Jump Up Time
Copyright © 2008 www.lynnjosephbooks.com
Summary: Christine is getting ready to participate in the Children’s Carnival In Trinidad and everyone in the family is helping her: Mama sews the costume, Daddy helps to glue bird feathers, and little sister, Lily, is assisting them all. The only problem is that Lily wishes it was she who was getting ready to jump up and dance on stage at Carnival. But Christine gives Lily a nice surprise at the end of the jump up-she places her bird’s head costume on Lily’s head and thanks her for all her help.
Reviews:
From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3-Lily wishes that she could wear a costume like her big sister Christine and "jump up," or parade across the stage, during the Children's Carnival. As the whole family works together on Christine's hummingbird outfit, Lily is jealous and can't wait until the celebration is over, "Because that go be de end of that old Carnival costume." On the big day, Christine sees the stage where the jump up will take place and is frightened. Lily reassures her and the older girl joins the other children to "play mas." Later, Christine lets Lily wear her hummingbird headdress. No background information about Carnival is provided, though readers can guess the meaning of "jumping up" and "playing mas" from the context. Saport's pastel illustrations are earth toned. The round-faced characters are reminiscent of Henri Rousseau's island paintings and their features express the moods in the story well. The story is genuine and expresses feelings that kids will certainly relate to. Sally Bates Goodroe, Harris County Public Library, Houston, TX
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Ages 5-8. Although she can't help feeling exuberant at the coming of carnival, with its music and festivities, Lily is sick of the subject of her big sister's first carnival costume. Six months' work has gone into constructing the splendid hummingbird costume, but when it comes time for Christine to get up on stage and "jump up," she freezes. It's Lily's encouragement that finally helps Christine overcome the fear. Saport's richly saturated oil pastels, in shades of salmon, turquoise, yellow, and blue, give the book a tropical feel. The strong illustrations might have overwhelmed the text. Instead, they match the lilting vernacular of Joseph's language, enhancing the satisfying, believable family story. Together, the words and pictures capture the highly charged emotion and spectacle of the holiday as it is celebrated in Trinidad. Susan Dove Lempke
From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3-Lily wishes that she could wear a costume like her big sister Christine and "jump up," or parade across the stage, during the Children's Carnival. As the whole family works together on Christine's hummingbird outfit, Lily is jealous and can't wait until the celebration is over, "Because that go be de end of that old Carnival costume." On the big day, Christine sees the stage where the jump up will take place and is frightened. Lily reassures her and the older girl joins the other children to "play mas." Later, Christine lets Lily wear her hummingbird headdress. No background information about Carnival is provided, though readers can guess the meaning of "jumping up" and "playing mas" from the context. Saport's pastel illustrations are earth toned. The round-faced characters are reminiscent of Henri Rousseau's island paintings and their features express the moods in the story well. The story is genuine and expresses feelings that kids will certainly relate to. Sally Bates Goodroe, Harris County Public Library, Houston, TX
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Ages 5-8. Although she can't help feeling exuberant at the coming of carnival, with its music and festivities, Lily is sick of the subject of her big sister's first carnival costume. Six months' work has gone into constructing the splendid hummingbird costume, but when it comes time for Christine to get up on stage and "jump up," she freezes. It's Lily's encouragement that finally helps Christine overcome the fear. Saport's richly saturated oil pastels, in shades of salmon, turquoise, yellow, and blue, give the book a tropical feel. The strong illustrations might have overwhelmed the text. Instead, they match the lilting vernacular of Joseph's language, enhancing the satisfying, believable family story. Together, the words and pictures capture the highly charged emotion and spectacle of the holiday as it is celebrated in Trinidad. Susan Dove Lempke
Inspiration:
I wrote this book for my younger sister Christine. In the book, the older sister, who gets to play mas in a children’s Carnival band, is named Christine. I wanted to give my sister a chance to be older just for once. It never ceases to amaze me that with words we can be anything we want. I loved writing this book as I remembered all the preparations that go into planning for and attending Carnival. This is the biggest event in Trinidad and preparations go one for the entire year leading up to the big celebration. I attended several children’s Carnivals in the early 1990s. This book grew out of that experience. I also played mas a few times as a child, starting at about 5 years old, when my brother and I played astronauts in a band and my sister was too young to play with us. Recently, my father played me some great LP recordings of steel bands performing at past Panoramas and it brought back all my memories of past Carinivals.
I wrote this book for my younger sister Christine. In the book, the older sister, who gets to play mas in a children’s Carnival band, is named Christine. I wanted to give my sister a chance to be older just for once. It never ceases to amaze me that with words we can be anything we want. I loved writing this book as I remembered all the preparations that go into planning for and attending Carnival. This is the biggest event in Trinidad and preparations go one for the entire year leading up to the big celebration. I attended several children’s Carnivals in the early 1990s. This book grew out of that experience. I also played mas a few times as a child, starting at about 5 years old, when my brother and I played astronauts in a band and my sister was too young to play with us. Recently, my father played me some great LP recordings of steel bands performing at past Panoramas and it brought back all my memories of past Carinivals.
