The First Drum I Ever Heard

“Can you remember the first drum you ever heard? Was it a bass drum—’bump bump bump’? Or a snare: ‘clunk a clunk clunk’? … Preston suggests that it was something more familiar: the steady, comforting ‘lub dub / lub dub’ of your mother’s heartbeat. A Black parent and child move through this rhyming story in a joyful, fast-paced drumming adventure. One moment, they’re pounding a bass drum in the living room; the next, the mother is onstage behind a full drum set while her child cheers from the audience. Their musical adventure continues as they beat drums while dancers whirl; later, the pair tap steel pans at a lively street festival. The thread of connection remains strong through the shifting settings, capturing both the excitement of performance and the warmth of making music together. Midway through, the narrative takes a sudden quieter turn, focusing on the beat of the mother’s heart as a baby grows and later carries that rhythm through life… . Its sweet message lands: Love, music, and identity are all tied to an inner beat. Bold digital illustrations evoke colored pencil and watercolor, with vibrant colors and energetic compositions that pulse with movement. Backmatter adds interest with notes on the drums featured in the story. A heartfelt celebration of rhythm and motherhood.” —Kirkus Reviews

Randy Preston is an African Native American (Piscataway) singer-songwriter, author, composer, educator, and storyteller. Raised in the UK, Zimbabwe, and Kenya, he developed an early love of the myths and legends surrounding him, including the songs and stories of his own Piscataway people. He has spent the past several years collaborating with authors, including Kwame Alexander, co-authoring and narrating How to Sing a Song. The First Drum I Ever Heard is his debut as a solo picture book author. He lives in, writes about, and wanders the forests of his homeland known as Maryland.

Tamisha Anthony’s previous picture book illustrations include On Our Way, What a Day! (by JaNay Brown-Wood), Seoul Food (by Erin Danielle Russell), There’s No Place Like Hope (by Janet Lawler), and Most Perfect You (by Jazmyn Simon). She has taught for the New-York Historical Society and Make Art That Sells, and she writes and illustrates a column for UPPERCASE magazine.

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