YELLOW DOG BLUES with Alice Faye Duncan

Steena Hernandez!  Congratulations! You are the winner for Jen Fier Jasinski's episode!  You'll be able to choose your prize: a PB critique, a signed copy of MY PIANO, or a Zoom session with Jen!  Thanks to Jen and Steena for your support of PBJamz!

A delicious road trip chat with Alice Faye Duncan

Join Alice and me again as we talk geography, racism, revision, and more! This conversation is packed as full of goodness as a Hicks tamale! Alice's vivacious personality shines through, and she shares some real gems that she's discovered along the way! This book is absolutely beautiful! Chris Rashka's multi-media illustrations of embroidery and collage are so cool. ​

YELLOW DOG BLUES 

YELLOW DOG BLUES is a beautiful and bright book, written by Alice Faye Duncan, and illustrated by Chris Raschka. Published by Eerdmans, YDB follows a yellow dog along the blues hwy and stops us at various landmarks and introduces us to some musical characters,  and lots of musical fun!

A Little Jam. . .(The Music Kind)
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This video seemed the perfect accompaniment to this episode, as it's a Memphis Blues Band and showing some of the landmarks significant to the Delta Blues.   A 1922 recording that should give students an idea of the feel and sound of time and place for the Delta Blues. And of course, the piece of music itself is "Yellow Dog Blues"  If you are using it with students, you might have youngest students march or clap or tap their lap to maintain a steady beat.  Older students might listen for various rhythmic pattern or the timbre of certain instruments.  Listening for form might be another activity. Feel free to leave a comment about how you used the piece.  

Teacher Tips, Tricks and Topics

• This book is a perfect tie-in for history/social studies.  You could use it in many different ways:
  • Maps/trails
  • Civil rights
  • Black history
  • Geography
  • Music History
• Art teachers (or other interested teachers) could focus in on the art techniques employed by Chris Raschka in this book. You could further compare with his other art and turn it into an illustrator study.
• You could also do an author study of Alice Faye Duncan. She has written several books relative to civil rights and the black experience. 
• This book would be a great addition to your "Black History Month" activities.
• SEL component -- How do we deal with it when important people in our lives don't stay (like Yellow Dog)?
• Setting is a perfect story element to bring out in this book as well since it plays a huge role in the book.
• Character would be another natural story element on which to focus, since we learn a lot about Yellow Dog. (inside/outside character map, etc.). 
• You might find other interesting activities to use on this Pinterest board

Tips and Topics for Music Teachers

• Musical genre spotlight: Blues (specifically Delta blues)
  • You could also spin off from this and compare various blues formats and how they are alike and different.
• Music history of the Blues (where did it come from, how and why did it morph, how does it sound today, etc.)
• Timeline of the Blues
• The Blues Trail -- So many fun ways you could do this, including   if you're so inclined. . . )  and lots more resources on The Mississipi Blues Trail website.
• Various version of the song "Yellow Dog Blues" (be sure to preview content in light of the ages you teach; not all lyrics may be appropriate for all ages.
• 12-bar blues -- what does that mean?  Explore the construction of blues music.
• Write your own blues song -- several tutorials online, as well as the back of the book.  I particularly like this YouTube video tutorial.
• Explore form based on the blues writing experience.
• Learn more about some of the Blues superheroes (There are quite a few ideas in the Pinterest board in the links section)
• Explore the questions surrounding blues, like did all modern music descend from the blues? Why/why not, etc.?
• There are lots more ways you could explore this book and its related content in the music room. This book, in particular, could skew much older as a stepping stone into the blues.

Writing Prompts from Tonnye

1. Write your own blues music! There's an activity in the back of the book, along with a couple more on the YouTube playlist and the Pinterest board. Pick whichever one works best for you and write the blues!
2.  Write about a time when you had "the blues". What made you feel sad?  What helped you deal with your sadness and eventually not feel so sad?
3.  Research one of the blues superheroes and write your own story about them!
4. In the end, yellow dog doesn't stay in one place. The author says some things just aren't made to live that way. Have you had an experience with a "yellow dog" in your own life? Write about that.
5.  Based on the information in the book, which blues landmark would you most like to visit and why?
6. Listen to the instrumental version of "Yellow Dog Blues" song above and write about how it makes you feel? Why?
7.  Listen to the instrumental version and a version with lyrics of Yellow Dog Blues. Which do you prefer? Why? How are they alike? Different?
8.  Have you ever visited any of the landmarks in the book? If so, write about that experience.
9. Hicks Tamales is one of the stops on the blues trail. Have you ever eaten tamales?  Or made tamales?  Write about that experience.
10. Write your own version of "Yellow Dog Blues" -- what does that title make YOU think of?  Will yours have a literal yellow dog?  
11.  Why is this type of music called Delta Blues?  Find some text evidence for your answer and add it.  Then do some more research on Delta Blues and add more to your report.
12. Draw a map and write about the trail of {your life}. What would be the landmarks? Where would the trail travel?
13. Write about a special pet that you've had, whether a yellow dog or a black cat or a color-changing chameleon.
14.Why do you think it's important to learn about blues music?

Writing Tips from Alice

1. For craft, read fairytales and folktales to study story structures.
2. For practical work, write in clothes that serve you comfort and/or make you feel writerly. 
3. For inspiration, take a daily walk or hit the treadmill to be in communion with your imagination. 

Links, More Fun, Extensions for Families and Everyone!

Here is a great little YouTube playlist with lots of Delta blues music, including several versions of Yellow Dog Blues, along with musicians in the book, and lessons for kids to create their own blues music!

​This Pinterest board is full of all kinds of amazing activities, from other pbs that focus on blues music, to activities for writing your own blues song to history lessons for older students about the blues, playlists, and so much more! 

Alice's page for YELLOW DOG BLUES also has an activity guide that you may find helpful!

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PBJamz Snack
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In honor of Hicks Tamales, our PBJ snack today is a PBJ sweet tamale.  This recipe calls for raisins. I would replace those with a couple tablespoons of your favorite jam or jelly. These are not traditional to Mexico or to Hicks. They're a fun play on traditional sweet tamales.  If you try them and like them, let us know.

Guest Links and Giveaways
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Alice's website
Purchase YELLOW DOG BLUES from Amazon here.
​Alice on Facebook
Alice on Twitter
YELLOW DOG BLUES page on Alice's website (with teaching guide)

​Alice is giving away 2 copies of YELLOW DOG BLUES! Leave a comment below to enter the giveaway!  Good luck!