Happy Term Three!
Jungle Jazz, Jo van Dam, illustrated by Deborah Hinde
Picture Book Publishing, 2023
Over the past months I have been reading a treasure house of children’s books that build stories of belonging, self-confidence, awkwardness, friendship, finding things you can shine at (not like movie STARS but little important self enhancing BEAMS). The books divert and amuse, using humour and fun, action and character tension, carefully paced plot, story twists and exquisitely crafted sentences. My recent reviews underline what a gift this treasure house of children’s books is. Oh! And there are the sublime illustrations that draw in eye-catching colour, textures, mixed media, collage effects or painterly-ness to create scenes, situations … and BRIMMING LIFE!
Jungle Jazz by Jo van Dam, illustrated by Deborah Hindes, is my latest love! And yes, it is a story of belonging, self-confidence, awkwardness, friendship, finding things you can shine at (not like movie STARS but little important self enhancing BEAMS).
Snake desperately wants to be part of The Dung Beatles but when he listens to the other animals congo tap and saxophone sing, he feels inadequate. What good is a snake when his lips won’t pucker and he has no hands! What he decides to do next caught me by surprise! What The Dung Beatles band decide to do after that filled me with a warm glow.
You can tell Jo is a poet as her sentences are like music, listen to the sweet rhymes and honey rhythms, say them out loud and hear the word music flow.
Deborah’s illustrations are a festival of colour and background pattern (love the leaves!) but the highlight is the animal renditions – so brought to life I feel like I can hear that congo beat, that sweet saxophone trill, that electric guitar riff.
Jungle Jazz is a joy to read. I am transported back to me as an awkward girl, a misfit who had no idea how to be in the world … who dived into books and played with words and slowly slowly learned how to beam. Glorious!
Jo van Dam is a librarian at two Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland primary schools. This is her fifth publication and second collaboration with Deborah Hindes.
Deborah Hindes is an illustrator living in rural Waikato where she works in her large studio in the garden.
Picture Book Publishing page