Rap a Tap Tap: Here's Bojangles - Think of That!

One of our favorite children's books. Illustrations are outstanding, text is clever. Really a wonderful book. Highly recommended!

Boasting two Caldecott Medals, the Society of Guild Illustrators' Gold Medal, three Coretta Scott King Awards, four "Boston Globe-Horn Book" Awards, three "New York Times" Best Illustrated Book Awards, the NAACP Image Award, and honorary doctorates from Parsons ("make it work!") School of Design, Leo and Diane Dillon have an impressive collective vita, as well as enough honors to re-write "The 12 Days of Christmas" as a list of their multiple wards and honors. Fine and good, what have they done for us lately? Well, in 2002, they captured another King Award with the graphic stylings, and rhythmic narration of "Rap A Tap Tap," their kids' story about famed tap dancer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson." Leave the bittersweet side of the story to the Sammy Davis, Jr. song; this Bojangles is a jovial dandy--wearing a fancy suit or tuxedo, bow tie, boutonniere, top hat, a cane, and one great big Pied Piper of a smile. The Dillons remove him from movie studios and dance halls, focusing mainly on Bojangles the street dancer, entertaining crowds of ordinary people wherever he found them. Thus, we see Bojangles' moves in a variety of settings: On the street, in a park, a bus stop, a market by an elevated train, in front of a church, inside a movie theater and by a fancy hotel. The Dillons capture the tension and dramatic flair of his entire body, his high stepping moves, and especially his active legwork, the latter through multiple images suggesting movement. While this is not a biography of Bojangles (the only real reference is an informative, albeit necessarily sanitized four-paragraph afterwards), the Dillons largely chose not to set the book with a particular era. How much more interesting it would have been to see more images of the 20's and 30's, or Bojangles in a theater or on a movie set. The bold graphic arts style sets Bojangles' dancing apart from the colorful poster-like backgrounds, but the illustrations only hint at what made him great. You feel the joyous emotions of Bojangles and his fans much more than see his famous footwork and iconic routines. This isn't a huge problem, but it may limit the RAP A TAP TAP to a somewhat younger audience. Still, there's an undeniable power to the uncluttered illustrations, they rely heavily on big basic shapes, and the interaction of the joyful crowds and the always-giving Bojangles. Except for one clinking line mentioned by a reviewer above ("He briefly paused to pat an old cat') the words sound wonderful, alternating smooth alliteration with a dance=matched syncopated beat. The oversized pages, quality paper, and excellent color reproduction make this a keeper, befitting the transcendent fame of its subject.

We checked this book out from the library and haven't taken it back now for months. We are going to purchase it today so that someone else can borrow it too. My 2 year old son absolutley loves this book! He is very particular and asks for certain books to be read and this one gets read at least once a day. He remembers the story line & loves to say "Rap A Tap Tap" at the appropriate times. The illustrations are wonderful and I am so glad we found such a beautiful book.

As Leo and Diane Dillon tell the reader in their illuminating Afterword: "Bill "Bojangles" Robinson (1878-1949) is know as the greatest tap dancer of all time. His fame has reached mythic proportions. He had charm and charisma and, it was said "He talked with his feet." His rhythms were so intricate and fast it was impossible for other dancers to repeat some of them..." The Dillon's introduce a whole new generation to the sheer joy of Mr Bojangles, a dancer who made "art with his feet" in this deceptively simple and creative picture book biographical sketch. Their short rhyming text with its engaging and repetitive "Rap a tap tap-think of that!" is filled with rhythm and motion. But it's their clever, bold, bright, and elegant illustrations that make this book stand out and sparkle, and youngsters will feel the passion and energy with each page turn as they watch Bojangles almost dance off the pages. Perfect for little ones 3-7, Rap A Tap Tap is a playful and captivating, interactive celebration of both Bill Robinson and tap dance...Rap a tap tap-think of that!

Bojangles, a historical tapper is the center of this book. Told in rhythmic rhymes, the story takes you with Bojangles as he taps throughout his city. A great book to read in the music classroom. Your students can chant with you or just keep the steady beat with their tappin' feet! Excellent choice!