All the members of a young African American girl’s family are musicians. But each one plays a different instrument and a different kind of music. There is her country-and-western fiddle-playing mom, her classical cellist dad, her clarinet-playing sister who marches in a band, her aunt who plays vibes in a jazz combo, her cousin who plays bongos “at the Full Ear Café,” and others. The girl likes playing with each member of her family, although her choice of instrument varies from triangle to tambourine, handbell to maracas, wind chimes to woodblock. “Daddy says I’m a percussionist,” she explains. This celebration of music and of family ties concludes with a glossary that provides brief information about each type of music referenced in the text. (Ages 4–7)

A young girl tries out different genres and instruments in this exuberant celebration of music, winner of the Coretta Scott King New Talent Award--now available in a special anniversary edition.

This is my family. We all love music, begins a young percussionist. When she plays with her father, a cellist, she taps the triangle. With her sister's marching band, she crashes cymbals together. At her aunt's jazz show, she taps a woodblock.

Elbrite Brown's lively cut-paper illustrations, for which he was awarded the Coretta Scott King New Talent Award, depict this diverse, joyous family dancing, strumming, drumming and fiddling their way through a tour of major musical styles--everything from classical string quartets, to rock and roll, to the youngest niece banging on pots and pans. They love music--and most of all, they love to celebrate and play it together.

Includes a glossary covering types of music and instruments mentioned.