Becoming Billie Holiday by Carole Boston Weatherford

Illustrated by Floyd Cooper. Weatherford and Cooper have combined their talents in a fascinating book about the life of Billie Holiday. The singer's life is told through 100 narrative poems that describe her life from birth until age 25. Born out of wedlock, her early years included rape, prostitution, drugs and more. The writing is strong and the powerful illustrations provide a feel for the times. The end pages list brief biographies of other musicians, a bibliography and a list of recordings. It is easy to see why this title won so many awards (CSK Honor, ALA's Best Books for YA's, etc). The mature content would make it appropriate for grade 8 and up so we need to discuss whether or not it is appropriate for our K-8 list. Your thoughts?

Before John Was a Jazz Giant: A Song of John Coltrane by Carole Boston Weatherford

Illustrated by Sean Qualls. This is a lyrical story of John Coltrane's childhood (born in Hamlet, NC and grew up in High Point). Weatherford lists the sounds that influenced the jazz musician's childhood; "Daddy strumming the ukulele, and Mama cranking the phonograph." Quall's illustrations are a wonderful accompaniment. There is a lengthy Author's Note at the end along with a Selected Listening List and a bibliography for further reading. Could be used with upper elementary students in a jazz unit with Ella Fitzgerald (Pinkney), Duke Ellington (Pinkney), Jazz Baby (Weatherford), John Coltrane's Giant Steps (Raschka), and Jazz on a Saturday Night (Dillon).

A Song for Cambodia by Michelle Lord

Illustrated by Shino Arihara. The life of Arn Chorn-Pond, a survivor of the Khmer Rouge killing fields, is told in this picture book biography. Chorn-Pond survives a children's work camp through his skill at playing the khim, a traditional Cambodian musical instrument. The foreword and the afterword provide historical perspective as well as describing Chorn-Pond's accomplishments in human rights in Cambodia and the U.S. Because of the tragedy and violence in the story, I would recommend this multicultural title for Grades 4-6. It is a powerful tale of how music helped ease suffering during war. Good for social studies or music units.

Ain't Nothing But a Man: My Quest to Find the Real John Henry by Scott Reynolds Nelson with Marc Aronson

In addtion to telling a great story about a historical mystery, this book also offers a first class look into how a historian works. The author believes that he has found the real John Henry of the famous folk song in the person of a black prisoner who was sent to work for the C&O Railroad during Reconstruction. That story is compelling by itself, but the story of how the discoveries about John Henry were made is just as interesting. The book explains how the author tracked down elusive primary sources and then used them to connect the dots to make a coherent whole. Period photographs and illustrations, along with side notes, illuminate the text.Marc Aronson's contribution is very readable section called "How to be a Historian." An annotated bibliography, notes about sources, and an index are included. Black history and American history studies can be enhanced by this book. A creative music teacher could use it as well.Grades 4-8.

After Toupac and D Foster by Jacqueline Woodson

Neeka and our narrator have been best friends since birth. A new girl shows up on their block calling herself “D” and blends into their friendship seamlessly. The girls call themselves “Three the Hard Way” and build a tight bond over a two year time frame. It’s 1994, the year Tupac Shakur is enduring legal issues and multiple physical attacks. D, and the rest of the neighborhood, relate wholeheartedly to Tupac’s music and their quotations frame their emotions throughout the story.When D’s real mom shows up, D must leave the tight knit community that has taken her in hope of starting a positive new life with her mom. Her departure parallels Tupac’s final attack and eventual death.Woodson weaves a beautifully simple story about friendship, family, community and how the power of can music can tie us all together.Recommended grade levels: 6-12