The Jazz Man facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Mary Hays Weik |
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| Illustrator | Ann Grifalconi |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Atheneum Books |
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Publication date
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1966 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 42 pp |
The Jazz Man is a children's book written by Mary Hays Weik. Her daughter, Ann Grifalconi, drew the pictures for it. The book came out in 1966 and won a special award called a Newbery Honor in 1967. It was published again in 1993. This story has also been shared in countries like Germany and South Africa.
Contents
The Story of The Jazz Man
The story is about a nine-year-old boy named Zeke. He lives with his parents in a tall building called a brownstone in Harlem. Zeke remembers living in a different home down South. He also remembers how hard it was to climb the five flights of stairs to his new apartment. His legs would ache and beat fast. He got used to the stairs, but his mother still found them very tiring after work.
One of Zeke's legs is shorter than the other. This made him feel different when other kids stared at his foot. Because of this, Zeke often skipped school. He would stay in his apartment and look out the window. He watched the windows across the courtyard. One window was always closed, and Zeke wondered who might live there.
Soon, a man moved into that apartment. He brought a piano with him. Zeke started calling him the Jazz Man. The Jazz Man played music all day and night.
Music Brings Joy
Zeke and his family loved listening to the music. The Jazz Man's music helped Zeke's mother forget how tired she was. It also helped her forget her worries about paying the rent. The music helped Zeke's father forget that he didn't have a job. Zeke watched the Jazz Man play with his friends. They played the saxophone, drums, and trumpet.
As summer ended, Zeke's mother became more and more bothered by the stairs. She and Zeke's father argued because he was still out of work. One night, Zeke's mother cried while reading him a bedtime story.
A Difficult Time
The next morning, Zeke's mother left and did not come back. Zeke and his father had to learn to take care of themselves. After a while, Zeke's father started spending many days away from home. Sometimes, he didn't leave Zeke any food. Zeke became quieter and thinner. He told his neighbors that his mother went to visit a rich aunt. But everyone, including Zeke, knew this was not true.
After some time, Zeke realized he hadn't heard the Jazz Man playing. He looked across the courtyard and saw that the Jazz Man had moved out. One morning, Zeke left his building and walked across the street. He found the Jazz Man playing with his friends at a big party.
A Surprising Ending
Zeke was confused. He pinched himself and then woke up to his father's voice. Zeke was with his mother and father, listening to the Jazz Man from their window. Zeke realized that the difficult time he had experienced was all a dream.
Main Characters in The Jazz Man
Here are some of the important people in the story:
- Zeke - A nine-year-old boy living in Harlem. One of his legs is shorter than the other. He often listens to the Jazz Man's music instead of going to school.
- Zeke's Mother - She works long hours and often comes home tired. She loves to dance when she is happy.
- Zeke's Father - He is unemployed and struggles to find work.
- Tony - One of the Jazz Man's friends. He is Italian and plays the trumpet.
- Ernie - An African American man who plays the saxophone with the Jazz Man sometimes.
- Manuel - Another friend of the Jazz Man who plays the drums.
- Mrs. Dowdy - One of Zeke's neighbors. She lives across the courtyard in an apartment with clean, shiny windows.
- Lispie - A girl who lives across the street from Zeke. She lives in the apartment with the crooked green blinds.
- Old Bill - A man who lives across the courtyard from Zeke. He lives in the apartment with the dirty, cracked window.
