Books About Music
I Got the Rhythm
Title: I Got the Rhythm
Author: Connie Schofield-Morrison
Illustrator: Frank Morrison
Genre: Fiction
Copyright: 2014
Reading level: Grade 2-3
Interest level: PreK-2
Summary: A young girl is walking to the park with her mother. The girl hears a rhythm coming from the world around her. She goes from listening to music with her ears to tapping the rhythm with her toes!
Picture book: Yes
Moral of the story/lesson/theme: You can create music/rhythmic in many different ways.
Topic: Music
Is it a good read aloud? Yes
This Jazz Man
Title: This Jazz Man
Author: Karen Ehrhardt
Illustrator: Robert Roth
Genre: Fiction
Copyright: 2006
Reading level: Grade 1
Interest level: PreK-3
Summary: Each page describes how a new jazz man plays music. After meeting ten jazz men, we find out that they are in a band.
Picture book: Yes
Moral of the story/lesson/theme: There are many ways to play music. Describes different instruments.
Topic: Music
Is it a good read aloud? Yes
Hana Hashimoto, Sixth Violin
Title: Hana Hashimoto, Sixth Violin
Author: Chieri Uegaki
Illustrator: Qin Leng
Genre: Fiction
Copyright: 2014
Reading level: Grade 2-3
Interest level: K-3
Summary: A young girl named Hana Hashimoto has signed up to play her violin at her school's talent show. She is only a beginner, and she's had only three lessons. Her brothers told her that she isn't good enough. She is determined to play her best. Her grandfather, Ojiichan, played the violin as well and Hana practices every day just like him. The day of the talent show she gets really nervous. In the end, she was confident and successful in her performance.
Picture book: Yes
Moral of the story/lesson/theme: Doing something for the first time is hard. The more you practice, the better you get. Don’t give up, you can succeed.
Topic: Music
Is it a good read aloud? Yes
Sarai Saves the Music
Title: Sarai Saves the Music
Author: Sarai Gonzalez, Monica Brown
Genre: Fiction
Copyright: 2019
Reading level: Grade 3-4
Interest level: Grade 2-5
Summary: Sarai's school is getting rid of the band program because the school is cutting funds. Sarai isn’t happy, so she decides to organize a benefit concert to raise money. Her and her bandmates promote a concert on their video channel, and it ends up catching the eyes of Sarai's favorite singer, Sparkles Sanchez!
Chapter book: Yes
Moral of the story/lesson/theme: Teamwork. You can make a difference.
Topic: Music
Is it a good read aloud? No
Because
Title: Because
Author: Mo Willems
Illustrator: Amber Ren
Genre: Fiction
Copyright: 2019
Reading level: Grade 3-5
Interest level: PreK-2
Summary: The book starts with a composer creating music hundreds of years ago, to the formation of the orchestra group, to the music being learned and practiced and so on. Then a young girl attends a classical music performance, since her uncle, who was sick, wasn't able to go. That day changed her and she fell in love with the music. While growing up, she was discovered by others and performed in front of a large audience. The story shows chains of events lead to all sorts of circumstances and opportunities for us all.
Picture book: Yes
Moral of the story/lesson/theme: Cause and effect. Inspiration.
Topic: Music
Is it a good read aloud? Yes
Little Melba and Her Big Trombone
Title: Little Melba and Her Big Trombone
Author: Katheryn Russell-Brown
Illustrator: Frank Morrison
Genre: Biography/Non-fiction
Copyright: 2014
Reading level: Grade 3-4
Interest level: Grade 1-5
Summary: Melba has loved the sounds of music since she was little. She daydreamed about beats and lyrics, and hummed along with the music from her family's Majestic radio. At age seven she fell in love with a big trombone and taught herself how to play. When Melba was a teenager, her gift for music led her to the world of jazz. She joined a band and toured the country. Overcoming obstacles of race and gender, Melba went on to become a famous trombone player and arranger!
Picture book: Yes
Moral of the story/lesson/theme: Breaking gender Barriers, Civil Rights Movement, Discrimination, Dreams & Aspirations, History, Identity/Self Esteem/Confidence, Overcoming Obstacles.
Topic: Music
Is it a good read aloud? Yes
