Daddy Plays a Mean Guitar

Waaaah, didi-waa-waa, bleep! A child’s daddy plays a mean guitar, but it’s not the only sound that fills this family’s day. From the vroom vroom zoomba zoom of the bus to the hum-hummmm while setting the dinner table, all these joyful sounds and beats have one thing in common . . . love! The powerhouse mother-son writing duo of Jane Yolen and Adam Stemple bring the house down with a rockin’ dad in Daddy Plays a Mean Guitar! Little music lovers are introduced to a child’s very talented dad who plays guitar in clubs and on big stages. The dad has clearly made quite an impression on his family in this story. Throughout the day, chorusing birds, rumbling buses, and the sound of footsteps on the sidewalk create a wonderful medley of sounds that uplift this melodic family. When the child comes home, the dad is preparing for a show, and the two get to rock out before he leaves for the evening. Daddy Plays a Mean Guitar is a heartwarming story about the musical relationship between a father and his child. Through the vibrant illustrations of Rashin Kheiriyeh, readers will see how the child is so fond of the father’s musical abilities and works to emulate the way he is dressed and how he plays guitar. This story is the perfect read-aloud in a classroom or at home as it teaches children the uniting power of music. Jane Yolen and Adam Stemple also offer educators and parents a wonderful opportunity to help nurture a budding musicians’ interest in playing the guitar, or drums, or piano, or any other instrument, with this fun and energetic family. The story also identifies how strong a family’s love can become through the joyous sounds around them. The author also provides a glossary of terms that teach the reader beginner musical terms, including: Chorusing: Singing all together, here referring to the birds’ “dawn chorus”. Roll: Like a drum roll, rapid beats on a surface. Run: A series of notes that go either up or down the scale very quickly. Strum: A sweeping action up or down the strings of a guitar or other stringed instrument with a fingernail or pick. Pick: A triangle or tear-shaped piece of plastic or nylon used to pluck or strum guitar strings. (Also used for banjos, ukulele, and dulcimers.) Amp: An electronic device that amplifies sound, which makes a song much louder. Do-re-me-fa-sol-la-ti-do: The names of the notes on a scale. Invented by a monk, Guido d’Arezzo (born 990 A.D, died 1050 A.D.) A-capella: A song sung without instruments.