Hosea Plays On
Hosea Plays On
5.4/7
Bookroo
4.3/5
Goodreads

Hosea Plays On

Written by Kathleen M. Blasi & illustrated by Shane W. Evans
Physical book
$16.95
$15.97
3 - 9
Reading age
32
Page count
17
Words per page
~440L
Lexile measure
Jan 7, 2020
Publication date

Buy from other retailers

Amazon

What Does Bookroo Think of Hosea Plays On

Community takes center stage in this performance by Blasi and Evans that touches hearts and inspires good.

Based on the true story of Hosea Missouri Taylor Jr., Hosea Plays On follows Hosea through a seemingly simple day: he leaves his house, greets a neighbor kid, takes the bus to the public market, and plays his saxophone outside his favorite coffee shop, wowing a crowd of onlookers who plop some tips in his velvet-lined case. But as the day and story ends, Hosea’s deeper contribution to the community emerges unexpectedly in a poignant act of kindness and generosity as he uses his earnings to gift a trumpet to the neighbor kid he first greeted, a selflessness readers realize he has actually repeated multiple times with other aspiring musicians. The skillful development of the storyline—complete with the suspense created by Hosea’s thought that “Maybe—just maybe—he would earn enough today” and culminating in a moment of epiphany and delight for the reader—stirs emotions and sparks inspiration. Rich descriptive phrases (“Hosea clomped down the steps and shuffled through brittle, dancing leaves.”) are hallmarks of the story and make for a beautiful reading experience. The illustrations, awash with vibrant colors and beautifully executed in a style distinctive to Evans, are playful and show that Evans remembers (as is forgotten too often in books based on true stories) that exact realism in illustrations can be overrated when presented with the opportunity to inspire and entertain.

What Kind of Book is Hosea Plays On

Topics

community helperscommunitymusichard workfinancial difficultymusical instrumentsperforming artsvalues and virtuessocial themeskindnessNew Yorkmusiciansantiracisminclusivity

Locations

Race, Ethnicities, & Nationalities

Where Does Hosea Plays On Stand Out

  • Heartstrings

    The “Heartstrings” badge is awarded to books that provoke an exceptionally tender emotional response.

  • Thoughtful Citizen

    The “Thoughtful Citizen” badge is awarded to recognize exceptional books that promote exemplary citizenship.

What Questions Should I Ask My Child

  • *Hosea Plays On* is based on the true story of Hosea Missouri Taylor Jr. The final page of the book includes a more detailed history of Hosea and what he meant to his community. Can you think of someone in your community that behaves selflessly and helps others? How could you thank them for their efforts? How could you be a positive influence on others yourself?
  • Hosea worked hard and saved money until he had enough to complete his purchase. Was the wait worth it to Hosea? How can you set up a system to save money?
  • Hosea shares his talent for music with those around him. What talents do you have? How can you share them?

Reviews

Book Lists That Include Hosea Plays On

The Creatives Behind the Book

What Has Kathleen M. Blasi Said About This Book

Nothing yet! Let Kathleen M. Blasi know that you want to hear from them about their book.

What Has Shane W. Evans Said About This Book

Nothing yet! Let Shane W. Evans know that you want to hear from them about their book.

More Books From These Creatives

    picture • 40 Pages
    Big Papa and the Time Machine
    5.8
    Daniel Bernstrom, Shane W. Evans
    picture • 40 Pages
    Mixed Me!
    5.3
    Shane W. Evans, Taye Diggs
    board • 28 Pages
    Homemade Love
    Shane W. Evans
    picture • 40 Pages
    Chocolate Me!
    5.0
    Taye Diggs, Shane W. Evans
    chapter • 336 Pages
    The Red Pencil
    Andrea Davis Pinkney, Shane W. Evans
    picture • 32 Pages
    Li'l Rabbit's Kwanzaa
    4.9
    Donna L. Washington, Shane W. Evans
    board • 40 Pages
    Black Jack: The Ballad of Jack Johnson
    Charles R. Smith Jr., Shane W. Evans
    picture • 32 Pages
    Hands Up!
    4.5
    Shane W. Evans, Breanna J McDaniel
    picture • 32 Pages
    I Love You More Than . . .
    Taye Diggs, Shane W. Evans
    picture • 40 Pages
    My Brother Charlie
    4.3
    Holly Robinson Peete, Ryan Elizabeth Peete, Shane W. Evans
    picture • 32 Pages
    We March
    4.0
    Shane W. Evans
    picture • 40 Pages
    Lillian's Right to Vote
    4.0
    Jonah Winter, Shane W. Evans
    View more

Other Books You Might Enjoy If You Liked Hosea Plays On

    picture • 32 Pages
    Not Quite Snow White
    Ebony Glenn
    picture • 32 Pages
    Last Stop on Market Street
    5.1
    Christian Robinson, Matt De La Peña
    picture • 32 Pages
    Most People
    Michael Leannah, Jennifer E. Morris
    picture • 32 Pages
    Nutcracker in Harlem
    James Ransome
    picture • 32 Pages
    I Have a Dream
    6.1
    Kadir Nelson
    picture • 32 Pages
    When Grandma Gives You a Lemon Tree
    6.0
    Series
    Jamie L. B. Deenihan, Lorraine Rocha
    picture • 32 Pages
    Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut
    5.5
    Derrick Barnes, Gordon C. James
    picture • 32 Pages
    Honeysmoke: A Story of Finding Your Color
    Monique Fields, Yesenia Moises
    picture • 32 Pages
    Lorraine: The Girl Who Sang the Storm Away
    5.3
    Ketch Secor, Higgins Bond
    picture • 32 Pages
    Sing a Song: How Lift Every Voice and Sing Inspired Generations
    Kelly Starling Lyons, Keith Mallett

Book Details

ISBN
9781454926832
Publication Date
January 7, 2020
Publisher
Sterling Childrens Books
Page Count
32
Words Per Page
17
Audience
Picture
Reading Age
3 - 9 years
Est. Lexile® Level
~440L
Est. Fountas & Pinnell Level
~L
ATOS® Book Level
3
Accelerated Reader® Points
0.5
Accelerated Reader Quiz
509054
Accelerated Reader Interest Level
LG

Contribute to this page

Core Score - 70%

Making good progress . . .

Depth Score - 37%

Just the barebones.

Improve this page

Are you the author or illustrator? Claim your book.

Top Contributors
01
@booksnobmom
5
02
@thegoodfather
5

Bookroo

Book Clubs

Follow Bookroo