Born to Swing by Mara Rockliff, illustrated by Michele Wood. PICTURE BOOK/NON-FICTION. Calkins Creek (Highlights), 2018. $18. 9781629795553
BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
The life of Lillian Hardin Armstrong, a classically trained musician who did everything in jazz! Her childhood in Memphis and youth in Chicago exposed her to jazz, blues, and swing from their beginnings, and with distinction, she rose with it. She was a prominent musician in her own right when she married Louis Armstrong, and used her influence to promote him and his music.
Wow! What a lady! The book is well-researched and fun to read. I went online to find recordings of her piano playing and singing. “Hot Miss Lil” was an outstanding contributor to early jazz. She played, arranged, composed, and sang jazz as a member of several groups and as a soloist. A good companion to Trombone Shorty, Little Melba and Her Big Trombone, and Just a Lucky So-and-So: The Story of Louis Armstrong.
M.Kijek, Library Teacher
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