Stompin' at the Savoy

On the night before her big jazz dance recital, young Mindy has made up her mind not to go—she's just too nervous. But when she finds herself transported to the Savoy Ballroom, she quickly changes her tune. Filled from wall to wall with legends of the swing era, the Savoy is a place where the dancers move like acrobats and the seats stay empty all night long. It's an all-night party, and with all that fun going on around her, Mindy has no choice but to move her happy feet!

In his picture book debut, renowned watercolorist Richard Yarde adds brilliant illustrations to this jazzy story by bestselling author Bebe Moore Campbell. It will keep toes tapping and pages turning!

On the night before her big jazz dance recital, young Mindy has made up her mind not to go--she's just too nervous. But when she finds herself transported to the Savoy Ballroom, she quickly changes her tune. Filled from wall to wall with legends of the swing era, the Savoy is a place where the dancers move like acrobats and the seats stay empty all night long. It's an all-night party, and with all that fun going on around her, Mindy has no choice but to move her happy feet!

In his picture book debut, renowned watercolorist Richard Yarde adds brilliant illustrations to this jazzy story by bestselling author Bebe Moore Campbell. It will keep toes tapping and pages turning!

About the Author: Bebe Moore Campbell lives in Los Angeles, CA.

Richard Yarde lives in Northampton, MA.

Children's Literature

Sometimes it takes willpower to make yourself do something you might not want to do. In this picture book, Mindy is nervous about her dance recital. Her three aunts, Auntie Willa Mae, Auntie Naomi, and Auntie Norma also love to dance. In fact, they dance to old-time music right after dinner. Mindy makes it clear she doesn't want to dance. She doesn't mind dancing with friends and family, but she's sick at the thought of dancing in front of strangers, and her aunties aren't going to convince her otherwise. After she storms to her room, she finds an anthropomorphic drum is about to change her mind! Mindy follows the talking drum and finds herself at the Savoy Ballroom. There, she's confronted with a minor problem (though it's not the talking cat) when she finds out she's a star! She dances with Chick Webb, Benny Goodman, Willa Mae, and some other famous people. Is it all a dream? Regardless, she gets home and is ready to go to her recital. This story exemplifies a love of music and dance. It would be a good beginning reference book for jazz and swing music, as well as a wonderful read for Black History Month to celebrate the many African-American musicians who performed at the Savoy Ballroom. The illustrations look rhythmic and bluesy. The watercolors are vibrant and move just like the characters—they are jazzy and step to the beat for a real old-fashioned treat.

Bebe Moore Campbell was a bestselling author and a journalist. Her nonfiction work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Ms., Essence, Black Enterprise, Ebony, Working Mother, USA Weekend, and Adweek,among other publications. She was a regular contributor to National Public Radio.

Bebe Moore Campbell was the author of such national, critically acclaimed bestsellers as Brothers and Sisters, Singing in the Comeback Choir, Your Blues Ain't Like Mine, and What You Owe Me as well as the award-winning children’s book, Sometimes My Mommy Gets Angry and the recently published Stompin’ at the Savoy.

Campbell was born and grew up in Philadelphia and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh, where she earned a bachelor of science degree in elementary education. She taught elementary and middle school for five years. She is survived by her husband, Ellis Gordon, Jr., her daughter, the actress Maia Campbell, and a son, Ellis Gordon III.