Samba! The Heartbeat of a Community
Ailton Nunes's Musical Journey
Even as a toddler, Ailton Nunes was drawn to the joyful, energizing sounds of samba music, with its clinks, bongs, and bangs filling the air. It was part of his heritage and practically the heartbeat of his Mangueira neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. But samba was more than music; it was a way to connect with the past and dream of the future. And samba united not only Ailton’s neighborhood—it united all of Brazil, especially at the annual Carnaval festival with its samba parades and competition. The samba school in Ailton’s neighborhood was his home away from home. He was mesmerized by the drummers, the bateria, and dreamed of joining their ranks when he got older. And with hard work and determination, Ailton not only joins the Mangueira bateria, he helps lead them to victory at the Carnaval festival.
Vibrant, colorful artwork from Brazilian artist André Ceolin brings to life the story of samba director Mestre Ailton Nunes, who followed his passion and his dreams, and continues to share the magic of samba today.
Interest Level | Grade 1 - Grade 4 |
---|---|
Reading Level | Grade 2 |
Dewey | 786.8092 |
Lexile | 820L |
ATOS Reading Level | |
Guided Reading Level | U |
Publisher | Sleeping Bear Press |
Language | English |
---|---|
Available Formats | Hardcover (9781534112957), PDF (9781668945230), ePub (9781668945407), Hosted ebook (9781668945742), Kindle (9781668945575) |
Copyright | 2024 |
Number of Pages | 40 |
Dimensions | 9 x 11 |
Graphics | Full-color illustrations |
Kirkus - Samba!: The Heartbeat of a Community: Ailton Nunes’s Musical Journey
A salute to a Brazilian community’s spirit and music…celebratory introduction to a distinctive musical genre.
Midwest Book Reviews - Samba!: The Heartbeat of a Community: Ailton Nunes’s Musical Journey
…vibrant biographical sketch of Ailton Nunes…Lovely illustrations by André Ceolin magnify the action and attraction of this musical journey.
Author: Philip Hoelzel
Philip Hoelzel is an outdoors enthusiast, baseball fan, and samba percussionist. Born and raised near Chicago, he now lives in Austin, Texas, where he performs with the Austin Samba School, a percussion and dance group that introduced him to the subject of this book, Mestre Ailton Nunes. Philip holds a teaching certification and is fluent in both Spanish and Portuguese. He hopes Mestre Ailton’s story inspires readers to embrace the joy of samba!
Illustrator: André Ceolin
André Ceolin is a self-taught illustrator from Brazil, who started sketching when he was a child. By that time, he loved to draw on the reams of paper his father used to bring home from work. André worked in advertising and in the pharmaceutical field for several years, but as a young father he was drawn to the color and spontaneity of the art in children’s books. He has now illustrated more than thirty books. To know more about him and his work, visit andreceolin.com.
Educational front/back matter |
Original artwork |
Full-color illustrations |