Whistling for Fun and Profit

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Cecelia can whistle–and how! But me, I’m not that great at it.

Deanna Durbin Sheet music for "I Love to Whistle"

Deanna Durbin
Sheet music for “I Love to Whistle”

I remember exactly where I was when I first learned to whistle. I was 10 years old and walking to the candy store. I’d been trying for days and then, suddenly–a note! I was over the moon with joy!

Now, I’d say that I’m a so-so whistler. People tell me, though, that I whistle every song in a minor key, which does make “Whistle While You Work” sound a bit like a dirge.

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Whistle while you work–grave digging?

If you’d like to learn to whistle, or to get better at it, there is help. Search videos online, or try these links:

Basics: Whistling Tom and The Nightingale

That shrill, two-fingered, calling-a-cab whistle: Highlights Whistling Page

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Photo of CarolCarol Brendler is the author of the young adult novel RADIO GIRL (Holiday House) September 5, 2013.
Coming 2014: A picture book, NOT VERY SCARY, illustrated by Greg Pizzoli, from FSG.
Also by Carol Brendler: WINNIE FINN, WORM FARMER (FSG, 2009) a picture book illustrated by Ard Hoyt.

Barrymore Big? Know Your Noses

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In Radio Girl, Bev asks Cecelia to describe a certain boy’s nose using a comparison of two popular big-nosed actors of the day. So in case you were wondering …

John Barrymore

Actor John Barrymore

Actor John Barrymore

or Jimmy Durante

Actor, comedian, singer Jimmy Durante

Actor, comedian, singer Jimmy Durante

PS~~Smoking will ruin your health and make you smell bad. Do not attempt.

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Photo of CarolCarol Brendler is the author of the young adult novel RADIO GIRL (Holiday House) September 5, 2013.
Coming 2014: A picture book, NOT VERY SCARY, illustrated by Greg Pizzoli, from FSG.
Also by Carol Brendler: WINNIE FINN, WORM FARMER (FSG, 2009) a picture book illustrated by Ard Hoyt.

Jitterbugs, Hops, Strolls, Shags and Swings

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Lindy Steps

On Broadway in Seattle, the steps to the Lindy Hop

Swing music was made for dancing. It’s hard to keep still when Benny Goodman’s in the house. From the East Coast to the West, every cool cat was swinging to the music in 1938, the year of Radio Girl.

Behold, some of the popular dances! Note that many of these were in fashion from the 1920s all the way into the 1950s. That’s popular!

The Lindy Hop, (for whatever reason, this video points out that this clip is danced by “black teens.” I don’t see why indicating their race was necessary, but it’s such a great demonstration of the basic dance.)


(Sorry about the ad.)

The Jitterbug! A modern-day contest with some fancy moves thrown in . . .

The Collegiate Shag, a new video made to look old –>


(More ads. Sorry.)

And there were quite a few more! See more dance steps from the 1930s

A little something extra here. The Jitterbug Stroll. Usually done as a line dance, this isn’t actually from the Swing Era, but it’s just so fun! Yowsah!

Tell me that Jitterbug Stroll song isn’t stuck in your head now. The composer/singer is jazz dance instructor Steven Mitchell. Here’s his website.