SOULFUL STRUTTIN' w/ Julia Pierre Hammond

A Soulful, Musical, Practical, Joyful Conversation

Join us for a soulful, musical, practical, and joyful conversation. This chat has something for everyone: the writers/aspiring authors, the teachers (classroom, music, library, etc.), the families, the musicians. It is as rich as the gumbo recipe in the back matter and as full of fun as a mardis gras celebration. Julia is absolutely delightful and generous with her knowledge and excitement. Her book is just as delightful. I enjoyed every minute of our interview and I hope you will too.

SOULFUL STRUTTIN'

SOULFUL STRUTTIN' is a joyful peek into one family's Sunday routines and traditions that include cleaning, music, and gumbo. Hammond takes the mundane and adds soul, music, layers, and such joy!  This book is perfect for families teaching children responsibility at home, teachers focusing on language and writing in a classroom, music teachers who want to dive into a bit of jazz or N'Awlins music, librarians hoping to share a rich book full of layers, young (or old) chefs-in-training who want to learn to make a rich gumbo, folks who have an affinity for Louisiana or jazz/R&B/soul music.  Basically, it's perfect for pretty much anyone.  It will put some pep in your step, some mean in your clean, and some music in your heart!

A Little Jam. . .(The Music Kind)

Since this was one of Julia's inspirations for this book, I had to include it!  I like this version to share with students because it shows the instrumentation. Introduce them to some classic soul. "Soulful Strut" by The Young-Holt Unlimited is a soul-jazz song that blends elements of jazz, funk, R&B, and soul. The song was released in 1968 and was a million-selling single.  Also, check out Julia's playlist in the links section, and the full YouTube playlist in the links section as well for more musical connections.

Teacher Tips, Tricks and Topics

• Sunday traditions
  • Write/talk about your own Sunday traditions
  • Sunday culture at your house
• Chores/Cleaning 
  • Tools (Broom, mop, sponge, etc.)
  • Make a chores list
  • How can you turn chores into a game
• Louisiana culture
  • Food (gumbo & more)
  • Music
  • Canal St.
• REading/language
  • -ing verbs (and dropping endings/using apostrophe)
  • Metaphors
    • broom becomes microphone
    • bathroom = Funkytown
  • Onomatopoeia
  • Similes
    • Bowl splashes like a cymbal
    • Gleam like a cornet
  • Idioms "Cut the rug"
• Refrains -- what are they and why do authors use them
• Author's note -- what is it and why do authors include them

Tips and Topics for Music Teachers

• Brass family
  • Trombone
  • Tuba
  • Trombone
  • Trumpet/Cornet
• Second line parades
• Jazz (N'Orleans)
• Louis Armstrong
• Song list in the back of the book

If I were using this book, I would pull some of the songs from the playlist for some body percussion/steady beat work, use lots of Dixieland and LA Jazz, learn the members of the brass family, do a musician study on Louis Armstrong, and more!  There is so much fun to be had with this book. Have a second line parade around the music room -- or around the school and see who joins in.

Writing Prompts from Tonnye

1. Write about chores:
   1. your favorite chore
   2. least favorite
   3. favorite chore-related memory
   4. List of ways to make chores fun
   5. Which chore is hardest/why
2. New Orleans/Louisiana/Mardis Gras
   1. Write about a trip to one of these
   2. Or write about a dream to go
   3. Write a report on one of these and learn everything you can
3. Learn about and use figurative language/literary elements in a story:
   1. Similes
   2. metaphors
   3. Onomatopoeia
   4. Idioms
4. Write about a special memory with a member of your family
5. Listen to "Soulful Strut" Write about what you picture and feel as you listen.
6. Write a letter to someone in your family thanking them for a special recipe they passed along.
7. Write a recipe for your favorite food.
8. Write an acrostic poem using an important word from the story.
9. Write about a song that has a special memory for you or your family.
10. Write about a fun tradition in your house/family.
11. What is important about Sundays at your house?  Write about it.
12. Write a letter from Clara to her dad OR from her Dad to Clara.
13. Write a song about your favorite food.
14. Write a list of your favorite foods.
15. Make a list of your favorite songs to play when you're cleaning up.

Writing Tips from Julia

My favorite writing tips are these! 

1. If you are stuck on a story format try writing the entire story in dialogue and then try writing the entire story in narration. Then go back and rewrite a first draft mixing both. 
   
2. If you’re stuck on pacing I love the advice to go to the library and take a few recent picture books and literally write them out noting the page turns, climax, resolution. There is so much to notice here like when the sentences get short and snappy versus when they’re long and setting the reader up for something.
   
3. My next writing tip is to read, read, read. One of my mentors told me a good goal before getting an agent is to read 200 picture books. That was extremely helpful to me and I noticed that my cadence and word count changed so much from trying to accomplish that goal. 
   
4. My last favorite writing tip is specificity breeds authenticity. Put pieces of yourself in your writing. Everytime I feel like a story is missing heart or emotion, I try to connect with my inner child and put something specific from my childhood there. I am always shocked at how those pieces resonate with critique partners or editors. I think there’s magic in our childhood memories and it is just itching to come out and play a part in our stories. So that’s my favorite piece of advice, put precious, specific memories into your stories. 
   
5.  Okay I lied, last tip. Put yourself out there. I had a teacher in high school who told us that anything worth doing in life requires taking a risk. I know that's hyperbole and a little aggressive but I’ve lived my life based on this and I think as long as you have good intentions there is only growth that can come out of it. So even if you take a risk and get a manuscript shredded by a critiquer or you put yourself out there at a conference and get rejected, I think that some part of you or your story will grow or become more aligned with your goals based on those risks. ​
   

Links, More Fun, Extensions for Families and Everyone!

Pinterest board full of links and activities for families, schools, teachers, daycares/preschools, libraries and more to expand learning from this book. The board includes lessons, activities, printables, and more surrounding chores, jazz, brass family, Louis Armstrong, cleaning with kids, gumbo, Louisiana. . . . chock full of goodness!

Julia's SOULFUL STRUTTIN' playlist

YouTube playlist full of music activities, songs, dances, introduction/demonstration of brass family, jazz, soul, R&B, play alongs, karaoke, performances, etc.
​

Guest Links and Giveaways

Julia's website

Twitter/X

Instagram

Goodreads

To order SOULFUL STRUTTIN', check out Julia's links on her page.

To review SOULFUL STRUTTIN':
On Goodreads
On Amazon
On Barnes & Noble


Julia has offered a WINNER'S CHOICE for her giveaway!  If you are chosen as the winner, you can choose:

• A copy of SOULFUL STRUTTIN' or. . . .
• A picture book critique by Julia or. . . 
• An "Ask Me Anything" session  (length and platform according to Julia's preference)

To be entered into the giveaway, simply leave a comment below by Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 11:59 PM EST.