Wood-Hoopoe Willie

by Virginia L. Kroll, Katherine Roundtree (Illustrator)

Overview

This wonderful tale is about Willie–a boy who taps, drums or thumps to express the music he feels inside. Willie dreams of playing the African instruments of his ancestors that his Grandpa describes: guedras, ecasas, atumpan and dundun drums. Readers will be captivated by Willie's spirit and will delight in his success.

This inspirational book will not only entertain, but enrich readers with the beauty of a culture. Katherine Roundtree's exquisite illustrations add tremendous warmth to this magical story.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780881064087
Publisher:	Charlesbridge
Publication date:	02/28/1995
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	10.00(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.13(d)
Lexile:	AD900L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Virginia Kroll has contributed more than 1500 items to juvenile magazines. She travels throughout the country speaking to children about writing multicultural books. She is the author of many children's books, including WOOD-HOOPOW WILLIE, A CARP FOR KIMIKO, SWEET MAGNOLIA, JAHA AND JAMIL WENT DOWN THE HILL, HATS OFF TO HAIR!, MASAI AND I (Four Winds Press), and BUTTERFLY BOY (Boyds Mill Press). Virginia lives in New York with her family.

Editorial Reviews

Willie, a spirited African American child, can't seem to keep his feet or hands still: ``If his toes weren't tapping, his knuckles were rapping.'' The boy's incessant, impromptu music-making makes his Grandpa recall the dundun drums , ecasas and balas that he saw on a trip to Africa. Willie longs to play these handmade instruments of his ancestors, and finally gets his chance during the Kwanzaa festival at the African-American Center. The boy fills in for a missing drummer, thus freeing the wood-hoopoe--an African bird whose tree-pecking and cackling creates rhythmic music--that Grandpa insists has been trapped within him. Kroll's ( Masai and I ) melodic tale conveys the warmth among Willie's loving family as well as the musical legacy of several African peoples. Past and present fuse gracefully in Roundtree's boldly hued art--though the characters' faces are somewhat rudimentarily executed, the artist's depiction of the traditional instruments and dress of Africa is particularly striking. Ages 3-8. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

A young boy and his grandfather explore their African-American heritage. This is a positive intergenerational story that concludes with a Kwanzaa celebration. Roundtree's illustrations truly complement the text. 1995 (orig.

Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot