“Jazz music is the power of now. There is no script. It’s conversation. The emotion is given to you by musicians as they make split-second decisions to fulfil what they feel the moment requires.” -Wynton Marsalis
Let’s celebrate jazz! The 19 picture books featured in observance of Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM) support the purpose of the month-long homage, which is to “stimulate and encourage people of all ages to participate in jazz—to study the music, attend concerts, listen to jazz on the radio…read book about jazz and more.” If you want to start a conversation about jazz and jazz artists, picture books are a great intro into the broad genre of music. There is a terrific mix of fiction and nonfiction stories to enjoy. Happy JAM!
What are your thoughts on our JAM book list? If you have more jazz books by Black authors to add, leave a comment below.
The 5 O’Clock Band
Troy Andrews | Bryan Collier | Harry N. Abrams | 2018 | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
Alligator Jazz
Samuel Pittman | Sheila Bailey | Pelican | 2018 | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
Just a Lucky So and So: The Story of Louis Armstrong
Lesa Cline-Ransome | James E. Ransome | Holiday House | 2016 | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
Trombone Shorty
Troy Andrews | Bryan Collier | Abrams BYR | 2015 | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
Oscar Lives Next Door: A Story Inspired by Oscar Peterson’s Childhood
Bonnie Farmer | Marie Lafrance | Owlkids | 2015 | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
Little Melba and Her Big Trombone
Katheryn Russell-Brown | Frank Morrison | Lee & Low Books | 2014 | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
Benny Goodman & Teddy Wilson: Taking the Stage as the First Black-and-White Jazz Band in History
Lesa Cline-Ransome | James E. Ransome | Holiday House | 2014 | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
Squeak, Rumble, Whomp! Whomp! Whomp!: A Sonic Adventure
Wynton Marsalis | Paul Rogers | Candlewick | 2012 | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
Harlem’s Little Blackbird: The Story of Florence Mills
Renee Watson | Christian Robinson | Random House BYR | 2012 | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band
Kwame Alexander | Tim Bowers | Sleeping Bear Press | 2011 | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
The Sound that Jazz Makes
Carole Boston Weatherford | Eric Velasquez | Two Lions | 2010 | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
Sweethearts of Rhythm: The Story of the Greatest All-Girl Swing Band in the World
Marilyn Nelson | Jerry Pinkney | Dial Books | 2009 | Amazon | IndieBound
Before John Was a Jazz Giant: A Song of John Coltrane
Carole Boston Weatherford | Sean Qualls | Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) | 2008 | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
Jazz on a Saturday Night
Leo Dillon | Diane Dillon | The Blue Sky Press | 2007 | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
Jazz
Walter Dean Myers | Christopher Myers | Holiday House | 2006 | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
God Bless the Child
Billie Holiday | Arthur Herzog, Jr. | Jerry Pinkney | Amistad | 2003 | Amazon | IndieBound
Ella Fitzgerald: The Tale of a Vocal Virtuosa
Andrea Davis Pinkney | Brian Pinkney | Little, Brown BYR | 2002 | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra
Andrea Davis Pinkney | Brian Pinkney | Little, Brown BYR | 1999 | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
D. J. and the Jazz Fest (The D. J. Series)
Denise McConduit | Emile Henriquez | Pelican | 1997 | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
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