This book was okay. I guess it would be cool if I knew who John Coltrane was. People that like music may really enjoy this book. Also as a kid I feel like it would be really fun to read. It sort of makes you feel like you are at their little performance. It also gets you to go back and look at the pages the the performers messed up on and it points out the colors and shapes. The art is wonderful it is very different. This kind of art is very fun for kids because it isn't perfect and it looks kind of like a kid drawing. ( )

The thought behind this book is beyond me! It was great that the author took John Coltrane's saying to another level to create this. Coltrane's saying was "sheet of sound". The author showed techniques of composing and arranging a musical performance to readers. ( )

Not going to lie, this book was confusing to me. I did not know who John Coltrane was. I thought he was the kitten in the book. But I like the storyline of the book. I understand how Raschka was teaching us how to draw how Coltrane plays his music. I wish the book had more details because I just did not get it. When the kitten, raindrops, and boxes messed up the drawing, I was confused. I guess they got a little crazy and the author was reminding them they need to take it slow. ( )

This book employs a unique concept that through illustrations deconstructs and explains Coltrane's jazz classic "Giant Steps". It might be helpful to play the tune as you read this book to the reader. The book uses visuals of raindrops, boxes, and kittens to explain the different layers of rhythm, harmony, and melody. You could also have some musical instruments or even pots and pans close by to give an aural example. Under the right conditions this book could be a original and stimulating experience for the young reader. ( )

The narrator begins by introducing the performers that the reader will be seeing "tonight". These performers represent different elements of John Coltrane’s music. The narrator explains how all of the different elements in a composition must work together in order for music to be made correctly and for the composition to sound good. If not, the end result is simply a jumbled mess that is not appealing to listen to. For students who are interested in music, I think this would be a great book. As a former musician, I understood the concepts in the book, but they may have to be explained to students if they are not familiar with them. ( )