Soulful Struttin’

A father and daughter’s afternoon of cleaning becomes a celebration of the music, food, and culture of New Orleans.

It’s a quiet Sunday afternoon of chores at Clara’s house. Until Clara’s dad starts singing and dancing, that is! With a broom and an off-key voice, Dad brings Louisiana jazz to the drudgery of housecleaning. Together, they find music in every household object as they sing and dance through a combination of jazz, blues, soul, and African beats. The entire house transforms into a New Orleans parade, in a day filled with harmony, soul food, family heritage, and joyful memories.

Soulful Struttin’ is a joyful story about a father-daughter relationship full of humor and love. Inspired by her childhood with her Black father from New Orleans and Brazilian mother, author Julia Pierre Hammond has written a story that appeals to all the senses, using music, food, vivid visuals, rhythm, noises, dancing, and language. Additional material at the back of the book includes a cleanup playlist, a gumbo recipe, a game, and questions to help readers think about the story and themselves.