid. Honestly, he did.

We usually remember the cool parts, like composing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" at age three, or writing entire operas in his head, or being the popular guy at parties.

Ekker sketches in the rest for us: the prodigy amazed by his own gift for music and dance, but forced to grow up on the road as he was pulled from one royal court to the next until he'd outgrown cuteness and his welcome.

We see the stage father who pushed, the doting mother who sacrificed, the beloved sister whose gift never quite matched his own. He contracts deadly diseases and composes soaring pieces; he was singularly focused on his music, able to block out the world even as it buzzed around him, yet he was painfully grounded in the reality of having a family to feed.

The story chugs along without getting weighted down in a "this is important" tone, but occasionally the chronology feels rushed. Wait, how long has he been in Prague? When did he meet his wife?

Ekker lives in Mozart's beloved Vienna and creates a glowing, awestruck portrait of him.

Eisenburger's illustrated other biographies of composers, such as Bach and Schubert and clearly feels at home in the formality of 18th century European court life. But watch for the inspiring way she weaves Mozart's fantasies into clouds and puffs of smoke: they tell their own story.

I'm sure my kids feel smarter already. 

Note: Comes with a sublime 50-minute CD of Mozart's music in roughly chronological order to complement the story.

Rating: *\*\*\

Reggae, Laurie Berkner reviews

The following is written by my husband, Brett Levy, and cross-posted at his blog.

Reggae Playground
Sometimes it takes me a while to decide if I like a song or album. That is the case with three CDs and one DVD that I received in late 2005.

Of the CDs, I warmed up quickest to Reggae Playground, which offers snippets of Caribbean sounds from a variety of artists. The music is light and fun, making it easy for your child to follow along.

Kids will probably enjoy Alain Schneider’s “Le Vieil Éléphant” the most. While the majority of the song is in French, the beat is universal.

Toots and the Maytals rendition of “Take Me Home Country Roads” will probably strike a bigger cord with parents than kids. That’s because of the cute play on words:

Take me home,
country road,
to the place,
I belong
West Jamaica …

I smile every time I hear “West Jamaica.”

This album shines because both parent and child can enjoy the music together. The melodies are more complex than most music directed at children, which parents will find more satisfying than say the Wiggles. But the distinct reggae beat holds children’s attention better than heavy, complex Western music.

We Are the Laurie Berkner Band
I took a while to warm up to Laurie Berkner. Well, let me step back. I took a while to warm up to her band.

When Seth and I first watched Laurie’s upcoming DVD, all of the songs – and the various tie-ins from TV shows and books – were new to us. That’s one of the pitfalls of watching zero commercial TV.

Seth seemed to like the music first time through, but I think he was at first unsure of the video. The colorful outfits worn by Berkner and her two band mates are bright like the Wiggles, but they’re constantly changing, which seemed to overwhelm his senses.

And to be honest, I was a bit distracted by the, um, bounciness of the ladies’ tops. Someone needs to talk to the wardrobe folk about that.

After the second viewing, though, Seth wanted to watch or listen to the DVD over and over again. In fact, he connects with Laurie’s music far deeper than Reggae Playground.

I suspect that’s because he’s still a toddler, and because Laurie’s music is, well, bouncy like her tops. For those who already own Laurie’s albums, take note that only one of the songs on the DVD is new: “Walk Along the River.”

There was one song I did not warm up to: “O Susannah,” which I guess is sung off-key by Brian Mueller on purpose. There is probably some inside joke that goes along with this song, but it sounds so butchered to me, I cringe every time it loops around.

The DVD comes with a short CD that includes “The Happiest Song I know,” which is also on Tom Chapin’s Some Assembly Required album. I reviewed that album in November. Maybe it’s Chapin’s more polished recording skills, but “Happiest Song” reveals just how silky Laurie’s voice can be. It’s one of my wife’s favorite songs off the Chapin album.

One World, One Kid
It’s hard to not like a 6-year-old kid who creates an album to cheer up a friend fighting cancer. The brainchild of Skyler Pia, 100 percent of the profit from One World One Kid benefits the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

While I’m not in love with the boy’s high-pitched voiceovers before each song, Skyler’s eclectic taste in music is excellent. In fact, most of these culturally-rich songs from around the world are mostly over Seth’s head and will be best enjoyed by parents and older kids.

The album is short, but only costs about $6.