Danté Plays His Blues

In Wells and Knight-Justice’s joyfully jazzy tribute to the blues, Danté and their mom, who must leave their house in Luna Park, move in with Danté’s musically inclined uncles and supportive cousin Riley. Mourning their lost home and navigating the change, Danté is introduced to the saxophone—“Don’t worry. Once you start practicing, you’ll find yo’ sweet spot,” Uncle Ron says. Told to “Turn yo’ blues into yo’ muse,” Danté pours his experiences into playing sax, and is soon ready to perform with his uncles for the whole neighborhood, an occasion that underlines a key theme: “It isn’t perfect,/ but I keep playing.” Paint and crayon effects embellish papercuts and printed collage to create layered images; humorously crooked, misshapen notes portray Danté’s artless first blow on the saxophone, transitioning to more composed renditions as the child’s skill—at navigating music and life—grows. The family reads as Black. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 4–8. (July)