Ben's Trumpet

A young boy, who is - by the look of it - growing up in the 1920s, Ben loves to listen to the music spilling out of the local jazz joint, the Zig Zag Club, and to imagine that he too can play the trumpet. He watches the musicians, and feels the music. He 'plays' for his family on his invisible trumpet, and even receives a compliment from the club trumpeter, whose own playing is the "cat's meow." But when the neighborhood boys ridicule his imaginary instrument, Ben's trumpeting is at an end. Or is it...?

A Caldecott Honor book from 1980, this brief picture-book was chosen as one of our March selections, over in the Picture-Book Club to which I belong, where our theme this month is music. But although its themes are appealing, and its narrative - despite its brevity - engaging, the best part of Rachel Isadora's Ben's Trumpet is the dramatic black-and-white artwork, with its bold silhouettes, zigzagging lines, and curved figures. The illustrations here really come alive, and were well deserving of the honors they won! Recommended to all young would-be musicians and jazz lovers, as well as to anyone who appreciates a skilled melding of word and image. ( )

Illustrations in black and white, this book has a very jazzy and old-time feel to it. The characters are all African American and because it is a book about poverty and a child's dream, it seems perfect for not only my tutees in Detroit but anyone else who will enjoy a good read with meaningful illustrations ( )

Ben is fascinated by music. He loves to go to the jazz club and watch the musicians play. His favorite is the trumpet. He then begins to pretend he is playing the trumpet. One day he was outside playing the trumpet when the trumpeter from the club compliments him. The following day he starts playing trumpet in front of the store until the other kids started making fun of him. Ben is very sad and decides to just go to the club and watch. Then something great happened! The trumpeter tells Ben to come it and he ends up letting him play the real trumpet. The illustrations in this book are done in all black in white. It is beautifully illustrated and the pictures tell the story. I would not read this book to children for the actual story line being that it is not that interesting. I would definitely show this book for the illustrations. ( )

This book’s artwork was most definitely beautiful and it was sketch artwork, but it was in black and white. I was looking for artwork that would be appealing to the students’ eyes. The art in interesting and it definitely displayed emotion. But I just felt that it wasn’t eye catching for a first or second grader. ( )

Ben wants to play the trumpet in the worst way, and fortunately he finds a patient and generous jazz musican who shows him how to play.
Age: 4-7
Source: Pierce College Library