Represented by Mary Cummings,
Betsy Amster Literary Enterprises
“There is a lot to unpack in this book…both a heartfelt eulogy and a musical inspiration for a whole new generation of young readers.” – Kirkus
“Hosea does more than just entertain; he makes his own community as he shares his music and his warmth.” – Publishers Weekly
“Blasi skillfully weaves dialogue, nature sounds, and city noise throughout the musical narrative…A touching tribute that serves as a reminder to listen to the people, music, and sounds that surround us.” – School Library Journal
“Hosea Missouri Taylor, Jr., a Rochester, NY, resident and saxophone player, is brought to life by Blasi and Evans through a fictionalized example of his openhearted giving.” – Booklist
Release Date: January 7, 2020
Rain or shine and with his saxophone case in hand, Hosea rides the bus to the City of Rochester Public Market. Joyfully, he plays for everyone there, but especially for the children. Today, will he earn enough money to surprise one special child?
An Author’s Note gives a deeper glimpse into the life of Hosea MIssouri Taylor, Jr. – a street musician and community advocate who elevated the lives of those in his community, “simply” by being himself.
Family History is Part of Who We Are
“A Name of Honor is an outstanding book to use for effective and meaningful integration of social studies and language arts. It draws students in with well-developed and believable characters and an engaging plot that is rich in historic information. It not only complements, but extends and enriches, social studies curriculum.”
Which Side Will You Take?
Our Writer-in-Residence, Kathleen Blasi, delivered material to our students in a way that got them excited to write! She broke down her writing process, so that by the end, the students had a piece of writing to be proud of. I cannot say enough good things about Kathleen as a presenter, an example, and a teacher.
– Stephen Baker, Teacher, Warsaw (New York) Elementary School
Upcoming Events
February 5, 2020 9AM-2PM
Skype Visits • All Over the World
World Read Aloud Day celebrates the joy of reading aloud by authors’ scheduling 20-minute Skype visits with classrooms and libraries all over the world! If you’d like to schedule one with Kathleen, please complete her contact form. Read on!
Writerly Ramblings
Right on Time
January 7, 2020, is publication day for my picture book Hosea Plays On (Sterling Children’s Books, illustrated by Shane W. Evans)! Based on a real street musician and community advocate, Hosea was originally slated for September 2018. I won’t tell you I wasn’t...
Gratitude & Empowerment
On August 26, 1920, Congress adopted the 19th Amendment (also known as the Susan B. Anthony Amendment) to the U.S. Constitution—prohibiting denying the right to vote on the basis of sex. Working from the July 1848 first Women’s Rights Convention in Seneca Falls –...
Connections
Connection. It's the thing that draws me to a particular story. It has to be there, in order for me to spend the time with an idea required to develop it into a story. I have to care about what I'm writing about. One of the projects on which I'm working has introduced...
Schedule a Visit or Speaking Engagement
kathy@kmblasi.com
Contact Kathleen
kathy@kmblasi.com