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Robert Andrew Parker
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Piano Starts Here: The Young Art Tatum Kindle Edition

by Robert Andrew Parker (Author, Illustrator) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 21 ratings
See all formats and editions
Regardless of whether they’ve heard of jazz or Art Tatum, young readers will appreciate how Parker uses simple, lyrical storytelling and colorful, energetic ink-and-wash illustrations to show the world as young Art Tatum might have seen it. Tatum came from modest beginnings and was nearly blind, but his passion for the piano and his acute memory for any sound that he heard drove him to become a virtuoso who was revered by both classical and jazz pianists alike. Included in the back matter is a biography and bibliography.
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Previous page
  1. Reading age
    4 - 8 years
  2. Print length
    40 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    Preschool - 3
  5. Lexile measure
    AD750L
  6. Publisher
    Schwartz & Wade
  7. Publication date
    December 19, 2012
  8. Page Flip
    Not Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Not Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Not Enabled
  11. Sticky notes
    Not Enabled
  12. ISBN-13
    978-0375839658
  13. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Parker, who illustrated Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan’s Sibert Honor Book Action Jackson (2002), contributes both words and pictures in this heartfelt portrait of jazz great Tatum. Parker pushes the limits of the book’s nonfiction cataloguing by speaking in the pianist’s first-person voice, but an author’s note and a solid bibliography set the episodes in a framework of established facts. The vibrant scenes, in Parker’s familiar style of scratched ink lines and watercolor washes, show young Tatum playing at home for his dancing parents, at church for a full choir, and at local clubs, where he is discovered and his international career begins. In some images, crowds of dancers and musicians create a swirl of animated motion; in others, Parker sets Tatum, who was nearly blind, against a deep, moody, abstract background of shifting colors. Throughout, the simple, direct language shows the power of the music for both Tatum and his listeners. “When I am at the piano . . . I play clouds of notes, rivers of notes . . . I forget that my eyes aren’t good. I have everything I need.” Cue up the music; children will best appreciate this beautiful tribute with an earful of Tatum at the keyboard. Grades 2-4. --Gillian Engberg

Review

Starred review, Kirkus Reviews, December 15, 2007:
“Fusing Parker’s artistic talent and passion for jazz (he’s a musician, too), this sensitively embellished biography is totally on time.”

Starred review, Booklist, February 2, 2008:
“The simple, direct language shows the power of the music for both Tatum and his listeners.”

Starred review, School Library Journal, February 2008:
“Breathing life into words about music for young children is never easy, but Parker makes it appear effortless.”

Review, The San Francisco Chronicle, February 24, 2008:
"It's a joyful portrait of an innovative artist who was peerless in music ... A jazz musician himself, Parker brings a deep love and understanding to his subject."

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00AGVNHOE
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Schwartz & Wade (December 19, 2012)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 19, 2012
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 10182 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 40 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 21 ratings

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Robert Andrew Parker

Robert Andrew Parker

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
21 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Crea8t
5.0 out of 5 stars We bought this book to inspire her and it's wonderful. It is about Art Tatum and it is ...
Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2015
Verified Purchase
Our 6 year has been taking piano for several years now. We bought this book to inspire her and it's wonderful. It is about Art Tatum and it is descriptive and engaging to our daughter. The illustrations are lovely!
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djbinder
5.0 out of 5 stars Whether a musician or not
Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2013
Verified Purchase
Informative as well as enjoyable. I will certainly share this book with my piano students. His story is an inspiration to us all whether one is a musician or not.
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TN Resident
5.0 out of 5 stars Great story, phenomonal artwork
Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2008
Verified Purchase
The story of Art Tatum has been told too rarely -- it's a delight to have this wonderful book written by an impassioned author. Even more amazing is the gorgeous artwork, also done by Mr. Parker. Strongly recommended.
4 people found this helpful
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Cynthia Moretti
3.0 out of 5 stars Print too small
Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2014
Verified Purchase
Would have liked more of a story about his life rather than cartoons. Hard to read as print was very small.
One person found this helpful
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Elaine A. Thomas
5.0 out of 5 stars Piano Starts Here: The Young Art Tatum
Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2008
Verified Purchase
My eleven year old grandaughter liked this because she takes piano. Liked the fact that it was a true story.
3 people found this helpful
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Allison Brook
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2017
Beautiful book, well written and illustrations are fabulous. Love the way it focuses on his childhood. Moved me to tears.
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D. Fowler
5.0 out of 5 stars This book, written in a gentle, sing song tone was very inspiring!
Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2009
Art Tatum was a little boy born in Toledo. His father was a mechanic and his mother, who loved to sing in church, did a lot of cleaning. His mother played the piano, but mostly it sat "quietly in the corner," until one day he became tall enough to hit the keys on the keyboard. He banged at it, played with one finger, two fingers and before you could wink an eye it started to sound very good. Even his mother said it did. He loved to play on the piano and didn't care much about night or day and because his eyes were so bad he really couldn't tell the difference.

"Don't wear out that piano today," his father said to him before he left for work. Art just loved his piano. By the time he was ten he was asked to play in church. A little case of jitters immediately went away when he touched the keyboard. Later he was asked to play at the YMCA, then at a bake sale and even someone's birthday party. "My, my, isn't he something," his mother gushed. More and more he was asked to play until he became famous, but he still remembered and loved "all the people who helped" him.

This was a wonderful story. It was written in a gentle, sing song tone and was quite inspiring. The watercolors meshed quite well with the text. In the back of the book Robert Andrew Parker writes about actually meeting and listening to Art play. There is a brief, but very interesting biography of art and a bibliography. This book would be very appealing to any jazz fan and will be appreciated and loved even by those unacquainted with his work.
4 people found this helpful
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M
5.0 out of 5 stars simply beautiful
Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2011
Gorgeously rendered watercolor illustrations and first-person-perspective text contribute to the dreamy feeling of a young boy with poor eyesight growing up to become one of the world's jazz greats. Combine this with vintage recordings and old YouTube videos of the man himself for maximum impact.
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