Bing, Bop, Bam: Time to Jam is the latest collaboration of Valerie Bolling and Sabrina Khadija, and it will surely make your heart sing. The duo creates a colorful community of diverse instruments, people, food, and fun. Readers follow an intergenerational group of musicians and music lovers as they plan, decorate, and participate in the “neighborhood jam!”
Bolling’s signature rhyming couplets become a soaring sing-along to little listeners’ ears. Meanwhile, Khadija’s bold, geometric illustrations create rivers of rhythm that all eyes are sure to follow.
This book was put to the test by my three-year-old picky reader, and it passed with flying colors. Whether it was finding the red balloons shaped like hearts, taking a slight online detour to listen to the sound of an erhu, or belting “Applaud, bow. Encore! WOW!” He quickly deemed it a repeat read along with its companion book Ride, Roll, Run: Time for Fun.
Bing, Bop, Bam, and Valerie Bolling’s debut picture book Let’s Dance makes the perfect musical pairing. While one showcases instruments from around the world, the other presents dances from across the globe. Together, they are a testament to the magic of music and movement. And they deserve a special place in pre-schools, primary grade music rooms, or wherever we gather to be seen and heard.
Bing, Bop, Bam Time to Jam! Makes Me Think About:
Babatunde Olatunji: Nigerian drummer, activist, educator, and graduate of Morehouse College whose 1959 album Drums of Passion introduced many Americans to world music.
The Pan-African Connection Bookstore and Art Gallery in Dallas, TX: The Sunday afternoon drum circle is North Texas’ weekly “neighborhood jam!”
Ms. Meg, Ms. Courtney, and Ms. Hannah: Instructors with the Music Together program my son has attended over the years. Each of them contributed to his growth in such a meaningful way.
A quote from Tony-award-winning actress Phylicia Rashad: “Before a child speaks, it sings. Before they write, they paint. As soon as they stand, they dance. Art is the basis of human expression.”
Go pick up this book today and see what it makes you and your little readers think about!
