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 MarshallWhat 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 MarshallVarious 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 TopicsThis 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.
Tips and Topics for Music TeachersThe YouTube playlist linked up below is a great place to start!
Writing Prompts from Tonnye
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 BallsAll 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 GiveawaysYolanda's website (purchase books, download, subscribe, check out her latest news and interviews, etc.)
Yolanda's YouTube channel Connect with Yolanda on: LinkTree 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.
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Congratulations . . . Anna Ouchy! You are the winner of a copy of THIS IS MUSIC: STRINGS! And the two ARCS of DANCE LIKE A PEACOCK go to: LuAnn Johnston and Julie Hauswirth Thanks, Rekha, for your generosity, and thanks to everyone who tuned in for this episode of PBJamz! Keep watching, reading and commenting for more chances to win great books below! THIS TRAIN IS BOUND FOR GLORY: a Conversation with Alice Faye DuncanAll aboard for a train bound for glory! Hop on for a great conversation with author, Alice Faye Duncan. We talk black spirituals, Rosetta Tharpe, writing inspiration, interactive books, teaching tips, writing tips, and more! Alice Faye is a delight: full of energy, very knowledgeable, and generous! You don't want to miss out -- on the train or the conversation! All aboard! THIS TRAIN IS BOUND FOR GLORY by Alice Faye DuncanFrom Waterbrook Publishing comes this beautifully and vibrantly illustrated ride on the Glory Express. Alice Faye Duncan adapts lyrics of an old black spiritual of the same name, THIS TRAIN IS BOUND FOR GLORY, made popular by Rosetta Tharpe and also performed by myriad other performers. The illustrations are bright and welcoming and each passenger finds a way into the song -- and onto the train. The overarching feeling of this book is a deep-seated joy, regardless of the struggles some of the passengers have obviously dealt with. I love the diversity of all the people on board, and my favorite spread is one where they are having an all-out jam session on the train. Beautiful! There are some guiding questions at the end, a challenge to create your own verses to keep the song going, and a study guide on Alice's website. The book is bright, beautiful and it takes the old black spiritual up a few notches, turning it into an invitation for the ride of a lifetime. A Little Jam. . .(The Music Kind)Sister Rosetta Tharpe (Alice Faye and I mention her in the interview. . .) did an incredible rendition of THIS TRAIN IS BOUND FOR GLORY. In fact, there are a few different versions of her doing it, as well as other musicians. For other versions, check out the YouTube playlist in the links section. Also there is another episode of #PBJamz where we highlighted the book LITTLE ROSETTA AND THE TALKING GUITAR by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow. You can catch it here. This is a great piece for highlighting Rosetta's amazing electric guitar skills, her gritty vocals, and her sense of humor. Since this is a spiritual, it speaks of Jesus, holiness, and things not allowed on the "train for glory." Teacher Tips, Tricks and Topics
Tips and Topics for Music Teachers
Writing Prompts from Tonnye
Writing Tips from Alice Faye DuncanThree writing tips for THIS TRAIN IS BOUND FOR GLORY 1. For craft, read and study lyrics to your favorite traditional and contemporary songs. 2. For practical work, purchase writing pens and notebooks that are aesthetically pleasing to you. 3. For inspiration, visit local art and history museums Links, More Fun, Extensions for Families and Everyone!Teachers' guide for THIS TRAIN on Alice's website Pinterest board with lots of train activities, various versions of THIS TRAIN, historical info about black spirituals, etc. YouTube playlist has the cups routine, music by Rosetta Tharpe, various version of THIS TRAIN, plus additional train music and more! Lyrics and more PBJamz SnackIf you're riding the train, you need a snack that's not going to be a drippy droppy mess. These peanut butter and jelly oatmeal bars seem to fit the bill. Hearty, a bit nutritious and a lot delicious! Perfect for a train trip -- to Glory, across the country or to the next town over. Wherever you're traveling, bake a batch and take them with you, but you might want to make enough to share! You can find the recipe here, along with lots of others (as well as fashion, holiday tips, and tons more) from Real Housemoms! Guest Links and GiveawaysAlice's website Purchase THIS TRAIN from Amazon here. Alice on Facebook Alice on Twitter THIS TRAIN page on Alice's website Alice is generously offering 3 copies of THIS TRAIN IS BOUND FOR GLORY to 3 lucky winners. To be entered into the drawing, leave a comment below by August 2, 2023 at 11:59 PM. I will draw 3 winners from the comments! Good luck and enjoy this fabulous book, interview and episode! Congratulations, Debi Boccanfuso! You are last episode's winner of a Lupe Lopez book signed by Pat Z Miller and e.E. Charlton-Trujillo! Thanks for checking out PBJamz and thanks to Pat & e for their generosity! Three Times Lucky with Rekha Rajan and THIS IS MUSIC!I LOVE what I do here at PBJamz! I have been blessed with learning about so many lovely books that integrate music in such amazing and interesting ways. But I also have made some fabulous friends along the way. This is Rekha's third PBJamz visit, as we are chatting about the third installment of her board book series THIS IS MUSIC. I thoroughly enjoy talking with Rekha each time and hope that someday we get to meet live and in person. Not only is she a great friend, but a fantastic author, musician, professor and more! We love chatting -- talking music, teaching, writing, publishing, read alouds, and more. You get just a little piece of our conversation here, but I think you'll find it a great way to spend 30 minutes of your time. Check out all the cool content below and be sure to leave us a comment to be entered for 3 generous book giveaways! Keep reading to find out more! THIS IS MUSIC: STRINGS by Rekha RajanThis third installment picks up where the other ones left off -- we've kept a beat and we blew our horns. Now, we learn about strings. Two of the things I love about this series is that Rehka does a wonderful job of introducing kids to multicultural instruments, AND she integrates great musical vocabulary throughout the series. There's a lot to love though -- these beautiful and colorful illustrations (by Tania Yakunova), the interactive element of the book, the rhythm and musicality of the text. Rekha packs a lot into a little board book. By the way, just because it's a board book doesn't mean it's JUST for little kids. Sure, it's perfect for them, and how wonderful to introduce infants, toddlers, and preschoolers to lots of musical content at a young age, but these books are also fabulous for introducing primary students to musical concepts: how sound is made/what vibrates to create sound, families of instruments/ways to group sounds, musical vocabulary, the concepts that music is all around us and that you can create music yourself using everyday objects! Because of that, they're equally wonderful at home, in a preschool/daycare setting, and in primary school! There's a lot to love in these little board books! A Little Jam. . .(The Music Kind)This song is better suited to the littles, but it's a lot of fun and goes through several different string instruments. One thing that might be fun after the book is to make a list of all the string instruments you can think of and then sing them into this song. If this is not right for you, there are lots more pieces below in the YouTube playlist and on the Pinterest board. Check the links section. Teacher Tips, Tricks and TopicsThere are lots of ways you could use this book at home, in a daycare setting, or in a primary school setting.
Tips and Topics for Music TeachersFor music teachers, there are even more ways to use THIS IS MUSIC: STRINGS.
Writing Prompts from Tonnye
Writing Tips from Rekha
Links, More Fun, Extensions for Families and Everyone!YouTube playlist with videos about strings as a family, specific instruments, songs, demonstrations, and lots more! These are perfect complements to THIS IS MUSIC: STRINGS Pinterest board with over 50 teaching ideas, photos of instruments, DIY instruments and various activities PBJamz Snack -- PBJabobsThese little PBJ kabobs remind me of treats on a string, which seems appropriate for this episode. I found this on Pinterest, attributed to happinessishomemade.net. I couldn't find the recipe on their site, but thankfully it looks pretty simple: Cut a PBJ sandwich into small squares and layer on skewers with fruits of your choice (pictured are bananas, strawberries, and grapes it looks like. You could vary this one in many ways depending on what you have on hand! What a fun string of yums! Guest Links and GiveawaysCheck out Rekha's links, visit her website, order her books (Review them and request them from your library as well!!). Visit and follow her on socials and see how and where you can connect! Make sure you leave a comment below so you're eligible for her giveaways!
Rekha's website To buy THIS IS MUSIC: STRINGS from Amazon Rekha's Twitter Rehka's Amazon page (with all her books) Rehka's Goodreads page Rekha has graciously offered up a copy of THIS IS MUSIC: STRINGS & a couple of ARCs (Advance reading copies) of her up-and-coming book DANCE LIKE A PEACOCK! That means this episode will have 3 winners! All you have to do to be eligible is leave a comment below! Good luck! MARTHA MERRITT, Congratulations! You are the winner for Ashley Belote's book LISTEN UP LOUELLA! Thanks for following along with PBJamz! Be sure to review Ashley's book if you love it, (and I KNOW you will, because it is PRECIOUS FUN!) and share PBJamz with your teacher friends and author friends! Thank you Ashley for your generosity! A Rockin' Conversation with authors e.E. Trujillo & Pat Zietlow MillerWhat a fun conversation with E and Pat! We cover everything from KISS to Macy's balloons -- and that's a lot of ground to cover! :-).They share their inspiration, their process and so much more! Lupe is definitely a larger-than-life character who deserves to be on your shelves (and maybe one day in the Macy's parade, who knows?) In book one, she tackled school rules as she started kindergarten and in book 2, she learns to read as a first grader. Check out the interview for an exciting spoiler alert, too! LUPE LOPEZ (Rock Star Rules and Reading Rock Star)Both of these books feature larger-than-life primary student, Lupe Lopez. As a beginning kindergartener, Lupe struggles with rules, since she is obviously a "rock star". In Rock Star Rules, she learns to adapt to a new environment and how rules change from one place to another. She also learns some valuable lessons about friendship and teamwork! In Reading Rock Star, Lupe is now a first grader and tackles learning to read, which she is sure to "rock" -- except she doesn't -- at least at first. Read both of these books to see how Lupe learns to be a rock start problem-solver and more! These books will appeal to all the little rock stars in your world. With vibrant, star-studded illustrations, by Joe Cepeda, Lupe Lopez will leap right off the page and into your heart! A Little Jam. . .(The Music Kind)This little ditty is also perfect for kid rockers who like to "bend the rules". It's fun to dance to, sing along, or just listen. If you're in a classroom setting, you could maybe use this as a challenge for students to create their own "flipgrid" video (or other platform) to share the rules of the classroom in a fun way. Or it could simply be a great opener for a discussion about the rules. However you listen or use it, it's sure to "bring the house down." If this song isn't your style, there are lots more on the YouTube playlist I created for Lupe Lopez. Check out the rest of the list down in the links section! Teacher Tips, Tricks and TopicsLupe is a perfect book to use for the beginning of school as you are discussing rules and procedures, and she is sure to make it lots of fun! If you teach in a primary school, these books would make a great addition to any rockin' classroom! I've got loads of decor ideas pinned if you want to rock out your decor and go full-on rock 'n' roll for the year! Both of these books lend themselves so beautifully to the classroom, since they are set in school and deal with school issues! Other topics you could tackle with Lupe Lopez:
Tips and Topics for Music TeachersThe music room is a perfect place for a rockin' themed classroom -- and lots of rockin' picture books! Check out the Pinterest board in the links section if you want to deck out the classroom or find lots of ways to integrate Lupe and music! Here are some possibilities for integrating Lupe themes into the music room:
Writing Prompts from Tonnye
Writing Tips from e.E. and Pat1. Read picture books published in the last five years. Lots and lots of them. 2. Write a lot of drafts of picture books. Don't pin all your hopes and dreams on one story. 3. Set your stories aside and then come back in a month or so and revise. Read more picture books and write more stories while you wait. 4. Get feedback from other writers you trust. (Your family and friends love you and will probably love your books, but they likely don't know what makes a successful picture book.) 5. Read THE COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO PUBLISHING CHILDREN'S BOOKS by Harold Underdown. You aren't an idiot, but this will answer practically any question you have. Links, More Fun, Extensions for Families and Everyone!YouTube playlist with lots of fun songs and music to go along with Lupe Lopez: Rock Star Rules, along with interviews and read alouds. Pinterest board with tons of decor ideas for a rock star classroom, school activities, Texas lessons/activities, musical fun and more! Teaching Books page for Lupe Lopez: Rock Star Rules Making Friends lesson from University of Colorado PBJamz Snack -- Peanut butter fries!Egg roll wrappers smeared with peanut butter? Deep fried until golden? Sprinkled with powdered sugar? Served in a cup with a pool of jelly at the bottom? Oh my, and yes, please! What a fabulous snack for after a rule-following day of school! Or a snack with friends! Or a rockin' snack for a rock 'n' roll concert! Wherever you eat them, these are sure to please! Get the recipe here. Guest Links and GiveawaysTo purchase Lupe Lopez: Rock Star Rules
To purchase Lupe Lopez: Reading Rock Star For e.E Charlton-Trujillo's website For Pat Z. Miller's website e.E and Pat have graciously signed a copy of Lupe Lopez to give away to one lucky winner during this episode. To be eligible to win, leave a comment below on the blog by 11:59 PM on July 5! Winner will be announced on the next episode and on Twitter! Congratulations to Sandra F. Coliny! You won the copy of BIG TUNE from Alliah Agostini! You're going to LOVE it! So fun and full of rhythm and rhyme -- sure to have you ready to "bust a move"! Enjoy! Thanks, Alliah, for your generosity and thanks, Sandra for tuning in! Ashley Belote and I chat art, music, and more!Ashley is a delight and we had a a GREAT conversation! Come on in and join us as we chat! Her book, LISTEN UP LOUELLA is precious! It's so full of fun, so don't skip it! LISTEN UP LOUELLALOUELLA is an elephant -- with a big personality! She gets her feelings hurt when she gets left out, but in the end she realizes that much of it is in her control. She learns the power of being a good listener and a good friend after quite a few MISadventures. Music shows up in a few places in this super fun summer camp story, and when it does, it adds to the color and fun of the book! The illustrations and colors are full of camp fun, and this cast of characters will make you wish for summer days again! LouElla is relatable for kids, and this story has an SEL component that will have kids learning as they're laughing. A Little Jam. . .(The Music Kind)While this song doesn't talk specifically about listening, it does talk about friendship and it has the colorful summer camp vibe of LISTEN UP, LOUELLA. It's got a great beat if you'd like to use it in music class. Check out the playlist for more fun music to use in your classroom. And take a look at the tips for the classroom and music classroom for more fun things to do with this book in your classes. Teacher Tips, Tricks and TopicsAshley's book is full of great topics for teachers and there are many ways to use it in your classroom! It's full of great layers and a super-strong SEL connection! If I were using it in the regular classroom, here are some ways I would consider:
Tips and Topics for Music TeachersWhile the music content is not as prominent in this story as some of the others I've featured on PBJamz, there are lots of ways you could integrate this book into a successful music lesson or even a unit.
Writing Prompts from Tonnye
Writing/Illustrating Tips from Ashley1. Let your environment do the talking! Always keep an open mind, wherever you are. Ideas can strike when you least expect them! Always have a notebook around (especially if you're an illustrator), because you'll need somewhere to jot down ideas! 2. Don't edit yourself in your head. Sometimes we think of an idea and immediately say, "That won't work." This is not the right way to create. We must always give our ideas a chance. Yes, they could turn out to be amazing, but sometimes they can lead to other ideas. Regardless of what path they take, they are working toward your success. 3. Exaggerate. When actors are on stage, they are often told to make their movements more exaggerated than they would normally because part of acting is exaggerating. Art is the same way. If you are drawing a character reaching up to get something, exaggerate it more. Stretch the arms longer, squish objects to the point of them breaking, elongate things, twist, turn, etc! Every time I make a drawing, I revise and exaggerate the movement just a bit more and it always makes me feel better. We need to create energetic, active, and entertaining scenes, and one way to do this is through the linework in our art. eek, check back for writing tips Links, More Fun, Extensions for Families and Everyone!Pinterest board with lots of fun links to resources and activities to go along with LISTEN UP LOUELLA YouTube playlist with camp songs, listening songs/activities, read-aloud and art activity from Ashley and more! Activity kit to go along with LISTEN UP LOUELLA -- Earn Roar Scout badges, color, draw, go on a scavenger hunt and more! PBJamz SnackA perfect camp snack or breakfast, these PBJ granola bars are easy to whip up, simple to serve and a perfect summer PBJ recipe! Guest Links and GiveawaysAshley Belote is the illustrator of FRANKENSLIME (Feiwel & Friends, 2021) and VALENSLIME (Feiwel & Friends, 2021). She is the author-illustrator of her solo debut early reader THE ME TREE (Penguin Workshop, 2021) and her solo debut picture book LISTEN UP, LOUELLA (Feiwel & Friends, 2022).
She studied traditional animation under the direction of Don Bluth. Ashley is a West Virginia native, and earned her BA from Alderson Broaddus University. She earned her MA in Arts Administration from the University of Kentucky. Her graduate study included a children’s literature and illustration course, The Whole Book Approach, through Simmons College at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. She also serves as the Illustrator Coordinator for the Carolinas chapter of SCBWI. Ashley is represented by Moe Ferrara of BookEnds Literary Agency. Check out her links below: Ashley's website FB YouTube GoodReads If you'd like to order signed copies of Ashley's books, order through Main Street Books in Davidson, NC. Speaking of books, Ashley is giving away a signed copy of LISTEN UP, LOUELLA. Simply comment below to be entered into a drawing to win! CONGRATULATIONS to . . . .Steena Hernandez!!! You are the lucky winner of Ellen Leventhal's prize!!! Your choice of: A Zoom visit (AMA or a classroom visit) OR A copy of DEBBIE'S SONG Thanks, Ellen, for your generosity, and thank you, Steena, for your support of PBJamz and our visiting authors! A FUN CONVERSATION WITH ALLIAH AGOSTINIGrab a Ting and pull up a chair! Alliah and I had a great conversation that ranged from BIG TUNE, her inspiration, her family, her writing process, the role of music in her life and in the book, teaching and education and their role in her life as well as her family's life, and all the upcoming things. Come laugh along with us as we talk culture, childhood, and books. BIG TUNE: RISE OF THE DANCEHALL PRINCEFrom end paper to end paper (both covered with cassette tape images), this book is full of music, fun, dancing, and more. It follows shy Shane, who secretly wants to dance, but isn't quite ready to bust a move in public. Family gatherings, Jamerican style, complete with delicious Jamaican food and drink center and ground the book, with "Soul Food Sunday"-esque vibes. When Shane is alone, though, the moves and song burst forth. He becomes the hero of his own story, but to see if he gets brave enough to share his love of music and dance, you'll have to read the book. Beautiful paper collage illustrations crown this fun music-centered, food-loving, culture-sharing book. The bright, bold color scheme is perfect for telling this colorful tale! Oh, and consider yourself warned: Check your spice cabinet or have Uber-Eats on speed dial, because you're definitely going to want some Jerk something after reading! I've had jerk chicken, jerk pork chops, Jamaican peas and rice, Jamaican cabbage, fried plantains, and tropical salsa since reading . . . . oh, it's a vibe you're going to want to give in to . . . As a matter of fact, here's the link to my Caribbean foods Pinterest board (you know, just. in. case. ;-) A Little Jam. . .(The Music Kind)If you want to try your hand at some of the Jamaican dancehall moves, here's a quick run-through of a bunch. This video was made to go along with another book about Jamaican dance: “Back to Basics: A-Z of Dancehall” by Latoya Wakefield. It would be an excellent accompaniment book to BIG TUNE! So learn to bust a move -- or 26! Share them with your children, your students, etc. and get your groove on together. You can be your own dancehall king, queen, prince, or princess! For more dancehall music, singing, dancing, etc., be sure to check out the links section below for the YouTube playlist! Teacher Tips, Tricks and TopicsThis book has some very natural multidisciplinary segues into a classroom.
Tips and Topics for Music Teachers
Writing Prompts from Tonnye
Writing Tips from Alliah L. AgostiniHave no inspiration? Are you sure? You may have all the inspiration you need inside. Perhaps you think you're the most uninteresting, most typical person in the world. With the most typical childhood experiences. WRONG. What is typical? Nothing. Your story and your experiences are unique to you, but they may be fascinating to somebody else. Besides, you may never know who may find your experiences or interests relatable or comforting. Start digging into that memory bank when you need inspiration. There's a reason people say 'write what you know'. Write in rhyme if you feel it's appropriate. But if you want it acquired, you better make it excellent. We always hear 'don't write in rhyme, editors don't like it.' That's not true. While all editors don't acquire rhyme, editors don't like bad rhyme. Reading some of my old rhyming work triggers a serious cringefest. No wonder it's nowhere but my computer right now. If you find yourself: -rhyming for rhyme's sake -using odd sentence construction for the sake of rhyme -letting the rhyme lead the story rather than the story leading the rhyme -writing in uneven meter... Then stop. Take a beat. Consider if you need to continue down this path, and if you do, keep working. Good rhyme takes time (that was a total coincidence, by the way). If not- consider another way to tell your story. -Bottom Line: Write the stories you want to read. I don't know how many times I've heard and said 'Be the change you want to see.' I believe it. You feel like there's a story you really want to read? Don't be passive - do it yourself. It's easy to feel like you need to write to fit a trend, but trends change quickly and publishing is slow. By the time you've completed, let alone published that trendy manuscript, that ship may have sailed. Links, More Fun, Extensions for Families and Everyone!YouTube playlist with lots of teachable content mentioned in the teaching section above Pinterest board with teaching ideas about Jamaica, food, money, and dancehall music and more. Spotify instrumental school-safe playlist created by Alliah! PBJamz Snack-Peanut Butter 'n Jamaican Honey on Hardo BreadI love to connect my PBJamz snack to the episode when I can, so I asked Alliah about Jamaican versions of PBJ. She said her kids really enjoy peanut butter with Jamaican ("decadent smoky, floral flavor)" honey on Jamaican hard dough (hardo) bread. She called this a Jamerican recipe. I'm linking up the recipe for the Hardo bread, and trusting you to put whatever you want on it. :-). It's a slight departure from the PBJ, but it sounds delicious! As for myself, I ordered up some Jamaican honey. It's supposed to be from a farm in Jamaica. We'll see. I might have to bake up some hardo too to finish out my Jamaican feasting. I may not have traveled to Jamaica over Spring Break, but between reading Alliah's book, listening to the music and eating the food, I've had a Jamaican staycation for sure! (photo credit and recipe from Winsome Murphy at Jamaicans.com Guest Links and GiveawaysMeet Alliah -- on her website
To order a copy of BIG TUNE from Amazon To find Alliah on Twitter Alliah on Instagram Link to her books page on her website And, Alliah is offering a copy of BIG TUNE to one lucky winner during this episode! To be eligible, simply leave a comment below and you'll be entered into a drawing! CONGRATULATIONS Jennifer Cowan!!! You are the winner of a copy of THE NOTE WHO FACED THE MUSIC by Lindsay Bonilla! Thanks for tuning in to PBJamz! Ellen Levanthal and I talk music, books, writing, and more!Join Ellen and I as we talk legacy, light, persecution, music, and writing, among other things. We had a lovely conversation! We invite you to learn more about Debbie Friedman and how she changed jewish music. Also, Ellen and I talk about her writing process, and what's coming next for her, DEBBIE'S SONG: The Debbie Friedman Story by Ellen Leventhal, illustrated by Natalia GrebtsovaEllen's words and Natalia Grebtsova's beautiful illustrations bring Debbie Friedman to life -- her superpower of music, her passion for creating worship music that was engaging, her commitment to her life's work, her perseverance in the face of adversity. With strong and beautiful language, Debbie's voice is heard again through the pages of this gorgeous book. Her heart shines in each line. Published by Kar-Ben publishing. A Little Jam. . .(The Music Kind)This Jewish (Hebrew) alphabet song by Debbie is a great way to introduce to kids that, not only are there different languages, but some of those languages use different alphabets. It's a fun song with lots of uses in the classroom or with your family or homeschool. Teacher Tips, Tricks and Topics
Tips and Topics for Music Teachers
Writing Prompts from Tonnye
Writing Tips from Ellen Leventhal
Links, More Fun, Extensions for Families and Everyone!
PBJamz Snack --These lovely hamentaschen are a snack for Purim, related to the biblical story of Esther. You can find the recipe here. (MELISSA KAYE APTER on the blog https://jamiegeller.com/) And you can find out more about the history and significance of the hamestaschen here. Guest Links and GiveawaysEllen Leventhal is an educator and writer in Houston, Texas. She taught in a Jewish school where Debbie Friedman’s music could be heard as she walked down the hallways. Ellen is the author of several picture books as well as short stories and poetry. Her favorite thing to do is visit schools and share her love of literacy and the importance of having a dream. To learn more about Ellen, go to www.EllenLeventhal.com. Ellen Leventhal's website --
FB To purchase DEBBIE'S SONG from Amazon Ellen has graciously agreed to give the winner of this giveaway a choice of:
Congratulations to Jany Campana! You are the winner of a signed copy of LITTLE ROSETTA AND THE TALKING GUITAR! I know you're going to LOVE this PB biography of Rosetta Tharpe, powerhouse originator of rock 'n' roll sound! Thanks for your constant support of PBJamz! And thank you to Charnelle Pinkney Barlow for your beautiful book, great conversation and your generosity! If anyone missed that episode, check it out now! :-) A Conversation with Lindsay Bonilla, author of THE NOTE WHO FACED THE MUSIC: storytelling, music, arts, passion, and more!Join Lindsay and me as we talk about her writing process, musical connections, storytelling, music, the value of the arts in the schools, tips for authors and so much more! Enjoy this great conversation and then get your hands on this book! THE NOTE WHO FACED THE MUSICFrom the very first line, we know we're in for quite a romp. Hidden behind all the fun musical puns and sophisticated music vocabulary and content, is a sweet story that we can all relate to. Half note feels "not quite whole" , a bit left out, not enough. I know I can relate to half note's predicament sometimes. At the heart of this story is learning to value ourselves and to recognize that we bring a unique gift and perspective to every situation where we find ourself. But it is couched in a fun, cheeky story of a runaway note and the friends who cheerfully conspire to bring her home and let her know how much they appreciate and need her. Full of humor and wordplay, SEL heart, musical content and rich vocabulary, this book has many layers to please children and teachers alike! Published by Page Street Kids, written by Lindsay Bonilla and illustrated by Mark Hoffman. For purchasing link, check out the Giveaway links section! A Little Jam. . .(The Music Kind)Since the book talks about specifically Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, I'm including this piece. There are many other versions you could choose to use. I like this one because it's a little different, and it doesn't require any equipment. It also still emphasizes the half notes at the end of each phrase. If you don't prefer this one, there are lots more on the Pinterest boards and the YouTube playlist(s) that I'll link below next week. This one uses hand motions, but there are sheet music versions, boomwhacker versions and much more! Enjoy! Teacher Tips, Tricks and Topics
Tips and Topics for Music Teachers
Writing Prompts from TonnyeSo many fun writing activities from this text:
Writing Tips from Lindsay Bonilla1) Be authentic. Read the work of others. Yes — read widely in the genre you want to write in, particularly books published in the last 5 years!! Be inspired by other writers, but find your own voice. Say what matters to you in the way that only you can say it. 2) Write what you can when you can. If you don’t have a lot of time, don’t make that an excuse not to write. Scribble ideas in the margins. Write for 15 minutes or only 5 if that’s what you’ve got. When you don’t have time to sit down and write, write in your head. This is what I did (and still do!) when my children were very small, and I spent most of the day holding them, feeding them, putting them to sleep, etc. Try to picture your story like a movie playing in your mind. See the characters and try to hear their voices. Then when you go to sit down to write something, you may have a more fully formed story waiting for you. 3) Lean on your friends. The writing community is a great community. Make friends with other writers. Find critique partners who will give you honest feedback and who are willing to help you brainstorm. Do the same for them! 4) Have equal parts confidence and humility. This is a hard business. You have to believe in yourself and your work. Sometimes this will mean speaking up for your vision for a project. At the same time, you have to be completely humble -- open to learning from others and willing to admit that there may be different (or even better!) ways of doing things than you had considered. Links, More Fun, Extensions for Families and Everyone!YouTube playlist with lots of fun music activities for half note and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. YouTube playlist with tons of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star activities/versions Pinterest board for Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Pinterest board with half note activities and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star PBJamz Snack -- Peanut butter and Jelly Doughnuts!Half note has a hole -- like a doughnut, so I thought these would be the perfect PBJ snacks to accompany this book! AND, these are relatively healthy -- or at least safe for those with allergies and food sensitivities. They look divine! and I'm sure they'll make everyone on your staff feel like they belong. They'll stop singing the blues and will be wholly devoted to you -- no half-noted (er, I mean half-hearted) accolades for these doughnuts! If you try them, let me know in the comments, and check out more recipes from Two Spoons: Recipes worth Sharing! Get the recipe for peanut butter and jelly doughnuts! Guest Links and GiveawaysLindsay Bonilla is a professional storyteller and children’s book author from North Canton, Ohio. She lives with her husband, two wild and creative kids (who believe themselves to be a Komodo dragon and lion, respectively), and her dog, Blitzen. While earning her Bachelor’s degree in theatre and religion at Northwestern University, she fell in love with folktales and world travel. Lindsay has performed interactive theatre, shared stories and taught workshops all over the world. These experiences have made her passionate about building understanding and relationships across cultures while inspiring the imagination. When she’s not writing or performing, she can be found building Legos with her kids as they brainstorm her next book idea.
To connect with Lindsay or purchase THE NOTE WHO FACED THE MUSIC, check out the links below. Please note, she has additional books available via her website. To purchase THE NOTE WHO FACED THE MUSIC Lindsay is generously giving away one copy of THE NOTE WHO FACED THE MUSIC. To be eligible, simply leave a comment below and you'll be entered into a drawing! One lucky winner will have a copy of Lindsay and Mark's beautiful book to keep! 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 CharnelleWhat 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 GUITARLITTLE 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 TopicsArt --
Tips and Topics for Music TeachersGospel influences on Rosetta's music Beginnings of rock 'n' roll style Instruments mentioned in the book
Other historical figures in early rock 'n' roll history Guitar lessons/vocabulary/terminology Science of strings -- explore guitar and mandolin Writing Prompts from Tonnye1. 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 Barlow1. 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!PBJamz Snack -- PB&J Snack CakeListening 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 GiveawaysCongratulations Carrie Suzanne Karnes-Fannin! You are the winner of your choice of the StoryTime books read by the Cleveland Orchestra. AND Congratulations Janet Frenck Sheets! You are the winner of a musical picture book critique. Thank you both for checking out PBJamz! I hope you'll come back often! Interview with Robyn McGrath, author of DOLLY!: THE STORY OF DOLLY PARTON AND HER BIG DREAMWe hope you enjoy this chat with Robyn as she talks inspiration, research, publishing process, musical connections, and what's next! DOLLY! The Story of Dolly Parton and Her Big Dream![]() While there are other picture books on the market about Dolly, this one focuses on Dolly's childhood and the big dreams she had and how she made her dreams come true. The language is so lovely and country and well done. I love the phraseologies and the "twang". Anyone who is a fan of Dolly will enjoy this look at Dolly the dreamer and how she started her journey to become the beautiful strong woman, prolific performer, reader/writer, and literacy leader, entrepreneur, and all the facets that make up Dolly. A Little Jam. . .(The Music Kind)Dolly has touched so many genres, and it is only fitting that she moved into the children's realm. This song is perfect to follow up the. book and also perfect to go along with THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD which is always the first book children receive from the Imagination Library. This is a sweet and positive song with Dolly's signature vocals and full of affirmations to encourage children to reach out for their own dreams! Teacher Tips, Tricks and Topics
Tips and Topics for Music Teachers
Writing Prompts from Tonnye
Writing Tips from Robyn McGrath1. Write that bad first draft. It takes a lot of willpower to write without editing as you go. If you’re like me, when I edit as I’m writing I trip up on my words and get easily sidetracked on punctuation, spelling, and grammar. Try letting the words flow without hitting the delete button AND without judgment. I personally like to set a 20-minute timer so that I work uninterrupted for shorter periods of time. The hardest part about writing is getting the full story down. And once you do… remember only YOU will see that bad first draft. 2. Read, read, and read some more. Read for rhythm, story structure, pacing, and page turns. Find the picture book you most connect with, what draws you to that style of writing? What feeling did the text elicit while you were reading? And how did the author use page turns to build suspense? Make note of all these great insights and decide how you can use them in your own manuscript. 3. Edit for fun! In the past I dreaded having to edit. But now I find that chopping, rearranging, and rewriting CAN be enjoyable. Can I try a new word here? Move this sentence there? Do I need this sentence at all? How can I say this same sentiment in as few words as possible? It’s like a puzzle, and well, I LOVE puzzles! In end if you’re afraid of cutting your darlings, try cutting and pasting them to a separate word doc, you just might find use for them later. 4. Be vulnerable. Yes, this is a tough one! To be a writer one must share their work with others for feedback. It can be hard to hear feedback about our work, especially when the story is close to our hearts. But often our critique partners can see something we can’t by offering us ideas that are new and fresh. Ideas that might just get other ideas flowing. Which in turn can give you a renewed energy about your manuscript! That is the power of a critique group! Of course, in the end the choice is yours to accept the feedback or not, but by having options YOU get to play with your manuscript in a new way. Links, More Fun, Extensions for Families and Everyone!
PBJamz Snack -- Peanut Butter and Jelly Biscuits!As a Southerner, Dolly loves Southern country cooking, including biscuits! So, for today's PBJamz snack, I'm suggesting Dolly's famous biscuits made into sweet little PBJ biscwiches that are worth singing about and will make your toes tap! Of course, you can also enjoy them plain or with butter or jam only and leave out the peanut butter, but then, why would you? Just kidding! You enjoy them however you like, but I hope you'll give her biscuits and our PBJ biscwiches a try! This recipe is courtesy of Taste of Home! Guest Links and GiveawaysCheck out all the places you can find Robyn!
Website Order Dolly and get more info GIVEAWAY DETAILS!! Robyn is offering one winner YOUR CHOICE of either A copy of DOLLY! OR A PB CRITIQUE |
PBJamzThis page is the official space for PBJamz -- multimedia Jamorama celebrating all things PB (picture books) and Jamz (music), although we'll indulge in the other PBJ snacks where appropriate :-). Join us each Thursday for new content connecting picture books and music! Archives
June 2024
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