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Bird and Diz


Image result for bird and diz by gary golio
Bird and Diz
Written by Gary Golio
Art by Ed Young
Candlewick Press, 2015.
Picture book.

This little picture book shares some of Charlie "bird" Parker's and Dizzy Gillespie's journey into bebop. If I had to draw jazz, I'd draw it like this. Every page is connected to form folded, double-thick pages. When you reach the end, the story is only half over, flipping the pages the other direction reveals the rest. The entire book unfolds into one large chalk mural. Golio accompanies these images by writing the way bebop sounds, so don't expect too many flowing passages. The brightly colored chalk drawings and up-beat text can appeal to younger audiences, but the artistry can also be appreciated by adults.

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