C is for Carnival with Yolanda Marshall

Congratulations to the winners of Alice Faye Duncan's THIS TRAIN IS BOUND FOR GLORY:
Michele Ziemke
Steena Hernandez
Kari Ann Gonzalez

Thanks so much for tuning in to PBJamz!  I appreciate your support!  Thanks, Alice Faye Duncan for your generosity!  I know you all will love this beautiful book! If you do, please leave a review for Alice and share with others who will love it too!

Talking food, music, Carnival energy, and writing with Yolanda Marshall

What a fun energetic conversation with Yolanda Marshall, author of C IS FOR CARNIVAL, MY SOCA BIRTHDAY PARTY and more!  We chat about her inspiration and process for writing, and also about Calypso and Soca music, steel pan drums, Caribbean food, the energy of Carnival, Afro-Caribbean culture as a Canadian, why representation matters, and more! Yolanda was a joy to talk to and I hope you enJOY our convo, too!

C IS FOR CARNIVAL by Yolanda Marshall

Various versions of this beautiful, energetic book are available depending upon where you live/hail from.  Written by Yolanda T. Marshall, and illustrated by  Darla Lavrova, Chalkboard Publishing has put our a beautifully energetic alphabet book which shares the beauty, energy, food, music and all the essentials of Carnival -- a celebration of Caribbean culture, emancipation from slavery, and the freedom and joy available to people of Caribbean heritage now.  The illustrations are beautiful and joyful to match the text.  The two come together to present a glorious picture of what it might be like to be at Carnival in various cities around the world.   There is even a recipe in the back.  This book will make you want to put on some Calypso or Soca music, make some Roti and other delicious Caribbean food and dance the day away.

A Little Jam. . .(The Music Kind)

This song has many of the phrases and ideas that Yolanda talked about, so I'm including it here!  Super-fun, great soca beat, and this one shows the lyrics.  If you don't love this version, there is a SocaKidz version in the YouTube playlist in the links section, along with lots of other Calypso, Soca, steel pans, and more!

Teacher Tips, Tricks and Topics

This book is a perfect segue to any Caribbean Carnival celebration near you.  It's a great way to bring in multicultural education in really fun ways.  Be sure to check out the links section below with lots of ways to use the book and fun ways to enhance various aspects of Afro-Caribbean culture.

• First of all this art is beautiful and celebratory and you could certainly discuss the mood/tone of the book.  Look at the pictures and then at the words.  What emotions are conveyed?  Find text evidence!
• Obviously, this is an alphabet book, so there's a layer to tap into for sure!  Letter sounds, letter formation, beginning sounds, etc.
• Vocabulary!!  This book is replete with vocabulary that many of our students may be unfamiliar with. Discuss, look at the pictures and use your best vocabulary strategies to enhance their learning of these new words and terms.
• Social studies connections -- culture: food, music, costumes, etc are all talked about within the book and would be perfect elements to bring out in the classroom.
• Rhyme/rhythm are natural pull-outs for this book as well. Not all the phrases are true rhyme, so it might be a fun activity (depending on the age level) to discuss the difference and maybe do a sorting activity for true rhyme/near rhyme/etc.
• Such a fun book to read aloud, so be sure to read it out loud.  Maybe let kids take turns reading it out loud in a station, record themselves and listen back, etc.
• Since Yolanda has several books out relative to Afro-Caribbean culture, an author study  would be a fun way to tackle that.
• You could compare any of Yolanda's books with BIG TUNE: RISE OF THE DANCEHALL PRINCE by Alliah Agostini, since they both speak about the Afro-Caribbean experience in different ways. Venn diagram, anyone? ;-). There are lots of other ways you could work them together as well.  To access the PBJamz episode with BIG TUNE, click here.

Tips and Topics for Music Teachers

The YouTube playlist linked up below is a great place to start!  

• This book (and others by Yolanda Marshall, as well as BIG TUNE, RISE OF THE DANCEHALL PRINCE,  and others) are fabulous ways to introduce Afro-Caribbean forms of music: soca, steel pan, dancehall and more!
• Compare different versions of Afro-Caribbean music (on steel pans, with other instruments, with vocals, without vocals, etc.)
• If you have access to steel drums/steel pans have students play simple tunes or just experiment with the sounds.
• Looking at the I (iron) page you could pull out triangles, bring pots and pans, grab your little cymbals and have a Carnival jam session (with or without steel drums.
• Have your own carnival parade.  Make flags and/or headdresses, etc. and parade around the school and let students pretend to be masqueraders. (within school dress code ;-)
• Listen/play along/explore/compare calypso music and soca music
• My local university has a steel drum ensemble -- maybe yours does too and they could come play for your students?
• There are lots of fun dance videos and rhythm play-alongs/body percussion activities in the YouTube list and more activities in the Pinterest board, so be sure to check that out. 

Writing Prompts from Tonnye

1. Write your own ABC book about your favorite music or a special celebration your family/culture have. It doesn't have to rhyme -- or even have sentences.  Write a word for each letter.  Write a phrase. Write a sentence. Whatever works.
2. Listen to Soca music and write about how it makes you feel. What emotions? How does it feel in your body?  Do the same with calypso.
3. Write the ABCs of YOU!
4. Write about Carnival.  Would you like to go? Why/why not?  What do you think would be your favorite part?  What part do you think you wouldn't like?
5. Make a Venn diagram or T-chart comparing what you learned about Carnival with a celebration you enjoy.  How are they alike and different?  Write one paragraph about how they're alike, and one paragraph about how they're different.
6. Read the recipe for Roti. Have you ever tried it?  Does it remind you of something you have eaten?  Do you think you would like it? 
7. Make Roti at home with help from a grown-up.  Did you like it? Why/why not?
8. What is YOUR favorite celebration food?  Write about it.  Can you write a recipe for it?
9. Have you ever walked on stilts like a Moko Jumbie?  Did you enjoy it? What made it hard or easy or fun?  Would you like to do that for Carnival? Why/why not?
10. Why is it important to celebrate freedom/emancipation?

Writing Tips from Yolanda Marshall

- Be patient with your process, it can sometimes take a long time to complete your manuscript, but it will be worth it.
- The first sentence of your story sets the tone- make it good enough to reel your readers in.
- Do as much research as you can on your audience- it strengthens your knowledge about who you are writing for and will market your book to.

Links, More Fun, Extensions for Families and Everyone!

YouTube playlist full of soca, calypso, steel pan, interviews and read-alouds from Yolanda and more!
Pinterest board with lots of resources to teach and share related to C is for Carnival 
Yolanda's C is for Carnival playlist on Spotify
​

PBJamz Snack -- Peanut Butter Energy Balls

All that dancing for Carnival requires loads of energy.  These protein balls are a great quick breakfast, an on-the-go snack, a perfect treat for Carnival or any time.  Find the recipe here.

Guest Links and Giveaways

Yolanda's website (purchase books, download, subscribe, check out her latest news and interviews, etc.)
Yolanda's YouTube channel
Connect with Yolanda on:
LinkTree
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter/X
​Caribbean Storytime with Yolanda Marshall (Apple podcasts)

To buy C is for Carnival at
Amazon
Barnes and Noble

Yolanda is giving away 1 copy of C is for Carnival!  To be eligible, leave a comment below by 11:59 PM EST on Aug. 16, 2023. We'll draw one lucky winner from those who leave a comment.