The Jazz Fly, hardcover book with audio
(click cover for sample pages)
Written and Performed by Matthew Gollub. Illustrated by Karen Hanke.
Includes 3 listening options: audio CD, QR code, and free audio download.
$18.95 / U.S.A. ISBN 978-1889910-178 Ages 2-99. 32 pages.
Pre-school – 2nd grade. Published by Tortuga Press
A singular story celebrating language and the inventive spirit of jazz.
A fly who speaks jazz asks different critters which way to town.
“Rrribit,” replies the frog. “Oink,” says the hog. Although baffled,
the fly hears music in their words and that evening stirs up a solo
that sets the dinner club a hoppin.’
Get ready to tap, snap, and swing to the beat as Nancy the Gnat,
Willie the Worm, and Sammy the Centipede take the stage!
* America’s #1 Recommended Children’s Book – ABA Indiebound / Children’s Book Sense 76
* Writer’s Digest National Self-Published Book Award
* Benjamin Franklin Award for children’s book/audio book
* Smithsonian’s Notable Books for Children
“This story portrays jazz as freedom to experiment with sounds and to think creatively. Beautifully illustrated,
and with a great CD, this gets our vote for the best new book for children of all ages!”
—ABA Indiebound / Children’s Book Sense 76
“The scat refrains like ‘ZA-baza, BOO-zaba, ZEE-zah RO-ni’ just beg to be read aloud…The danceable music perfectly accentuates the story. Children will love hearing this book read aloud and imitating the animal sounds and other refrains. A natural for storytimes.”
—School Library Journal
“A sound not often heard in children’s recordings. And little listeners will probably swarm to it, well, like flies.”
—San Jose Mercury News
“An accessible introduction to jazz quartets, scatting and improvisation. It’s a cool package.”
—San Francisco Chronicle Editors’ Picks
Jazz Fly 2: The Jungle Pachanga
(click cover for sample pages)
Written and performed by Matthew Gollub. Illustrated by Karen Hanke.
Includes 3 listening options: audio CD, QR code and free audio download.
$18.95 / U.S.A. ISBN 978-1889910-444 Ages 4-99. 32 pages.
Pre-school – 3rd grade. Published by Tortuga Press
Welcome to the world of Spanish words and Latin jazz! Here, the Fly introduces forty zippy Spanish phrases
to thoroughly entertain children of all backgrounds. The first Spanish word is “pachanga” which is like a fiesta
only with more music, more energy and more dancing till all hours!
Matthew’s MUST-HEAR narration features the quartet from the original Jazz Fly–plus master Latin percussionist John Santos.
Follow Los Jazz Bugs deep into the rain forest, decipher the spoken words of exotic fauna—but watch out
for dangers that lurk around the termite nest. Like the Fly, and the author himself, you’ll be glad you learned to speak a second language!
* Foreword Reviews Best Book of the Year, Gold Award Winner
* Best Books Winner, USA Book News
* International Book Awards Winner
* Parents’ Choice Award
* Moonbeam Children’s Book Gold Medal
“The cross-cultural interplay of scat and Latin rhythms wins. ¡Qué bueno!”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Nicely enhanced by the bouncing narration and Latin rhythms on the accompanying CD.”
—A.L.A. Booklist
“[Gollub] gives educators useful information and ideas.”
—School Library Journal
Jazz Fly 3: The Caribbean Sea (click cover for sample pages)
Written and performed by Matthew Gollub. Illustrated by Karen Hanke.
Includes 3 listening options: audio CD, QR code and free audio download.
$18.95 / U.S.A. ISBN 978-1889910-543. Ages 6-99. 40 pages.
1st – 4th grade. Published by Tortuga Press
The be-boppin’ fly and his band are back! Now performing on an international cruise ship,
they turn French and Spanish words into catchy jazz chants. Termites can’t resist joining in,
adding their trumpet, guitar and Afro-Cuban drumming.
But when the lovesick Captain Cockroach leaves the helm, the luxury liner veers off course.
The band plays Caribbean jazz to quell the panic. But how will the plucky musicians respond
after a thunderstorm separates them and casts them adrift?
For the fly’s teeming fans and new readers alike, an extraordinary voyage of language and rhythm awaits.
* Benjamin Franklin Award Winner
* International Book Award Winner
* Winner of 2 First Place Dragonfly Book Awards
“A delightful multimedia showcase. Highly recommended.” – Midwest Book Review
“Between its colorful, dynamic illustrations and clever linguistic elements, Jazz Fly 3 is truly magnifique.” – Foreword Reviews
“Every now and again, we fall innocently into a picture book that really has it all.
Motion, color, rhythm, education, imagination, and boundless energy. And then we read it again. And again.
And then yet again with the soundtrack. Jazz Fly 3 is an amazing, multi-leveled, bilinguistically delicious party.” – Story Monsters Ink
“The inclusion of Spanish and French is seamless, especially when pronounced by Gollub and the other performers. Hanke’s bright, eye-catching illustrations are sure child pleasers…A sure hit for jazz fans who like to dance along with their read-alouds.” – Kirkus Reviews
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