#318 of 1001 · June 14, 2021

For a vibrant celebration of music, energy, and individuality, check out Ben’s Trumpet by Rachel Isadora. The story is set during the ascendancy of jazz in the landscape of popular music—and popular culture. Young Ben listens awestruck to the artistry of the players at his local jazz club. He hears them each day as he walks by on his way home from school, and he can still hear them while sitting out on his fire escape at night. He admires the pianist, the saxophonist, the trombonist, and the drummer, but his favorite is the trumpeter. Inspired by the player’s lively energy and skill, Ben begins to play an imaginary trumpet of his own everywhere he goes. Sadly, no one seems to take much notice of his budding musical interest—except the one person who might matter most of all. With evocative slang (“Ben thinks the trumpeter is the cat’s meow”, “practicing a red hot piece”) and expressionistic black-and-white illustrations that combine Art Deco elements with a Cubist slang, Isadora conjures an irresistible visual representation of the thrill of jazz. #jazz #club #music #piano #saxophone #trombone #drums #trumpet #book #books #childrensbooks #beautifulbooks #picturebook #picturebooks #picturebookillustration #picturebookart #childrensbookillustration #childrensliterature #illustration #kidlit #kidsbooks #bookworm #booklover #booklovers #bibliophile #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #instabook #instabooks