Little
Jazz Man
Extraordinary
Learning Institute
Pledge of $22,000 goal
Little Jazz Man
is a new book series for young children written by T. Lawrence Layton and
illustrated by Seno Muminovic. It has
repeated lines, interactive characters and toys, and fun to read. This is the first of a planned series of four
books about Little Jazz Man. ELI and the
author will be donating 200 copies of Little Jazz Man free to families of
children with special needs.
The author: T. Lawrence Layton Ph.D. has
worked in the area of literacy and language for over 40 years. He has been a University professor,
researcher, author, and speech-language therapist serving children with autism,
Down syndrome, language impairment, and developmental disorders. He uses literacy and reading for his
treatment. Although he has published numerous
professional books, articles, and tests, this is his first children’s
book.
The
illustrator: Senad Muminovic is from Bosnia and Herzegovina. He credits
his father, Mahmut, for passing his talent for drawing on to him as a child. As
young boy in school he would enter art competitions and win first place. During
and following the Bosnian War (1992-1995) that resulted in the breakup of
Yugoslavia, Senad did not have access to art supplies. In 1997 he met
volunteer relief workers from North Carolina who donated supplies to him so he
could begin to paint again. In 1999 some of his friends organized an exhibition
of his work and he began to take his art more seriously. Senad says he is
grateful to his father for teaching him, and to his American friends for giving
him the motivation to resume painting. He is an accomplished illustrator
and has illustrated two children's books for a Croatian author and one in the
US. Besides painting, Senad composes music for the piano and enjoys
playing all styles, but particularly enjoys jazz, gospel, and classical music.
Senad says that music
gives him the motivation and inspiration for everything he does.
The
story:
With your help,
ELI will be able to print the story Little Jazz Man for families and other
interested readers. We also will be able
to produce the characters for the Literacy Box and the miniature toys. Profits will go toward writing and
illustrating the second planned story, “Little Jazz Man Runs Away to the
Circus.”
Little Jazz Man asked, “Can you
teach me to play the saxophone?”
Grady
Grasshopper tried, but Little Jazz Man could not play the saxophone. His lips were too
small. Little Jazz Man “sighed!” and
continued to look.