LITTLE ROSETTA AND THE TALKING GUITAR with Charnelle Pinkney Barlow

Congratulations to . . .  Elyse Travers! She is the winner of a copy of DOLLY! by Robyn McGrath!  Thank you, Elyse for visiting PBJamz!  Come on back any time!

Chatting with Charnelle

What a delightful conversation about music and art and picture books for all ages.  We chat Sister Rosetta, rock 'n' roll, paper collage, perseverance and so much more!  Charnelle is precious!  Her art is gorgeous, and her words are beautiful.  Get your hands on a copy of the book -- it's perfect for black history month, women's history month, and every single month of the year. And yes, it's a picture book, but it's about a lady with some amazing talent and some amazing legacy, which makes it perfect for all ages! (We talk about that, too!)  Don't forget to comment on the blog post to be eligible to win a signed copy of LITTLE ROSETTA!  And support Charnelle by leaving a review, making a purchase or sharing out on socials!

LITTLE ROSETTA AND THE TALKING GUITAR

LITTLE ROSETTA AND THE TALKING GUITAR is a beautiful book.  The words are beautiful, the subject is beautiful, and the art is beautiful.  When you put all of that together, this book is more than beautiful!  Not only that, but there are so many little layers that can be brought to the surface in the classroom or as part of a read-aloud.  If you're in a home school or classroom setting, be sure to check out the teacher tips section when they're posted.  So many teaching topics.  The music connections are somewhat obvious, but in the music teacher section, I'll point those out, along with the less-obvious ways as well that you could use this book in your music lessons. One of the themes I love about this book is perseverance.  Anyone who's ever attempted to learn to play an instrument knows that feeling of what it sounds like in my head vs. what it sounds like in my ears.  Charnelle captures that feeling beautifully, but goes on to show that Rosetta, even at 4, 5, 6 years old was very persistent in her learning. I also love the onomatopoeia and the focus on all the sounds Rosetta probably heard as a child and how they influenced her music. There is also lyricism and figurative language in abundance.  There's girl power and overcoming hardship.  And beautiful just doesn't share all of that.  But, beautiful, it is. . . . 

A Little Jam. . .(The Music Kind)

I can't watch Sister Rosetta without smiling.  She has a vivacity that is contagious, and her talent is unparalleled.  This piece is a great one to share with kids since many of them are familiar with "This Little Light of Mine".  What a fun version of the song to introduce them to.  There are lots of fun things you could do with this song -- whether you're in a music classroom, a regular classroom, a homeschool setting, or even preschool.  Everyone is bound to enjoy this version of a classic.  You have clarinet and trumpet solos too, which is fun from an elementary music standpoint, in addition to her outstanding electric guitar solo.

Teacher Tips, Tricks and Topics

Art --

• Try some paper collage techniques
• Create a scrapbook page project as a biography integrating some cool papers

ELA --

• Onomatopoeia words -- categorize where she heard them; take a listening walk and write onomatopoeia words for the sounds you hear
• Figurative language -- simile, metaphor, personification
  • Scavenger hunt -- find them in the book
  • Analyze
  • Create-your-own
• Dialect/contractions/use of apostrophes

Social Studies

• Identify Arkansas on US map
• Why was the town called CottonPlant
• Trace Rosetta's journey in the back matter:  Cotton Plant, Chicago, NYC, etc.

Tips and Topics for Music Teachers

Gospel influences on Rosetta's music
Beginnings of rock 'n' roll style
Instruments mentioned in the book

• Guitar
• Mandolin
• Drums

Gospel music as a genre
Other historical figures in early rock 'n' roll history
Guitar lessons/vocabulary/terminology
Science of strings -- explore guitar and mandolin

Writing Prompts from Tonnye

1. Faith and gospel music had a huge influence on Rosetta's music.  If you are a person of faith, write about how your faith has influenced your life so far and/or what your hopes are for the future.
2.  Write a paragraph (or a page -- or a book) describing Sister Rosetta and/or her performances.
3. Write additional lyrics for "This Little Light of Mine". OR
4. Write about what that song means to you.
5.  Rosetta Tharpe is sometimes called the "Godmother of Rock 'n' Roll".  Write about whether that is the best title for her or if there is a better one and why.
6.  Write a poem about Rosetta Tharpe .
7.  Write a concrete/shape poem about her guitar.
8.  Write part of Rosetta's story from the point-of-view of her guitar.
9.  If you could sing or perform with Rosetta, what song would you choose and why?
10.  Write a list of 10 interesting facts about Rosetta Tharpe.
11.  Look carefully at the art work in the book.  What do you notice?  What is interesting?
12. Rosetta learned to play the guitar at a young age.  Write about something you learned to do when you were very young.  How did it feel?  Was it hard?  How did you meet that challenge?
​13.  Write a speech explaining why Rosetta Tharpe should or should not be inducted into the rock 'n' roll hall of fame or a similar award.

Writing Tips from Charnelle Barlow

1. Get the first draft down on the page without worrying about the intricate details too much. Getting it out of your head and onto the page is what's most important at the early stages. 

2. Find a group of likeminded people you can bounce ideas off of and get constructive criticism from. It definitely helps you see your project from different perspectives which can help tremendously when you're stuck.

3. Join the SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) if you're writing or illustrating for children. They are a treasure trove of information and host regional events as well as conferences. This is a great way to get critiques from peers, agents, editors, and to learn from people in the industry.

4. Have fun! I know...sounds simple, but trust me...people can tell if you aren't having fun with what you're writing or illustrating. Let them feel your joy.

Links, More Fun, Extensions for Families and Everyone!

YouTube playlist full of Sister Rosetta's music
Pinterest board

PBJamz Snack -- PB&J Snack Cake

Listening to Sister Rosetta and her gospel-infused music is enough to make you long for church potlucks or "dinners on the grounds" as we grew up calling them.  This is perfect for a church potluck, or afternoon snacks for the kids, or any other time, I'd wager!  A delicious PBJ snack cake!  Find the recipe here And check out kitchn for more great recipes!

Guest Links and Giveaways

You can find Charnelle's books, art, and more about her by checking out her links below:

Website

Instagram
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​To order ROSETTA AND THE TALKING GUITAR

Charnelle is giving away one SIGNED copy of LITTLE ROSETTA.  To be eligible, leave a comment below!