By: Virginia Kroll / Illustrated by: Katherine Roundtree

“You could always hear Willie coming. If his toes weren’t tapping, his knuckles were rapping.”

Every chance he gets, Willie makes music. He will use anything to create the sounds of the rhythms he feels inside him – forks, pencils, even hot pepper shakers. Willie dreams of playing the African instruments of his ancestors that his Grandpa describes: guedras, ecasas, atumpan, and dundun drums.

The Kwanzaa festival and the encouragement of his Grandpa provide the ingredients for Willie’s triumphant search for his place in the sun.

If you like this book, youll enjoy these:
Magic Trash
Kenya’s Song
Metal Man

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Look Inside

Author & Illustrator

Virginia Kroll, author

Virginia Kroll attended Canisius College and the State University of New York at Buffalo. She was formerly an elementary school teacher and has raised six children of her own. It was Virginia’s love of children that led her to begin her career as a children’s writer in 1984.

Virginia has a special talent for understanding and communicating with children. Her efforts to cross cultural lines and address multicultural issues have won her the praise of critics and readers.

Read more about Virginia.

Katherine Roundtree, illustrator

Katherine Roundtree graduated from the Columbus College of Art and Design Katherine is an elementary school art teacher. She lived for many years with her extended family on the banks of the Ohio river, but currently resides in Stone Mountain, Georgia.

Read more about Katherine.

Awards & Honors

• American Book Award for Excellence in Multicultural Literature

Editorial Reviews

Children’s Bookwatch

Willie loves to make music: he uses forks, pencils and other ordinary items to create African beats and dreams of playing the native instruments of his ancestors. Willie’s search for his identity introduces youngsters to African traditions, Kwanzaa, and one boy’s coming of age.

Metro Parent

Willie just loves to make music. Whether tapping his pencils or shaking hot pepper containers, Willie finds rhythm in everything, and longs to play the African instruments of his ancestors. With his grandfather’s encouragement, Willie’s dream becomes reality during a community Kwanzaa festival in Virginia Kroll’s Wood-Hoopoe Willie. Accompanied by bright and colorful illustrations, this tale of African heritage is sure to remain a holiday classic for years to come.

Downloadables

Download the CoverDownload the Activity Guide

Details

Paperback
ISBN: 978-0-88106-408-7

Ages: 4-7
Page count: 32
10 x 8

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