What’s JAM?
JAM stands for Jazz Appreciation Month, and this melodious celebration is observed during the entire month of April. According to The National Museum of American History, “JAM is intended 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.” Well, if you’re into jazz and want to stir the interest of young and older readers, the books featured are great starter selections. The selections are mostly nonfiction picture books with a few fiction stories, and the list has multiple titles by Carole Boston Weatherford, Andrea Davis Pinkney, Lesa Cline-Ransome, and jazz musician, Wynton Marsalis. Enjoy JAM!
Jazz Baby – Carole Boston Weatherford, Illustrator – Laura Freeman
Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band – Kwame Alexander, Illustrator – Tim Bowers
Squeak, Rumble, Whomp! Whomp! Whomp!: A Sonic Adventure – Wynton Marsalis, Illustrator – Paul Rogers
Stompin’ at the Savoy – Bebe Moore Campbell, Illustrator – Richard Yarde
Willie Jerome – Alice Faye Duncan, Illustrator – Tyrone Geter
Harlem’s Little Blackbird: The Story of Florence Mills – Renee Watson, Illustrator – Christian Robinson
Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra – Andrea Davis Pinkney, Illustrator – Brian Pinkney
Ella Fitzgerald: The Tale of a Vocal Virtuosa – Andrea Davis Pinkney, Illustrator – Brian Pinkney
Before John Was a Jazz Giant: A Song of John Coltrane – Carole Boston Weatherford, Illustrator – Sean Qualls
Little Melba and Her Big Trombone – Katheryn Russell-Brown, Illustrator – Frank Morrison
Just a Lucky So and So: The Story of Louis Armstrong – Lesa Cline-Ransome, Illustrator – James E. Ransome
The Legendary Miss Lena Horne – Carole Boston Weatherford, Illustrator – Elizabeth Zunon
Benny Goodman & Teddy Wilson: Taking the Stage as the First Black-and-White Jazz Band in History – Lesa Cline-Ransome, Illustrator – James E. Ransome
Sweethearts of Rhythm: The Story of the Greatest All-Girl Swing Band in the World – Marilyn Nelson, Illustrator – Jerry Pinkney
Trombone Shorty – Troy Andrews, Illustrator – Bryan Collier
The Sound that Jazz Makes – Carole Boston Weatherford, Illustrator – Eric Velasquez
Jazz on a Saturday Night – Leo & Diane Dillon
Jazz – Walter Dean Myers, Illustrator – Christopher Myers
Jazz ABZ: An A to Z Collection of Jazz Portraits – Wynton Marsalis, Illustrator – Paul Rogers
First Book of Jazz – Langston Hughes
