Sweet Music in Harlem

Children's Book Award Notable, International Literacy Association (ILA)
Book of the Week, Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
Original Art Show, Society of Illustrators
Youth List, Collaborative Summer Library Program

Searching his Harlem neighborhood for his uncle's missing hat, an energetic African American boy unintentionally creates an exuberant gathering of the neighborhood's jazz musicians for a magazine photograph; a fictional story inspired by Art Kane's historic photograph of jazz greats, Harlem 1958.

C. J. needs to act fast. A photographer from Highnote magazine is on his way to photograph Uncle Click, a well-known jazz musician, but Uncle Click's signature hat is missing. Now it's up to C. J. to hunt down the hat in time for the photo shoot. Little does C. J. know that his whirlwind search through Harlem sets in motion the making of a magical moment of friendship and music.

Illustrated with exuberance by fine artist Frank Morrison, Sweet Music in Harlem is an action-packed romp inspired by an historic photograph from Harlem's jazz heyday. Readers everywhere will rejoice in the power of music to bring people together in wonderful, fun-filled ways.

Publisher: Lee & Low Books
Published: 06/01/2004
Pages: 32
Weight: 0.3lbs
Size: 10.20h x 8.20w x 0.10d
ISBN: 9781620140802
Age: Ages 4-8

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 4.6
Point Value: 0.5
Interest Level: Lower Grade
Quiz #/Name: 78979 / Sweet Music in Harlem

About the Author

Debbie Taylor is a first-time picture book author with a master's degree in creative writing. She works at the University of Michigan and has had several stories published in children's literary magazines including Spider, Cricket, and New Moon. Taylor and her family live in Ann Arbor, Michigan. To find out more about Debbie Taylor, visit her website: www.sweetmusicinharlem.com.

Frank Morrison has illustrated numerous award-winning books, including the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor winner Little Melba and Her Big Trombone, published by Lee & Low Books. Before becoming an illustrator, Morrison was a graffiti artist and b-boy. Morrison lives with his family in Georgia. You can learn more about him at morrisongraphics.com.