“There is a lot to unpack in this book…both a heartfelt eulogy and a musical inspiration for a new generation of young readers.” – Kirkus
“Hosea does more than 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…” – School Library Journal
“Hosea Missouri Taylor, Jr., is brought to life by Blasi and Evans through a fictionalized example of his openhearted giving.” – Booklist
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.
Coming in Spring 2021!
Picture book Clear Skies, Storm Likely will be published with Yeehoo Press. Illustrator news coming soon!
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, rich in historic information. It complements, 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
CoVid-19 pause in author visits
Schools and Libraries
Kathleen looks forward to working with schools and libraries, when communities safely re-open. Hang in there! We are all in this together.
Writerly Ramblings
Newfound Gratitude
Early in my writing career, a colleague mentioned that the writing is life is not for the thin-skinned. After all, she said, why would you want to be in a business where two of the most frequently-used words are “submission” and “rejection?” At the time, I laughed at...
Libraries
I’ve had some very special library experiences over the last few weeks, which inspired me to think about the importance of libraries in my life, overall. As a kid, the library was a haven for me. Our neighborhood branch was less than a mile from our house. On...
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...
Schedule a Visit or Speaking Engagement
kathy@kmblasi.com
Contact Kathleen
kathy@kmblasi.com