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Happy Feet: The Savoy Ballroom Lindy Hoppers and Me
On March 12, 1926, the doors of the Savoy Ballroom swung open in Harlem. It was a night to remember, when blacks and whites, rich and poor, all came together to dance!
This inspiring story of the world-famous dancing palace and home of the Lindy Hoppers is told from a father to his son, Happy Feet. It's Happy Feet's favorite story--after all, he was born on the very night the Savoy opened. And he hopes that one day he'll make his own dancing debut at the legendary ballroom . . . because with a lot of hard work and a little Savoy magic, anything is possible.
Includes an author's note with biographies of Swing-Era dancers.
This inspiring story of the world-famous dancing palace and home of the Lindy Hoppers is told from a father to his son, Happy Feet. It's Happy Feet's favorite story--after all, he was born on the very night the Savoy opened. And he hopes that one day he'll make his own dancing debut at the legendary ballroom . . . because with a lot of hard work and a little Savoy magic, anything is possible.
Includes an author's note with biographies of Swing-Era dancers.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2005
27 people want to read
About the author
E.B. Lewis
88 books50 followersE.B. Lewis has illustrated more than thirty books for children, including Nikki Grimes' Talkin' About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman, the 2003 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Winner; Alice Schertle's Down the Road, an ALA Notable Book; Tolowa M. Mollel's My Rows and Piles of Coins, an ALA Notable Book and a Coretta Scott King Honor Book; Bat Boy and His Violin by Garvin Curtis a Coretta Scott King Honor Book, and Jacqueline Woodson's The Other Side, a 2002 Notable Book for the Language Arts.
Inspired by two artist uncles, as early as the third grade, Lewis displayed artistic promise. Beginning in the sixth grade, he attended the Saturday morning Temple University School of Art League and studied with Clarence Wood. Lewis attended the Temple University Tyler School of Art. There, he discovered his medium of preference was watercolor.
During his four years at Temple, Lewis majored in Graphic Design and Illustration and art education. After graduating, he taught art in public schools for twelve years. Presently, Lewis teaches at the University of Arts in Philadelphia, continues to paint and illustrate and is a member of The Society of Illustrators in New York City.
In 1992, Elizabeth O’Grady read a story about Lewis and saw examples of his wonderful watercolors in Artist Magazine. Previously, at a Society of Illustrators Annual Children’s Art Show, an art director from Simon & Schuster had asked Elizabeth to contact her if Elizabeth found any talented Afro-American artists who might want to illustrate children’s books. Elizabeth handed the magazine article about Lewis to her partner, Jeff Dwyer. He telephoned and explained the business of children’s book illustration to a quiet Earl B. Lewis. Lewis asked Jeff the names of other African-American children’s book illustrators, and after Jeff gave him the names of the “usual suspects,” Lewis told Jeff that he’d get back in touch with him if he was interested in pursuing children’s book illustration. About a week later, Lewis called and said, “Hey, I can paint better than those guys!” Within a year, Lewis had delivered his illustrations for Fire On The Mountain (S&S), quit his teaching job and began a career as a full-time children’s book illustrator.
In 2003, the Kerlan Collection at the University of Minnesota purchased a collection of original watercolors from Lewis’ first twenty-five children’s books. His work is owned by numerous private collectors and sold by art galleries throughout the United States.
Inspired by two artist uncles, as early as the third grade, Lewis displayed artistic promise. Beginning in the sixth grade, he attended the Saturday morning Temple University School of Art League and studied with Clarence Wood. Lewis attended the Temple University Tyler School of Art. There, he discovered his medium of preference was watercolor.
During his four years at Temple, Lewis majored in Graphic Design and Illustration and art education. After graduating, he taught art in public schools for twelve years. Presently, Lewis teaches at the University of Arts in Philadelphia, continues to paint and illustrate and is a member of The Society of Illustrators in New York City.
In 1992, Elizabeth O’Grady read a story about Lewis and saw examples of his wonderful watercolors in Artist Magazine. Previously, at a Society of Illustrators Annual Children’s Art Show, an art director from Simon & Schuster had asked Elizabeth to contact her if Elizabeth found any talented Afro-American artists who might want to illustrate children’s books. Elizabeth handed the magazine article about Lewis to her partner, Jeff Dwyer. He telephoned and explained the business of children’s book illustration to a quiet Earl B. Lewis. Lewis asked Jeff the names of other African-American children’s book illustrators, and after Jeff gave him the names of the “usual suspects,” Lewis told Jeff that he’d get back in touch with him if he was interested in pursuing children’s book illustration. About a week later, Lewis called and said, “Hey, I can paint better than those guys!” Within a year, Lewis had delivered his illustrations for Fire On The Mountain (S&S), quit his teaching job and began a career as a full-time children’s book illustrator.
In 2003, the Kerlan Collection at the University of Minnesota purchased a collection of original watercolors from Lewis’ first twenty-five children’s books. His work is owned by numerous private collectors and sold by art galleries throughout the United States.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 27, 2021
Happy Feet: The Savoy Ballroom Lindy Hoppers and Me is a children's picture book written by Richard Michelson and illustrated by E.B. Lewis. It is a valentine to the renowned Savoy, narrated by a lad born on the day it opened in 1926. Today's Google Doodle (26 May 2021) features the Savoy Ballroom and I thought it would apropos to read this book today.
The Savoy Ballroom was a large ballroom for music and public dancing located at 596 Lenox Avenue, between 140th and 141st Streets in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. The Savoy was one of many Harlem hot spots along Lenox, but it was the one to be called the "World's Finest Ballroom". It was in operation from March 12, 1926 to July 10, 1958 owned by white entrepreneur Jay Faggen and Jewish businessman Moe Gale and managed by African-American business man and civic leader Charles Buchanan.
Michelson's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. Through the young protagonist, readers learn the opening, significance, and the legacy of the Savoy Ballroom. Backmatter includes a roster of renowned Lindy Hoppers, from Leroy "Stretch" Jones to Big Bea. Lewis' eye-filling watercolors featuring sharply dressed hep cats and hot, high-steppin' crowds.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. Young Happy Feet loves to hear his father, owner of a shoeshine shop just across the street, tell about the night he was born, when all of Harlem togged out in their finest threads, and even the rich white dukes came flying in from Hollywood to swing and fly in the hottest, coolest, most magnificent, super-deluxe dancing palace.
All in all, Happy Feet: The Savoy Ballroom Lindy Hoppers and Me is a wonderful ode and love song to the World's Finest Ballroom – the Savoy.
The Savoy Ballroom was a large ballroom for music and public dancing located at 596 Lenox Avenue, between 140th and 141st Streets in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. The Savoy was one of many Harlem hot spots along Lenox, but it was the one to be called the "World's Finest Ballroom". It was in operation from March 12, 1926 to July 10, 1958 owned by white entrepreneur Jay Faggen and Jewish businessman Moe Gale and managed by African-American business man and civic leader Charles Buchanan.
Michelson's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. Through the young protagonist, readers learn the opening, significance, and the legacy of the Savoy Ballroom. Backmatter includes a roster of renowned Lindy Hoppers, from Leroy "Stretch" Jones to Big Bea. Lewis' eye-filling watercolors featuring sharply dressed hep cats and hot, high-steppin' crowds.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. Young Happy Feet loves to hear his father, owner of a shoeshine shop just across the street, tell about the night he was born, when all of Harlem togged out in their finest threads, and even the rich white dukes came flying in from Hollywood to swing and fly in the hottest, coolest, most magnificent, super-deluxe dancing palace.
All in all, Happy Feet: The Savoy Ballroom Lindy Hoppers and Me is a wonderful ode and love song to the World's Finest Ballroom – the Savoy.
January 3, 2024
i got such good vibes from this lil picture book! i know quite little about the Savoy Ballroom and jazz clubs in general, so i think Happy Feet was a great intro for me. also? LOVE the art in this one. ahh, i feel so happy seeing all of the people dancing :)
September 30, 2021
This will be fabulous for my research project on the Savoy Ballroom.
November 16, 2015
1.) This is a nonfiction book about a club called the Savoy Ballroom that opened on March 12, 1926 in Harlem New York. It is about a young boy (Happy Feet) who was born on the same night that the club opened. He loves hearing is father who is a barber retell the story of the very special night when the Savoy opened. Happy feet hopes that one day his name will be on the marquee above Savoy.
2.)The images look like they are painted with water colors. I love how the author shows the dancing motion with what looks like a whirl of colors but still retains the human shape. The images I feel really help tell the story as well as bring the reader into the story itself.
3.) The one thing I noticed about this story is that even though it has more black characters, the one page that has white characters really spoke to me. Since this is a nonfiction book, it is describing a real life event. I find it interesting that this is one of the few children's books that shows blacks and whites during a time where racism was noticeably prominent having fun together and dancing.
August 29, 2013
My favorite part about the book was the illustrations, the book had a good plot as well but I felt like it had a lot of slang terms from back when it was set. As a future teacher I feel like this would be a hard book to read aloud unless there was a lesson on the time period beforehand. I liked the fact that the book was very innocent and was simply about a boy and how special his birthday was to his father because it was when the Savoy (his favorite dancing club) opened. It gave the main character and his dad something to share which is a great example for children to reflect on and ask themselves what they might share with their parents that is special to their relationship. I really enjoyed the book, the only downside was it may be a bit confusing to younger children because of the slang speech that is used.
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April 25, 2016Brief Summary: This book tells a story about a club called Harlem’s Savoy Ballroom that opened March 12, 1926 in Harlem, New York. It is about a young boy, Happy Feet who was born the same night the club opened. Harlem’s Savoy Ballroom is so significant because it was a night when blacks and whites came together to dance. This inspiring story about dancing is told from a father to his son. Inspired by the stories told by his father, Happy Feet dreams of making his own dancing performance at the ballroom some day.
Usefulness in the classroom: Assess students understanding of the book by providing questions about the book and discuss as a class.
Usefulness in the classroom: Assess students understanding of the book by providing questions about the book and discuss as a class.
July 28, 2011
Age:
Grades 8-YA
Genre:
realistic/Historical fiction.
Diversity:
African American perspective on life in Harlem.
Illustrations:
Faded colors used.
Personal response:
I liked this story as it reminded me of Langston Hughes. It is about the Harlem R. and gives a good view of Harlem jazz and night clubs especially the Savoy.
Curricular or programming connections:
Writing lesson plan. Image to narrative writings.
Grades 8-YA
Genre:
realistic/Historical fiction.
Diversity:
African American perspective on life in Harlem.
Illustrations:
Faded colors used.
Personal response:
I liked this story as it reminded me of Langston Hughes. It is about the Harlem R. and gives a good view of Harlem jazz and night clubs especially the Savoy.
Curricular or programming connections:
Writing lesson plan. Image to narrative writings.
September 29, 2007
This book is one of the best children's books I've had the pleasure of reading, and yes, I am a little biased. However, the story is very engaging and the art work is top notch. I look forward to reading this book with my kids and my friends' kids.
March 3, 2015
A celebration of the legendary Savoy Ballroom wrapped up in the tale of the day the main character's birth. Text is excellent and captures African American slang and speech of the era. An author's note and bios for characters appearing in the story follow the text.
Watercolor artwork. PreK-2.
Watercolor artwork. PreK-2.
October 11, 2012
note to goodreads librarians - you need to link this to E. B. Lewis.
January 31, 2013
Richly evocative illustrations combine with a narrative infused with expressions of the time and place to take the reader to opening night at the Savoy.
February 25, 2015
Fun!!!!!!
November 28, 2010
Told in a poetic style, the story of the opening of the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews