Something to Sing About: 20 Recent K-8 Books about Music

from Trombone Shorty

Picture Books K - 5

1. Andrews, Troy. (2015). Trombone Shorty. Illustrated by Bryan Collier.  New York: Harry N. Abrams. (40 pp., Released April 14, 2015)
2. Celenza, Anna Harwell. (2016). Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition.  Illustrated by JoAnn Kitchel. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge. (32 pp., Released April 5, 2016)
3. Celenza, Anna Harwell. (2016). Haydn's Farewell Symphony.  Illustrated by JoAnn Kitchel. Watertown MA: Charlesbridge. (32 pp., Released April 5, 2016)
4. Christensen, Bonnie. (2015). Elvis: The Story of the Rock and Roll King. New York: Henry Holt & Co.  (32 pp., Released April 21, 2015)
5. Cline-Ransome, Lesa. (2016). Just a Lucky So-and-So: The Story of Louis Armstrong. Illustrated by James E. Ransome. New York: Holiday House.  (40 pp., To Be Released February, 2016)
6. Dylan, Bob. (2016). If Not For You. Illustrated by David Walker. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (32 pp.; To Be Released April 12, 2016)
7. Engle, Margarita. (2015). Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl's Courage Changed Music. Illustrated by Rafael López.  Boston, MA: HMH Books for Young Readers (48 pp., Released March 31, 2015)
8. Golio, Gary. (2015). Bird & Diz. Illustrated by Ed Young. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.  (26 pp., Released February 26, 2015). 
9. Gourley, Robbin. (2015). Talkin' Guitar: A Story of Young Doc Watson. New York: Clarion Books (40 pp., Released March 10, 2015)






10. Litchfield, David. (2016). The Bear and the Piano. New York: Clarion Books. (40 pp., To Be Released April 5, 2016)
11. Newman, Lesléa. (2015). Ketzel, the Cat Who Composed. Illustrated by Amy June Bates. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.  (40 pp., To Be Released October 6, 2015)
12. Reich, Susanna. (2015). Fab Four Friends: The Boys Who Became the Beatles. Illustrated by Adam Gustavson. New York: Henry Holt and Co. (32 pp., Released August 18, 2015)
13. Ringgold, Faith. (2015). Harlem Renaissance Party. New York: Amistad.  (40 pp., Released January 27, 2015)
14. Seven. John. (2015). Frankie Liked to Sing. Illustrated by Jana Christy. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers. (32 pp., To Be Released October 13, 2015)
15. Winter, Jonah. (2015). How Jelly Roll Morton Invented Jazz. by Keith Mallett. New York: Roaring Brook Press. ( 32 pp., Released Jun 16, 2015)

Informational Texts and Biographies for Grade 5+

1. Danziger, Meryl and Peter Seeger. (2015). Come On, Sing It!: The Story of Pete Seeger.  New York: Triangle Square. (112 pp., To Be Released November 3, 2015)
2. Marx,  Trish. (2015). Steel Drumming at the Apollo: The Road to Super Top Dog. Photographs by Ellen B. Senisi. New York: Lee & Low Books. (80 pp., To Be Released September 15, 2015)
3. Pinkney, Andrea Davis. (2015).  Rhythm Ride: A Road Trip Through the Motown Sound. New York: Roaring Brook Press. (176 pp.; To BeReleased Sept. 29, 2015)
4. Rubin, Susan Goldman. (2015). Sondheim: The Man Who Changed Musical Theater. New York: Roaring Brook Press. (192 pp., To BeReleased November 24, 2015).
5. Rubin, Susan Goldman. (2015). Music Was IT: Young Leonard Bernstein. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge. (192 pp., Released February 10,  2015).

10 Books about Artists for Teens

Goldsworthy, Andy. (2004). Passage.  New York: Harry N. Abrams. 
(Artist: Andy Goldsworthy, 1956 -   )

Andy Goldworthy's Garden of Stones.

Christo and Jeanne-Claude's Gates (Central Park, NYC, 1979-2005)

Greenberg, Jan & Sandra Jordan. (2008). Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Through the Gates and Beyond. New York: Roaring Brook Press.
(Artists: Christo, 1935 -  & Jeanne-Claude, 1935 - 2009)

Louise Bourgeois, The Spider

Greenberg, Jan & Sandra Jordan. (2003). Runaway Girl: The Artist Louise Bourgeois. New York: Harry N. Abrams. 
(Artist: Louise Bourgeois, 1911-2010)

This is a link to a website dedicated to making accessible, Louise Bourgeois art.

Romare Bearden's The Block, 1971

Hughes Langston. (1995). The Block. Paintings by Romare Bearden. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art.
(Artist: Romare Bearden, 1911-1988)

Wolf Kahn's My Barn on a Summer Night, 1982

Kahn, Wolf. (2003). Wolf Kahn's America: An Artist's Travels. Introduction by John Updike. New York: Harry N. Abrams.
(Artist: Wolf Kahn, 1927 - )

Marc Chagall's I and the Village, 1911

Lewis, J. Patrick and Jane Yolen. (2011/2014). Self Portrait with Seven Fingers: The Life of Marc Chagall in Verse. Mankato, MN: Creative Editions.
(Artist: Marc Chagall, 1887-1885)

Romare Bearden's Poseidon, the Sea God

O'Meally, Robert. (2008). Romare Bearden: A Black Odyssey. New York: DC Moore Gallery.
(Artist: Romare Bearden, 1911-1988)

Spires,Elizabeth. (2009). I Heard God Talking To Me: William Edmondson and His Stone Carvings. New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux.
(Artist: William Edmondson, 1883-1951)




Waldman, Diane. (2002). Joseph Cornell: Master of Dreams. New York: Harry N. Abrams.
(Artist: Joseph Cornell, 1903 - 1972)