by Kathleen M. Blasi, illustrated by Shane W. Evans; Sterling, 2019.

Hosea Missouri Taylor, Jr. was a musician with a mission. He was successful at engaging young children in his hometown of Rochester, New York with his skills at playing the saxophone, clarinet, trumpet, and flute. But he did more than that. He shared his passion for music–and for community service–by offering free music lessons and purchasing instruments for children. He led by example, bettering the lives of those with whom he interacted on the streets of Rochester and in its public market. In this uplifting story based on the true life of a generous soul, readers and listeners have an opportunity to learn by example.     

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“Hidden power can be found in the most unassuming places, and we all possess skills that are just waiting to be discovered.”—Magda Sayeg

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Why this Book? Why will it matter to kids?

Hosea led a simple life, but his impact on the children he encountered was far-reaching. Hosea Plays On opens with a scene in which Hosea sees, hears, and validates his young neighbor. Hosea offers Nate encouragement, and later an instrument and an opportunity to learn how to play it. Moreover, he offers Nate a path in which to “play on.”  

It is exactly this aspect of the story: the way in which Hosea reaches out selflessly to others that makes this book stand out. In this warm story accompanied by bright, appealing illustrations, we witness an ordinary man working in extraordinary ways to better his community and the lives of those around him.

Witnessing through reading the ways in which real, everyday people make a difference provides children with valuable examples of how each of us can use our gifts to lift the spirits and lives of others. Such stories show rather than tell how we all have the power to choose to act with compassion, generosity, and community spirit. As Maxine Greene states (2000) reading allows young people to develop a “social imagination” they can use to envision various selves and perceptions of an equitable society. Once students can imagine a range of possible worlds, they are better prepared to begin building the ones they want to see. (Educating for Empathy: Literacy Learning and Civic Engagement by Nicole Mirra; Teachers College Press, 2018). Hosea Plays On offers a worthwhile SEL read-aloud experience.

© Shane W. Evans

Grade level: 1-3

Social-Emotional Learning Themes

Selflessness, generosity of spirit, friendship, interpersonal relationships, kindness, compassion, community spirit, helpfulness, perspective, fortitude, resilience, self-reliance, respect, gentleness, gratitude, effort, creativity, understanding, connection, diversity, self-assurance, understanding, resourcefulness, dedication, civility

Content Area Connections

Music, community

Using This Book in the Classroom

Hit the Ground Running

Ready Resources for Educators, Homeschoolers, and Parents

Reviews and interviews:

KidsOutandAbout

Kirkus Review

Publishers Weekly

© Shane W. Evans

Write Away!

Ideas to prompt writing

Author Kathy Blasi uses vivid verbs throughout the telling of Hosea’s story. As a group, identify some of the verbs she has chosen. Discuss how they make her writing come alive. Next, ask students to return to a piece of writing and revise, exchanging more active and vibrant verbs for those they originally chose. Or, have students begin a new piece of writing with the aim of using vivid verbs to make the telling more appealing.

Hosea’s neighbor Nate uses a rake handle as an imaginary instrument. Ask children to write about something they have used in imaginative play and tell why they chose it.

Ask students to tell about an experience in which they witnessed someone playing an instrument, whether on a street corner, in school, or at a concert. What did they notice about the person playing the instrument? What do they remember most from the experience? Why?

Talk about the title of the book and the way in which the phrase is used throughout the story. Discuss what the title means and why the author may have chosen it. 

Blasi says she became interested in writing about Hosea Taylor after reading a story in her local newspaper. She went on to interview people and build her story based on the true facts of Hosea’s life. Have students read the newspaper and select a story that interests them. What aspect of the story interests them? What would they like to know more about?  What questions does the story spark?

Poetry Break 

Related poetry to recite before or following the reading of this book

Poetry breaks fit perfectly into brief moments in the day—from opening or closing the daily morning meeting to lining up for lunch; from zipping up backpacks and jackets to transitioning from one subject to the next. Reading a poem typically takes less than a minute, yet it can introduce or reinforce a concept, celebrate language, exemplify rhythm, enhance vocabulary, expand understanding, increase attention span, initiate reflection, or summon a giggle. And poetry soothes the spirit.

Poetry suggestions for use with Hosea Plays On:

• A Song About Myself: a poem by John Keats illustrated by Chris Raschka
• Thanku: Poems of Gratitude edited by Miranda Paul, illustrated by Marlena Myles

And Then There’s This…

Enrichment activities, related books, online resources, craft projects, and ideas for further study

At the back of the book, a biography of Hosea Missouri Taylor, Jr. appears. Read the information and ask students what questions they have about Taylor. Research to find answers. Begin with the article in the Democrat & Chronicle, which spurred Blasi’s interest in writing this book.

Read the quotations found at the back of the book from Lovely Warren, the mayor of Rochester, NY and from Evan Lowenstein, one of the Rochester Public Market administrators. Discuss how Taylor made a difference in his community.

Additional picture books that celebrate the power of music in the lives of real people and imagined characters include:

• The Bat Boy & His Violin by Gavin Curtis, illustrated by E. B. Lewis (Coretta Scott King Award)
• Before John Was a Jazz Giant: The Song of John Coltrane by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Sean Qualls
• Ben’s Trumpet by Rachel Isadora (Caldecott Honor)
• I And I : Bob Marley by Tony Medina, illustrated by Jesse Joshua Watson
• Jubilee! One Man’s Big, Bold, and Very, Very Loud Celebration of Peace by Alicia Potter, illustrated by Matt Tavares
• Odetta: The Queen of Folk by Stephen Alcorn
• The Philharmonic Gets Dressed by Karla Kuskin, illustrated by Marc Simont (Reading Rainbow Book)
• Playing From the Heart by Peter H. Reynolds
• Rent Party Jazz by William Miller, illustrated by Charlotte Riley-Webb
• This Jazz Man by Karen Ehrhardt, illustrated by R. G. Roth
• Zin! Zin! Zin! a Violin by Lloyd Moss, illustrated by Marjorie Priceman

About the Author

Kathleen Blasi enjoys writing about seemingly ordinary people who have an extraordinary impact—like Hosea Taylor of Hosea Plays On and Gaetana Curatolo of A Name of Honor (her debut novel).  Active in the children’s writing community, she is Co-President of the Rochester Area Children’s Writers & Illustrators and a former Co-Director of the Rochester Children’s Book Festival, for which she received the 2015 New York State Reading Association Literacy Advocate Award. Kathleen lives in Western New York, where, with a conviction that everyone has a story to tell, she presents to schools and libraries and conducts writing workshops; she delights in fostering the curiosity of young storytellers.

Q&A with Kathleen M. Blasi

Kathy graciously responded to a few questions about Hosea Plays On and her creative process.

Judy Bradbury: How did you come to write Hosea Plays On? What seeded its creation?

Kathleen Blasi: In February 2016, I read of Hosea Taylor’s passing in an article by Sarah Taddeo in the Democrat & Chronicle. I was touched by the openness and joy by which Hosea lived his life—sharing his music, time, talents, and kindness with the greater Rochester community. This started my quest to write his story.

JB: Tell about one hurdle you experienced in the creation of Hosea Plays On or provide a memorable (or humorous!) anecdote related to the making of this book.

KMB: There have been a number of serendipitous moments throughout the journey of this story, but one that stands out is that when the illustrator, Shane Evans, read the manuscript, he said, “I’ve been to this place.” He was referring to the City of Rochester Public Market where the bulk of the story takes place. Turns out, during his high school years he lived in Rochester, New York. Of all the available illustrators, right?

JB: The story and the art of Hosea Plays On portray a man whose mission was giving to others. Explain how you pieced together details from Hosea’s life to create this story for young readers and listeners.

KMB: I never met Hosea Taylor, though I likely heard him play in the Public Market, as I’ve been there many times. The Democrat & Chronicle newspaper article inspired me to learn more, so I gathered details by first meeting the reporter for coffee. From there, at her suggestion, I talked with folks at Action for a Better Community. Each meeting led to another, including Market vendors and those who worked with and were friends/like family to Hosea. So, in essence, I pieced it together by talking with strangers, which, by the way, is something Hosea himself loved to do.

JB: What did you learn from creating this book?

KMB: I learned so much from my acquiring editor, Ada Zhang. She had me revise the manuscript before she brought it to acquisitions. When Ada first suggested I delete a rhythmic refrain (that I was ridiculously in love with), I gulped but then tried it. She always explained why she was making suggestions. She helped me let go of elements that did not serve the heart of the story. I learned to stay “in the moment” in a picture book. I learned that all I can control is how hard I work at revisions, not being afraid to ask questions, and that if I feel strongly about something, it’s okay to say so—after all, the project is a collaboration.

JB: What would surprise readers to learn about you or about the creation of this book?

KMB: The Rochester Public Market has been a special place for me my whole life. When I was a child I took the bus there with my grandmother, who haggled her way to good deals on fresh produce and transformed them into delicious Italian dishes. A Public Market outing is where my husband asked for my parents’ blessing in asking me to marry him. So the fact that my first picture book takes place there—well, it is truly special!

JB: What do you hope readers will take away from Hosea Plays On?

KMB: Beyond imagining young- and young-at-heart readers cuddled up and reading the book together, I hope that readers pause and think about how they, like Hosea, can use their own gifts to brighten someone’s day. Hosea made those around him happy simply by being himself. In a time when divisiveness seems pervasive, I hope that readers can enjoy the positive community spirit depicted in Hosea Plays On.

JB: How do you see Hosea Plays On connecting to curriculum?

KMB: Hosea Plays On demonstrates that stories are everywhere. Often, children (and adults) think there is some sort of magic involved in being an author. They don’t see themselves as writers or don’t know what to write about. I believe that paying attention is the key to being a writer, and that is what I try to convey in my author visits and workshops. In addition, the sense of community conveyed in the story helps children see themselves as part of a larger story than their own.

JB: What is one question you wish I had asked, and what is your answer?

KMB: Were there any surprises on your journey to publication of this book?

Answer: One surprise was the color palette chosen for the book. As I drafted and revised the story, I saw a movie in my mind, as I do with all my stories. My mind’s eye saw a warm, watercolor palette. Imagine my surprise when I saw the bold, bright colors! I love the whimsy of that; it adds a joyful element to the book. And it’s eye-catching. I’m grateful to Sterling’s Art Director, my editor(s), and Shane Evans.

About the Illustrator

Shane W. Evans is the illustrator of several children’s books including Bintou’s Braids written by Silvianne A. Diouf and Did I Tell You I Love You Today? written by Deloris Jordan and Roslyn M. Jordan; and Evans is the author and illustrator of We March. His honors include the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award and the Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children.

Book Giveaway!

Subscribers who leave a comment will be entered in a drawing to win a copy of Hosea Plays On. A winner will be chosen randomly and announced when the next guide is posted.

And…the winner of a copy of Jasmine Toguchi Drummer Girl by Debbi Michiko Florence is Vivian Vande Velde. Congratulations!