by Vince Lewis
January 23, 2010 marks the 100th birthday of the late Django Reinhardt. Most jazz guitarists are aware of his music and his life story. The majority of today’s players have been influenced by his unique style and phrasing. The physical challenge that Django overcame was nothing short of amazing and awe inspiring.
Author and illustrator Bonnie Christensen shares the same birthday as Reinhardt. Her previous works include over ten children’s books. Her art prints have been exhibited internationally. Christensen is the author-illustrator of Woodie Guthrie: Poet of the People, a Boston Globe-Horn Honor Book and a New York Times Notable Book. This effort shows both her sensitivity to a wonderful story and her artistic prowess wonderfully.
Being a jazz guitarist and educator for many years I have quite a collection of biographical materials. The story of Django Reinhardt is told here in a different and basic way. It is intended for ages 5 to 9 / Grades K to 4 and is 32 pages long. There is a selected discography and some simply wonderful notes describing the life of the gypsies of Django’s day. Each turn of the pages finds perfectly matched prose and pictures. It is an inspiring tale of adversity and recovery from potential personal tragedy. It gives a strong message of the human ability to overcome great obstacles in our path. Children of all ages would be encouraged to persevere through rough times in life by this work even without the musical side of the story.
Bonnie Christensen is also a violinist. She perfectly communicates this terrific tale of determination and recovery from serious injury. There are light moments in the tale, and the tragic injury is dealt with perfectly for young audiences. I highly recommend this book to readers of all ages. It definitely will take its rightful place among my favorite coffee table books. It will certainly be read many times over, and shared with many musicians, students and friends.
Django Rheinhardt
Title: Django: World’s Greatest Jazz Guitarist
Author: Bonnie Christensen
ISBN:978-1-59643-422-6
Publisher: A Neal Porter Book / Roaring Book Press
Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group
Publisher Site: Roaring Book Press
