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Charlie Parker Played Be Bop
Introduces the famous saxophonist and his style of jazz known as bebop.
Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
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About the author
Chris Raschka
128 books143 followersChris Raschka is the illustrator of The Hello, Goodbye Window, which was awarded the Caldecott Medal. He is also the illustrator of the Caldecott Honor Book Yo! Yes?; Charlie Parker Played Be Bop; Mysterious Thelonious; John Coltrane’s Giant Steps; Can’t Sleep; and The Magic Flute. He lives with his wife and son in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
February 1, 2010
I find myself returning to use this book every year for storytime. The playful rhythm and rhyme of the book make it a wonderful introduction to be bop. The illustrations are very whimsical with a overshoes and lollipops walking around and Charlie Parker playing upside down on one page. What a fun way to introduce a child to Charlie Parker! There is also a kit available that has the story performed by Richard Allen and includes "Night in Tunisia" which inspired Raschka to write the book.
June 24, 2012
I really couldn't connect with this book, and I LOVE jazz. I'm sure if it's read right, it'll be a great book. But I tried reading it several times and I just wasn't getting it. It made no sense to me.
October 28, 2015
Personal Response:
I think the book Charlie Parker Played Be Bop is pretty good because it is about a real artist that plays the saxophone. He can make a lot of sounds. It is written as a poem. I liked the pictures because they are made of music symbols. I read this book to my niece Vicky. She is on kindergarten. She was laughing about the book.
Plot:
In the beginning, Charlie leaves his cat at home. In the picture, the cat looks very sad because he is left at home. Charlie leaves to play music. The middle of the book, is all made up words. The made up words are the sounds coming out of his saxophone. In the end, Charlie goes back home and he saw his cat very sad, so he tells the reader don't leave your cat alone.
Characters:
Charlie Parker is a real artist that plays music in real life. I think his music could have been very good in his time. I think he is not that bad playing the saxophone. In the book we don't learn that much about him except that he plays the saxophone and has a cat.
Impact of Setting:
The book doesn't really tell or show us when or where the story takes place. We know in real life he played music during the 40's and 50's in New York.
Thematic Connection:
The book is about jazz music. Music of jazz can help you to express yourself. When you feel sad you just have to listen to his music.
Charlie Parker's music is cheerful and upbeat. When a person reads this book they will feel better just like they were listening to his music.
Recommendation:
My recommendation is for young elementary kids and people who like to play instruments. Both boys and girls would like this book about Charlie Parker. They would like it because it has weird pictures in the book. Little kids will like this book because it has made-up words.
I think the book Charlie Parker Played Be Bop is pretty good because it is about a real artist that plays the saxophone. He can make a lot of sounds. It is written as a poem. I liked the pictures because they are made of music symbols. I read this book to my niece Vicky. She is on kindergarten. She was laughing about the book.
Plot:
In the beginning, Charlie leaves his cat at home. In the picture, the cat looks very sad because he is left at home. Charlie leaves to play music. The middle of the book, is all made up words. The made up words are the sounds coming out of his saxophone. In the end, Charlie goes back home and he saw his cat very sad, so he tells the reader don't leave your cat alone.
Characters:
Charlie Parker is a real artist that plays music in real life. I think his music could have been very good in his time. I think he is not that bad playing the saxophone. In the book we don't learn that much about him except that he plays the saxophone and has a cat.
Impact of Setting:
The book doesn't really tell or show us when or where the story takes place. We know in real life he played music during the 40's and 50's in New York.
Thematic Connection:
The book is about jazz music. Music of jazz can help you to express yourself. When you feel sad you just have to listen to his music.
Charlie Parker's music is cheerful and upbeat. When a person reads this book they will feel better just like they were listening to his music.
Recommendation:
My recommendation is for young elementary kids and people who like to play instruments. Both boys and girls would like this book about Charlie Parker. They would like it because it has weird pictures in the book. Little kids will like this book because it has made-up words.
February 27, 2020
I have been using this for February story times since SPK. 4/25/11
This went over very well in Story Time. The children participated and enjoyed the sounds of the words. One girl grabbed it after Story Time and I'm not sure if she set it somewhere or snuck it home without checking it out. 4/18/12
Used again and was received extremely well in Story Time. It got the children giggling. 4/24/13
Used in Lap Time this year after reading Elissa's review and it went over well. 4/28/15
Used in Baby/Toddler Story Times and in the first I had a toddler who loved repeating Be Bop. In the second I had an older sibling who thought it was funny.
This went over very well in Story Time. The children participated and enjoyed the sounds of the words. One girl grabbed it after Story Time and I'm not sure if she set it somewhere or snuck it home without checking it out. 4/18/12
Used again and was received extremely well in Story Time. It got the children giggling. 4/24/13
Used in Lap Time this year after reading Elissa's review and it went over well. 4/28/15
Used in Baby/Toddler Story Times and in the first I had a toddler who loved repeating Be Bop. In the second I had an older sibling who thought it was funny.
January 28, 2015
You have to really make this book your own in order for it to work. Sing the words, look up Youtube videos of teachers and librarians reading it aloud. Kids get into it if you do too! It's a great introduction to jazz and early rock and roll for grade school kids - it demonstrates the off-the-cuff style of be bop in an accessible way.
Read
May 31, 2018My toddler liked this a lot. I wasn't sure she would since it seemed too abstract, but she's been asking for "Charlie Parker" and enjoys pointing out things in the pictures. She also got excited about listening to his music later, because she remembers the book.
December 4, 2007
So much fun at both baby/toddler and preschool storytimes. Very playful and unique. I love how Raschka conveys the essence of music for the very youngest kids, in both words and pictures.
January 26, 2012
Absolutely phenomenal - the audiobook is a must-have, brilliantly read / performed by Richard Allen.
August 19, 2012
I need to find the audiobook for this book.
September 8, 2016
If you need help reading this in be bop style try watching:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1-pOq...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1-pOq...
December 29, 2017
kids I've read this with have adored it because of all the sound effects. it could have better illustrations but the language and rhythm are amazing.
March 14, 2018
Oh, aren't we hip, schoolin' tiny kids about jazz....or at least telling ourselves that we are.
July 18, 2021
Charlie Parker Played Be Bop is a children's picture book written and illustrated by Chris Raschka. It a sassy children picture book centering on jazz legend Charlie Parker, where young readers will bop to the pulsating beat.
Charles Parker Jr. was an American jazz saxophonist, band leader and composer. Parker was a highly influential soloist and leading figure in the development of bebop, a form of jazz characterized by fast tempos, virtuosic technique, and advanced harmonies.
Raschka's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. Raschka combines a text that's as lean as a poem and as mean as a blues refrain with vigorously skewed illustrations gleaming with sly wit.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. In a daring attempt to capture the raw energy of Parker's music, Raschka presents a brief, rhythmic text printed in different styles and varied with playful onomatopoeia recalls the humor and cadences of a great jazz musician or more precise the music he played. It is less than a biography of the musician, but more about the music he played – Be Pop.
All in all, Charlie Parker Played Be Bop is a fun onomatopoeia picture book focus more on the jazz music than the musician himself.
Charles Parker Jr. was an American jazz saxophonist, band leader and composer. Parker was a highly influential soloist and leading figure in the development of bebop, a form of jazz characterized by fast tempos, virtuosic technique, and advanced harmonies.
Raschka's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. Raschka combines a text that's as lean as a poem and as mean as a blues refrain with vigorously skewed illustrations gleaming with sly wit.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. In a daring attempt to capture the raw energy of Parker's music, Raschka presents a brief, rhythmic text printed in different styles and varied with playful onomatopoeia recalls the humor and cadences of a great jazz musician or more precise the music he played. It is less than a biography of the musician, but more about the music he played – Be Pop.
All in all, Charlie Parker Played Be Bop is a fun onomatopoeia picture book focus more on the jazz music than the musician himself.
August 1, 2019
This would be a perfect bedtime book for a small child. I wasn't thrilled with the story, but I would imagine that a small child would enjoy the rhythm of the book. It was short and I'm not really sure why the cat was involved the book at all.
February 26, 2019
This book's narrative is meant to be read as though you were listening to be bop, making it an interesting and almost multi-media read! That being said, it also might be a little jarring if you're not expecting this to be such an abstract picturebook! But Chris Raschka does it again and combines both his incredible illustrations with a stylistic tone of narration. It's a celebration of the genre, and of Charlie Parker. Great for grades K-2.
Review cross-listed here!
Review cross-listed here!
May 7, 2012
Book type: Picture storybook
Intended audience: three year olds to five year olds. Preschool.
The first time I read this book I was completely unimpressed. I saw this, but then I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since. I gave someone a pile of fifty biographies for children in the age range of 4-8 years old. Two weeks later, that person, too, asked me the name of this book. I never even knew that there was a picture book genre about music. I'm glad there is. I think it would be fun to do a series of picture books about musicians and play their music in the background. See my list of pairings below. This book is simple and fun and could really be used to help a group of four year olds appreciate words, books, music, jazz, art, and dance. You can't say that about just any book.
Lessons:
--Music recognition
--Words
--Dance and movement
--Theater
Note: April is jazz appreciation month, and there is a CD that comes with this book in which the author reads the book and there are Parker musical selections.
Lesson Implementation:
--Play Charlie Parker in the background and then create a reader's theater where each child reads each page aloud. Practice until memorized. Would like to see final result.
Book Pairings:
--Before John Was a Jazz Giant: A Song of John Coltrane, Carole Boston Weatherford (Author), Sean Qualls (Illustrator)
--Jimi: Sounds Like a Rainbow: A Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix by Gary Golio and Javaka Steptoe
--John's Secret Dreams : The Life of John Lennon Doreen Rappaport (Author), Bryan Collier (Author)
--When Louis Armstrong Taught Me Scat, Muriel Harris Weinstein
--What Charlie Heard, Mordicai Gerstein
--When Marian Sang, Pam Munoz Ryan
Intended audience: three year olds to five year olds. Preschool.
The first time I read this book I was completely unimpressed. I saw this, but then I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since. I gave someone a pile of fifty biographies for children in the age range of 4-8 years old. Two weeks later, that person, too, asked me the name of this book. I never even knew that there was a picture book genre about music. I'm glad there is. I think it would be fun to do a series of picture books about musicians and play their music in the background. See my list of pairings below. This book is simple and fun and could really be used to help a group of four year olds appreciate words, books, music, jazz, art, and dance. You can't say that about just any book.
Lessons:
--Music recognition
--Words
--Dance and movement
--Theater
Note: April is jazz appreciation month, and there is a CD that comes with this book in which the author reads the book and there are Parker musical selections.
Lesson Implementation:
--Play Charlie Parker in the background and then create a reader's theater where each child reads each page aloud. Practice until memorized. Would like to see final result.
Book Pairings:
--Before John Was a Jazz Giant: A Song of John Coltrane, Carole Boston Weatherford (Author), Sean Qualls (Illustrator)
--Jimi: Sounds Like a Rainbow: A Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix by Gary Golio and Javaka Steptoe
--John's Secret Dreams : The Life of John Lennon Doreen Rappaport (Author), Bryan Collier (Author)
--When Louis Armstrong Taught Me Scat, Muriel Harris Weinstein
--What Charlie Heard, Mordicai Gerstein
--When Marian Sang, Pam Munoz Ryan
May 8, 2016
There are a few books that I find myself buying over and over again. I always end up giving away my copy, or thinking of another person who *needs* to have it. Charlie Parker Played Be Bop is definitely in that category.
On the surface, Chris Raschka's illustrations are so full of color and whimsy that you want to linger on each page a moment, just to breathe it in. But beyond that, Charlie Parker Played Be Bop is one of those rare books that can actually make you feel what the author is describing (in this case, be bop).
In some ways (like be bop), there's not much to it. There are rarely more than 5 or 6 words per page, and many of the phrases are repeated over and over again. But Raschka uses rhythm and rhyme in ways that are both satisfyingly predictable and completely surprising. By the time you get to...
Alphabet, alphabet, alphabet, alph,
Chickadee, chickadee, chickadee, chick,
Overshoes, overshoes, overshoes, o,
Reeti-footi, reeti-footi, reeti-footie, ree
...you can practically hear the saxophone in your ear and you want to tap your foot and dance along. It's impossible to read this book out loud and not start to put some *swing* into it. Every single time I have read this book to my students they immediately respond with a resounding, "Read it again!"
On the surface, Chris Raschka's illustrations are so full of color and whimsy that you want to linger on each page a moment, just to breathe it in. But beyond that, Charlie Parker Played Be Bop is one of those rare books that can actually make you feel what the author is describing (in this case, be bop).
In some ways (like be bop), there's not much to it. There are rarely more than 5 or 6 words per page, and many of the phrases are repeated over and over again. But Raschka uses rhythm and rhyme in ways that are both satisfyingly predictable and completely surprising. By the time you get to...
Alphabet, alphabet, alphabet, alph,
Chickadee, chickadee, chickadee, chick,
Overshoes, overshoes, overshoes, o,
Reeti-footi, reeti-footi, reeti-footie, ree
...you can practically hear the saxophone in your ear and you want to tap your foot and dance along. It's impossible to read this book out loud and not start to put some *swing* into it. Every single time I have read this book to my students they immediately respond with a resounding, "Read it again!"
August 1, 2012
I just discovered this book, and I wish I had known of it earlier! Loved it! I read along as I listened to the audio CD the author released in 2000 with jazz vocalist Richard Allen (Live Oak Media—a different ISBN for some reason, which was illegible on the library CD). The audio recording really helps to fully appreciate the book, unless you have a natural sense of be bop jazz and scat singing. This genre works best when background information is included, and since the edition I read had none, the CD helps to provide the context to understand be bop and the significance of Charlie Parker’s career.
The author was inspired by the jazz classic A Night in Tunisia, by Dizzy Gillespie. The recording features the author’s commentary, Allen’s performance of the text with Charlie Parker’s performance, and also the full uncut performance by Parker, Gillespie and others. This book not only provides an opportunity to enjoy be bop, but Allen’s performance supports young reader’s phonemic awareness development through the sheer fun of language and be bop scat singing. Although it is best for 6 and under, the book has appeal (through repeated performances) for older students who enjoy singing and having fun with nonsense syllables, rhythm and rhyme.
The author was inspired by the jazz classic A Night in Tunisia, by Dizzy Gillespie. The recording features the author’s commentary, Allen’s performance of the text with Charlie Parker’s performance, and also the full uncut performance by Parker, Gillespie and others. This book not only provides an opportunity to enjoy be bop, but Allen’s performance supports young reader’s phonemic awareness development through the sheer fun of language and be bop scat singing. Although it is best for 6 and under, the book has appeal (through repeated performances) for older students who enjoy singing and having fun with nonsense syllables, rhythm and rhyme.
April 22, 2011
I've tried to do this one for storytime and didn't get the hang of the scat, but it has been recommended to me for laptime so I think I will try again. I have a lot more hope for it for laptime because babies will appreciate the sound and not be looking for meaning in the nonsensically language. Also, I'm going to have to pick up a copy with the CD because I think that will help loads.
Edit: *Sigh* I had hoped this book would make sense to me with the CD, it didn't. The CD goes through the book once "of rhythm" and it makes no more sense than it did the first time I read it. The he reads it "on-rhythm" with a jazz piece, and it's not much better. Also, you'd have to turn the pages so quickly to keep up, it would be useless for a storytime. The copy I used had lots of tears at the bottom, which I can only figure came from people desperately trying to keep up with the music. I think that if anyone were to do this book they would have to do it with the CD, which is something that I'm not fond of as a storyteller anyway (you have so much more control when you sing it yourself). What a disappointment, since I love the jazzy idea behind this book.
Edit: *Sigh* I had hoped this book would make sense to me with the CD, it didn't. The CD goes through the book once "of rhythm" and it makes no more sense than it did the first time I read it. The he reads it "on-rhythm" with a jazz piece, and it's not much better. Also, you'd have to turn the pages so quickly to keep up, it would be useless for a storytime. The copy I used had lots of tears at the bottom, which I can only figure came from people desperately trying to keep up with the music. I think that if anyone were to do this book they would have to do it with the CD, which is something that I'm not fond of as a storyteller anyway (you have so much more control when you sing it yourself). What a disappointment, since I love the jazzy idea behind this book.
September 7, 2007
this is probably one of my favorite all-time books to read to my children. it has been a favorite around our house for years, and to all of my children. the playful, nonsensical narrative echoes the phrasing, rhythm, and playfulness of charlie parker's music -- or any bebop for that matter. this book is a wonderful early tool for nurturing music appreciation, individuality, creativity, humor, and general silliness. the artwork beautifully complements the narrative, which, i meant to add, absolutely requires that you perform and improvise. like a piece of sheet music, the book can run the gamut from good to great, depending on the enthusiasm, ear, and improvisational abilities of you, the reader.
February 28, 2015
“Charlie Parker Played Be Bop” by Chris Raschka plays like a good jazz tune filled with melancholic jazz tune filled with scats and rhythm. It’s a written performance of Charlie Parker, the bird, playing his saxophone. How Chris Raschka lexically annotated a musical performance is pretty amazing.
Words like boppitty, bibbitty echos in the background as rather darker hue of the pictures do justice in representing the somber mood ambiance of jazz. Simple and rhythmic words do justice mimicking the notes and scatting we hear in jazz. The overall arching of the book has certain cadence found in music.
More than a simple study in onomatopoeia or rhyming, word composition is, in my opinion, more mature than preschooler to 3rd grader as Amazon.com would recommend.
Words like boppitty, bibbitty echos in the background as rather darker hue of the pictures do justice in representing the somber mood ambiance of jazz. Simple and rhythmic words do justice mimicking the notes and scatting we hear in jazz. The overall arching of the book has certain cadence found in music.
More than a simple study in onomatopoeia or rhyming, word composition is, in my opinion, more mature than preschooler to 3rd grader as Amazon.com would recommend.
March 13, 2015
Great paintings of Parker with music spiraling inside him, coming up and out of his saxaphone and filling the air; (Raschka is a master of perspective and foreshortening, catching Bird all all kinds of angles). At moments the conceptual nature of the book seems to come undone. However, the whimsical appearance of birds adopting all kinds of different poses and disguises and the brooding cat don't so much play out a storyline as give the feeling of Parker's playing - any attempt to turn this linear will be frustrating and make the book a disappointment. I can see how reading this out loud with a lapsitter would be a great experience. Be bop! (First read September 2012)
April 27, 2014
This book has a rhyming structure like this
"Charlie Parker played Be Bop.
Charlie Parker Played saxophone.
The music sounded like be bop.
never leave your cat alone." (Raschka)
This gives the text a musical quality and improvisational structure similar to that of jazz.
In addition to the random references to a cat, another seemingly strange reference is made to "barbecue that last leg bone" (Raschka). While these random references may confuse the reader at first, the teacher can explain how jazz musicians often improv, or make music up as they go.
In his own words, Raschka says that he hops the reader will learn that "be bop had something to do with rhythm, surprise, and humor."
"Charlie Parker played Be Bop.
Charlie Parker Played saxophone.
The music sounded like be bop.
never leave your cat alone." (Raschka)
This gives the text a musical quality and improvisational structure similar to that of jazz.
In addition to the random references to a cat, another seemingly strange reference is made to "barbecue that last leg bone" (Raschka). While these random references may confuse the reader at first, the teacher can explain how jazz musicians often improv, or make music up as they go.
In his own words, Raschka says that he hops the reader will learn that "be bop had something to do with rhythm, surprise, and humor."
September 17, 2016
One of my favorite books from when I was a child. I loved the rhythm of the book and how my Dad read it to me emphasizing all the "sounds" of the words like it was music actually being played. It did not really make a lot of sense, now looking back and reading it as an adult myself, but as a child the non-sense almost engaged me more and made me more in tune with the book. I would definitely read this and recommend this to anyone who has young children, but if you read it, you need to either read it sing-songy OR really have a lot of emphasis on the words, otherwise the book can be boring to a child.
March 15, 2018
Hmm. I think this is stretching a little - I'm not sure that children would be able to get the concept (I'm not entirely sure I did!) or that the book would keep them interested.
Ages: 3 - 6
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! Visit my website: The Book Radar.
Ages: 3 - 6
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! Visit my website: The Book Radar.
January 7, 2014
How did I miss this FANTASTIC 1992 picture biography of Charlie Parker? How cool is the text to inspire both adults and the youngest of young? Yes, you can read this to babies and toddlers. They will dance to it! "Be bop. Fisk, fisk. Lollipop. Boomba, boomba. Bus stop. Zznnzznn. Boppitty, bibbitty, bop..." Thank you, my friend Margaret, for introducing me to this author. Never leave your cat alone.
May 16, 2016
When I shared Bird & Diz with one of my classes last week, I played Salt Peanuts! for them and it added another dimension to the read aloud. I remembered how while I loved Chris Raschka's Charlie Parker Played Be Bop, it wasn't until I heard the audio that I truly appreciated what Raschka did with the text. I dug it out of my personal archives, dusted it off and shared it with my students, who dug it.
March 13, 2018
no, no, no. I can't ... even ... with this book. I consider myself a fairly musical & rhythm and beats type of person but I just didn't understand this book one bit. I even looked up a few videos on YouTube to see how I was supposed to read it out loud. the lyrics don't make sense, the beat is all over the place, and I just don't get it. zero stars if I could. sorry if it's the unpopular opinion.
March 17, 2008
Once I learned how to read this in a be-bop rhythm I was amazed by its subtle brilliance. I love reading this book aloud to my kids -- it is really only to be read aloud with pizazz and expression -- otherwise you won't get it and it will fall flat.
I read it to my soc classes as an opener in classes on language and power.
I read it to my soc classes as an opener in classes on language and power.
July 31, 2012
*Note: This is not an actual biography but it is about the jazz musician Charlie Parker.
Raschka does it again! He creatively uses onomatopoeias, phrases, varied font styles, and text placement to tell a story that reads like lyrics of a jazz song. His bold illustrations add to the musical flow of the fun jazzy text.
Raschka does it again! He creatively uses onomatopoeias, phrases, varied font styles, and text placement to tell a story that reads like lyrics of a jazz song. His bold illustrations add to the musical flow of the fun jazzy text.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews