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Doo-Wop Pop
A school janitor named Doo-Wop Pop comes to the aid of several shy children, teaching them to sing and have confidence in themselves.
40 pages, Hardcover
Published October 28, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
November 17, 2022
The illustrations seem like filtered photos and some scrapbooking.
The story was great. The rhyming, the use of musical sounds, and the story of breaking out of shyness are awesome.
The parts I liked:
“I see you,” he says, “always hiding, taking your notes. So take this down - one of my favorite quotes: ‘It’s no disgrace to show your face.’”
—
“… All you need now is music - your own special song.”
“But aren’t you going to teach it to us,” Luis asks softly, “so we can sing along?”
“Wrong. That’s your job. Stop, look, and listen to the world. Catch the thing that makes you feel like you just have to sing! There’s music in the air - inside, outside - everywhere. There’s doo-wop, pop, bebop, hip-hop, rap, boogie-woogie, punk, funk, salsa, ska, jazz, and rock - even Mr. J.S. Bach - and he’s one cool dude! As for words? They fly among us like beautiful birds.”
—
He wore a suit so gleaming white, some folks said it was made of moonlight.
—
… we listen for the beat - for the music of our world - the click-click-clack of feet in the halls, the best of laughter through the walls, the kids in the orchestra rehearsing onstage, the rattle of a turning page.
We collect all kinds of sounds- the squeaking talk of the blackboard chalk, the thump-a-bump-bump of a basketball dribbling, even the soft sound of pencils scribbling. We hear papers folding, teachers scolding, the tickity-rock of our classroom clock. A coin drops - plippity-plop-plop. We turn it into a doo-wop!
—-
Were we scared? You bet! But we told ourselves, “Be-boppa brave. Be-boppa bold!”
The story was great. The rhyming, the use of musical sounds, and the story of breaking out of shyness are awesome.
The parts I liked:
“I see you,” he says, “always hiding, taking your notes. So take this down - one of my favorite quotes: ‘It’s no disgrace to show your face.’”
—
“… All you need now is music - your own special song.”
“But aren’t you going to teach it to us,” Luis asks softly, “so we can sing along?”
“Wrong. That’s your job. Stop, look, and listen to the world. Catch the thing that makes you feel like you just have to sing! There’s music in the air - inside, outside - everywhere. There’s doo-wop, pop, bebop, hip-hop, rap, boogie-woogie, punk, funk, salsa, ska, jazz, and rock - even Mr. J.S. Bach - and he’s one cool dude! As for words? They fly among us like beautiful birds.”
—
He wore a suit so gleaming white, some folks said it was made of moonlight.
—
… we listen for the beat - for the music of our world - the click-click-clack of feet in the halls, the best of laughter through the walls, the kids in the orchestra rehearsing onstage, the rattle of a turning page.
We collect all kinds of sounds- the squeaking talk of the blackboard chalk, the thump-a-bump-bump of a basketball dribbling, even the soft sound of pencils scribbling. We hear papers folding, teachers scolding, the tickity-rock of our classroom clock. A coin drops - plippity-plop-plop. We turn it into a doo-wop!
—-
Were we scared? You bet! But we told ourselves, “Be-boppa brave. Be-boppa bold!”
April 15, 2021
Doo-Wop Pop is the school janitor/singer. He skips and hops and sings while wiping the dirt away. I love how he encourages the shier kids to try out their own doo-wop and create their own music. This picture book is also a great collection of collage art and detail faces. I feel it gives the story a timeless look and I really loved the ending with the kids gathering more and Doo-Wop Pop teaching the kids how to find their own music.
January 14, 2019
An amazingly told story that transforms rhymes into the rhythm of Doo-Wop. Not only will the reader learn about this genre of music, they will learn that through music, they are never alone. Kudos to Roni Schotter and Bryan Collier on a job well done.
Thank you for the loan Franklin Public Library.
Thank you for the loan Franklin Public Library.
May 30, 2017
Sweet story of a janitor who used to sing doo-wop back in the "oldie-butgoodie" days collecting all the shy kids together and teaching them to sing, perform, and find their own music in the everyday. So lovely!
April 15, 2023
Doo-Wop Pop, the school janitor brings together for shy students and teaches them to listen for the sounds in their world and then to sing a cappella with the four voices. Do-Wop is a great musical genre from the black culture of the 1950s and I have always loved the Doo-Wop sound!
April 2, 2018
A very good steAm book about music and how children can learn to hear it and give it back to others.
August 13, 2020
Doo-Wop Pop tells a story of how a beloved school janitor helped four shy children become more confident in themselves and make friends as he taught them to find the music in their everyday life.
February 16, 2023
Fun, creative, light hearted, great message. ^_^
December 23, 2022
While visiting my 3 year old grandson I read this book to him several times. The story of a school janitor who was a doo wop singer back in the good old days. Through his love of music ( doo wop in particular) he helps 4 shy students to find confidence in themselves.
A beautifully illustrated book told through rhyming, catching lyrics. As I read the story I could imagine hearing the doo wop times of my younger years.
I found this book to be a wonderful story.
A beautifully illustrated book told through rhyming, catching lyrics. As I read the story I could imagine hearing the doo wop times of my younger years.
I found this book to be a wonderful story.
September 23, 2011
The school janitor, Mr. Searle, once was a doo-wop singer, but now he sings and dances alongside his cleaning tools. But he must be an observant and a kind man because he notices five youngsters who seem to hide from the rest of their classmates. For whatever reason, the man, known to the school as Doo-Wop Pop singles these children out and teaches them some dance moves and how to sing a cappella. The five--Elijah Earl, Alishah, Jacob, Luis, and Pam Pam start to listen for the beat in everything around them. Instead of being bystanders, their talents bring them into the spotlight. The book's appealing word choice and rhythmic feel is as compelling as the collage illustrations that fill its pages. As usual with Bryan Collier's work, there is more to notice each time a reader looks at the book. The facial expressions, in particular, are spot on.
December 8, 2009
My new favorite kid's book. It's been out since 2008, but I just read it, and I love it. Bryan Collier's illustrations are on point (as usual). It's a sweet, rhyming story, but it doesn't use couplets, which I thought was a pretty uniquely stylistic touch. I like when things are not so obvious. Mr. Searle is the school janitor (with a diamond stud in his ear) who used to be a famous doo-wop crooner. He notices a small group of very shy kids with no friends,that always hang back. He helps them find their voices and talents by introducing them to the art of doo-wop. Fun book to read to kids!
February 21, 2009
School custodian who was formerly a soul singer (a silver-speckled crepe cape wearing soul singer) encourages the shy kids in school to, "Stop being the carrot that stays out of the soup. Dive in with the potatoes be a part of the group."
I'm not really buying that with just a little encouragement, a gaggle of wallflowers turn into an a capella group with synchronized dance moves. And then they perform, yeah you guessed it, in front of the whole school. But I love Bryan Collier's artwork! yay!
I'm not really buying that with just a little encouragement, a gaggle of wallflowers turn into an a capella group with synchronized dance moves. And then they perform, yeah you guessed it, in front of the whole school. But I love Bryan Collier's artwork! yay!
October 28, 2009
Fine story of a doo-wop singer turned school janitor who teaches the quietest children in the school to sing and dance. Internal rhymes in the young narrator's text have an appropriately musical feel.
My favorite element is the illustrations. There's a blocky element that has its own rhythm, and the kids' expressions are as realistic as candid photos from a city classroom. I olny wish they had more of a skin-tone range to reflect the full African-American spectrum.
My favorite element is the illustrations. There's a blocky element that has its own rhythm, and the kids' expressions are as realistic as candid photos from a city classroom. I olny wish they had more of a skin-tone range to reflect the full African-American spectrum.
December 16, 2012
Theme: Stories in rhyme convey self-confidence messages to juveniles, History of music
The cut-paper collages are excellent with deep color and heavy expressive line. The story is simple, but not boring-yet gives a lot of education about music and history. Schotter uses a timeless setting that intensifies the meaning conveyed through impressive characters and a style appropriate to the subject with natural dialogue.
The cut-paper collages are excellent with deep color and heavy expressive line. The story is simple, but not boring-yet gives a lot of education about music and history. Schotter uses a timeless setting that intensifies the meaning conveyed through impressive characters and a style appropriate to the subject with natural dialogue.
January 13, 2009
This is the story of a janitor who use to be a jazz musician pulls a group of kids (who are outsiders to everyone else) and makes them a group with music. He inspires them to find their own sound and their own confidence. This is a great story in a class where there are students who are quiet and not full of confidence. It is a great example of how people can learn differently. Grades K+
January 10, 2016
There were so many wonderful messages in this book. It went beyond the obvious. This book had...
- a taste of history
- rhythm with word play
- a lesson on moving beyond a solitary existence
- a lesson on venturing forward with confidence
- problem solving
- building coping skills
- group dynamics
Those were only a few things. I loved it!
- a taste of history
- rhythm with word play
- a lesson on moving beyond a solitary existence
- a lesson on venturing forward with confidence
- problem solving
- building coping skills
- group dynamics
Those were only a few things. I loved it!
February 12, 2009
This is one of the absolute best children's books I've read in a long time. My wife and I absolutely love it! It tells a great story of community with wonderful examples of onomatopoeia. The illustrations are great, too!
March 7, 2009
This is an awesome book. Everything about it rocks. The rhyming story to the illustrations, but most of all the lesson. "Stop being the carrot that stays out of the soup. Dive in with the potatoes and be part of the group."
August 12, 2015
Though Mr. Searle walks around with a broom and mop and cleans the school, he used to be known as- 'Snow Man'. And he used to sing Do-Wop. Watch how Mr. Doo-Wop takes a group of introverted kids under his wing and shows them how to fly - and 'sha-bop'.
May 5, 2009
I have to confess I'm really tired of books like this. The illustrations are nice, but the story is contrived and forced. It tries too hard with the message and the music metaphors get old.
July 16, 2009
Shy kids are coached to become performing group by the school janitor, formally in the biz. Inspirational.
January 26, 2010
A former doo-wop singer/ custodian brings a group of shy children out of their shells through music. Fun to read!
April 16, 2010
A great book about children who don't fit in at a school coming together with the help of the janitor and forming a music group. Great onomatopoeia.
July 22, 2016
Lovw rhw illustrations, but the story was dull.
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May 16, 2016I mean, Bryan Collier is damn near perfect always, but I'm not a fan of picturebook text that does weird shoutouts in different fonts.
August 24, 2015
A wonderful story with a great rhythm and beautiful pictures.
March 9, 2018
This book can be use to incorporate music into the classroom.
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April 22, 2018"Doo-Wop Pop" is a fun and exciting story. The Doo-Wop Pop gives the students courage and the ability to be comfortable with who they are.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews