The Deaf Musicians

• Age Range: 4 - 8 years

• Grade Level: Preschool - 3

• 2007 Schneider Family Book Award

SUMMARY

Poor Lee! He used to be a jazzman who could make the piano go yimbatimba- TANG—zang-zang. But now he's lost his hearing, and the bandleader had to let him go.

Lee goes to a school for the deaf to learn sign language. There, he meets Max, who used to play the sax. Riding the subway to class, they start signing about all the songs they love. A bass player named Rose joins in and soon they've got a little sign language band. In no time, they're performing for audiences in the subway, night after night.

Living legend and Kennedy Center honoree Pete Seeger, renowned poet Paul DuBois Jacobs, and Coretta Scott King honor winner R. Gregory Christie present a jazzy riff on the power of music, overcoming obstacles, and all the different ways to hear the world.

So, who will listen to a deaf musician?

REVIEWS

“Through this rhythmic story, readers meet Lee, who loses his hearing and is asked to leave his band. Luckily, he discovers a whole new world of music that exists in the mind and heart at a local school for the deaf. Christie's snazzy style matches perfectly with the book's vivacity. The expressive faces and bold use of color make the story sing. This is a great read-aloud that begs for enthusiastic performance and audience participation. Both uplifting and inclusive, it is a celebration of music and resilience.”—School Library Review

“Seeger and Jacobs’ hep narrative is studded with phonic gems (“Bomp,” “Phip,” “Doodle-bop-bop”), and Christie’s colorful paintings have a strong 1950s feel. An unusual story, both stylish and uplifting.”—Kirkus Reviews