Music

"All things shall perish from under the sky,
Music alone shall live, never to die.
Music alone shall live, music alone shall live,
Music alone shall live, never to die."— Traditional

This traditional round, familiar to many who have been Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, or members of other music-loving youth groups, expresses the enduring power of music. It is the type of simple song that gives many elementary school students their first experience with formal choral singing. Other early introductions to music may come from playing in an orchestra, taking private lessons, or attending a first concert or opera. The books included here for elementary and middle school students are primarily introductions: to the orchestra and its instruments, to musical genres, to creative individuals both real and fictional, to the inter-relationship of music and social history, to the sheer fun of singing, and to the ways in which music can be used to gently defeat an enemy, to bring a community together, or to soothe a troubled world. David McPhail's Mole Music (Holt, 1999) brings us back to a simple statement about the universality of music: Mole "even imagined that his music could reach into people's hearts and melt away their anger and sadness. Why, maybe his music could even change the world!" Let's all applaud for Mole–for he just may be right!–Ginny Gustin

Fiction

HURD, Thacher. Mama Don't Allow. illus by author. HarperCollins. 1984.
K-Gr 3–Miles and his Swamp Band are thrilled when some music-appreciating alligators declare their love for the band's loud, New Orleans-style jazz, but when the musicians realize they're the audience's intended dinner, the band quickly switches to a soothing lullaby that lulls the unsuspecting predators to sleep. Cartoon style watercolor-and-ink paintings in vivid colors provide an exuberant interpretation of a traditional song and evoke the bayou country. Audio available from Live Oak Media.

KRULL, Kathleen. M Is for Music. illus. by Stacy Innerst. Harcourt. 2003.
K-Gr 3–This entertaining ABC approach to musical terms, instruments, and people is a harmonious blend of text and art. Amusing paintings illustrate one or two terms while placing others in the background. For example, on the spread "Bb is for Beatles," individual portraits of the Fab Four sit atop guitar necks while bees labeled Bach, Brahms, and Beethoven fly about. Additional terms also appear.

KUSKIN, Karla. The Philharmonic Gets Dressed. illus. by Marc Simont. HarperCollins. 1982.
K-Gr 2–This picture book concentrates on the 105 members of an orchestra as they prepare for the evening's performance. Whimsical illustrations and a simple text follow the musicians as they bathe, don a variety of underwear topped by formal evening wear, travel to the concert hall, unpack and tune their instruments, and, at last, make the beautiful music they've come together to play.

McPHAIL, David M. Mole Music. illus. by author. Holt. 1999.
K-Gr 2–Mole longs to make beautiful music on his violin and practices diligently for years, wishing the people above his underground home could hear him. In a portion of the story told only through the book's soft watercolor paintings, readers see the important effect Mole's music has on above-ground events, as a tree grows, birds sing, farmers stop their work to listen, and even clashing armies come to a halt. A gentle celebration of the strength and influence music can have in a troubled world.

MOSS, Lloyd. Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin.illus. by Marjorie Priceman. S & S. 1995.
K-Gr 4–Ten orchestral instruments are introduced one by one in lively rhymes that incorporate their names, their musical families, and the terms for musical groups from solo, duo, trio on up through a chamber group of 10. Fluid, humorous watercolors capture the movement, rhythm, and joyful spirit of the musicians as they arrive at the concert hall to join the other orchestra members and play for an audience that includes the two cats, a dog, and a mouse that have frolicked through each illustration. Video and audio available from Weston Woods.

SEEGER, Pete. Abiyoyo: Based on a South African Lullaby and Folk Story. illus. by Michael Hays. S & S. 1986. (2001 edition with audio CD)
K-Gr 3–This story about a small, ukulele-playing boy who defeats a terrible giant through the power of music is as relevant and entertaining today as it was when Seeger first began performing it over 50 years ago. Oil paintings capture the emotional impact of this folktale and highlight the connection between music and magic.

STURGES, Philemon. She'll Be Comin' 'Round the Mountain. illus. by Ashley Wolff. Little, Brown. 2004.
K-Gr 4–This rollicking version of a well-known American folksong features a banjo-playing lizard and a host of other animals who sing, dance, and eagerly make preparations for the arrival of the guest who'll be "comin' 'round the mountain" and who is bringing a special treat. Gouache and pastel illustrations lend a Pogo-like charm to the Southwestern setting. A great resource for a lively sing-along or as a starting point for inspiring young readers to write some new lyrics of their own.

Nonfiction

ALIKI. Ah, Music! illus. by author. HarperCollins. 2003.
K-Gr 4–Simple and clear, and with detailed, cartoonlike illustrations, this introduction covers how music is written and performed, the instruments of the orchestra, the voice as an instrument, styles of singing, the relationship between music and dance, the history of music, and the joy and comfort music can bring to those who take time to appreciate it.

ANDERSON, M.T. Strange Mr. Satie.illus. by Petra Mathers. Viking. 2003.
Gr 1-4–Erik Satie's unusual, experimental approach to both his life and craft is expressed in this picture-book biography. Surrealistic elements of the illustrations reflect the composer's unconventional view of the world as small objects fly out of a piano and into the ears of audience members, and fish, birds, and pieces of fruit march across pages of musical staff paper. An appealing introduction to a little-known creator of 20th-century music.

BRYAN, Ashley. All Night, All Day: A Child's First Book of African-American Spirituals. Illus. by author. Atheneum. 1991.
K-Gr 4–Twenty of the best-known African-American spirituals have been selected and arranged for piano and guitar. Each of the accompanying double-page paintings, glowing with light and reminiscent of stained-glass windows, precedes the pair of songs it illustrates. An inspiring introduction to what Bryan calls "America's most distinctive contribution to world music," this is an excellent resource for school and church choirs, students of African-American music, and anyone who loves to sing.

DELACRE, Lulu. Arroz Con Leche: Popular Songs and Rhymes from Latin America. illus. by author. Scholastic. 1989.
K-Gr 2–This collection of 12 songs, games, and rhymes from Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Argentina is illustrated with soft watercolors depicting surroundings of Hispanic culture related to the songs' themes, such as breaking a piñata, a fountain in a plaza, and an open-air produce market. Musical arrangements for nine of the songs are included, and the lyrics to each are given in both Spanish and English. A useful resource for bilingual classrooms and library story hours.

GUTHRIE, Woody. This Land Is Your Land.illus. by Kathy Jakobsen. Little, Brown. 1998.
K-Gr 4–Highly detailed folk art paintings make this book far more than just a pictorial accompaniment to a well-known American anthem. Jakobsen's broad, panoramic landscapes beautifully illuminate Guthrie's appreciation of America's natural wonders, while her smaller, framed vignettes from his life and travels capture his feeling for the spirit of the American people. It's a perfect starting point for discussing the Depression and current problems of homelessness, the Dust Bowl and migrant farm laborers, and the importance of communities working together. It's also great fun to pore over while singing along.

HAYES, Ann. Meet the Orchestra. illus. by Karmen Thompson. Harcourt. 1991.
K-Gr 3–As animal musicians arrive to play in a concert, each instrument is briefly explained and grouped with its family: strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. The conductor, aptly depicted as a regal lion with a flowing mane, strides onto the stage and raises his baton. The humorous illustrations will capture the imaginations of young children being introduced to classical music or preparing for their first concert.

KATZ, Alan. Take Me Out of the Bathtub and Other Silly Dilly Songs. illus. by David Catrow. McElderry. 2001.
K-Gr 4–The tunes of familiar favorites such as "Rockabye Baby" and "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" are given new life with silly lyrics whose titles become "Sock in the Gravy" and "Go, Go, Go to Bed." The kid-friendly humor is made even goofier with the addition of wildly energetic cartoons featuring crazily misshapen people, animals, and everyday objects. Sure to provide hours of fun.

KOSCIELNIAK, Bruce. The Story of the Incredible Orchestra. illus. by author. Houghton. 2000.
Gr 2-5–This introductory work is unique in its inclusion of early instruments such as the tabor, crumhorn, sackbut, and clavichord, and relates the history of their evolution into the instruments we know today. The expansion of small musical ensembles into large, modern orchestras is also described. Informative ink drawings with watercolor wash provide a friendly accompaniment.

KRULL, Kathleen, comp. Gonna Sing My Head Off!: American Folk Songs for Children. illus. by Allen Garns. Knopf. 1992.
Gr 2 Up–The 62 folk songs presented here, some truly traditional and others written by some of the leading lights of the 20th century's "Great Folk Scare," are accompanied by brief introductory paragraphs describing their origins and history. Evocative pastel drawings complement each song. Arrangements for piano and guitar are simple and easy to follow, making this ideal for use in summer camps, library story hours, youth groups, classrooms, and homes.

PINKNEY, Andrea Davis. Ella Fitzgerald: the Tale of a Vocal Virtuosa. illus. by Brian Pinkney. Hyperion. 2002.
Gr 1-4–Scat Cat Monroe, a zoot-suit clad cat, guides readers through his narration of four "tracks" of Ella Fitzgerald's life: "Hoofin' in Harlem," "Jammin' at Yale," "Stompin' at the Savoy," and "Carnegie Hall Scat." The text captures the rhythm and swing of scat, as does the scratchboard and brightly colored acrylic artwork. Video and audio versions available from Weston Woods.

RYAN, Pam Muñoz. When Marian Sang. illus. by Brian Selznick. Scholastic. 2002.
Gr 1-5–Clear prose and sepia-toned acrylics work together beautifully in this large-scale picture book biography that showcases Anderson's remarkable musical gifts while also discussing the racial barriers she was forced to overcome. A memorable introduction to the appreciation of hymns, spirituals, opera, and a performer's commitment to her art. Audio version available from Live Oak Media.

Fiction

ARMSTRONG, Jennifer, ed. What a Song Can Do: 12 Riffs on the Power of Music. Knopf. 2004.
Gr 7-9–A dozen short stories demonstrate the important role music can play in a young person's life. Joseph Bruchac, Sarah Ellis, Ron Koertge, David Levithan, and others explore a variety of themes including a young man's connection to his Indian heritage, the satisfaction of being part of a school band, a music teacher's ability to tell the difference between a gifted student and one who practices diligently, and the new understanding a heartfelt song brings to a gay teen and his mother.

MACLACHLAN, Patricia. The Facts and Fictions of Minna Pratt. HarperCollins. 1988.
Gr 5-7–Filled with quirky characters and witty conversations, this book follows an 11-year-old cellist's quest for her own vibrato, her developing close friendship with a new viola player in her chamber group, their triumphant performance in a music competition, and Minna's struggle to comprehend fact and fiction in her own life.

WOLFF, Virginia Euwer. The Mozart Season. Holt. 1991.
Gr 6-8–While she prepares to perform Mozart's fourth violin concerto for a competition, 12-year-old Allegra Shapiro grapples with far more than how to interpret the composer. How her mother's musically gifted but strangely sad friend and her great-grandmother who died long ago influence her connection with Mozart makes for a memorable, insightful glimpse into the life of a talented, sensitive young musician.

Nonfiction

ADOFF, Jaime. The Song Shoots Out of My Mouth: A Celebration of Music. illus. by Martin French. Dutton. 2002.
Gr 6-9–Twenty-four exuberant, highly rhythmic poems capture music-loving teens' enthusiasm for styles as diverse as jazz, Mozart, hip hop, gospel, garage band rock, and opera while depicting situations that include the disappointment of being assigned the tuba when you've dreamed of playing the trumpet and the "Nightmare" of having to sing a solo in front of the whole school. Bright, energetic illustrations capture the action and will be enthusiastically received by the i-Pod generation.

FREEDMAN, Russell. The Voice That Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights. Clarion. 2004.
Gr 5-8–Freedman shows how a person's life is molded by its historic and cultural context. Acknowledging Anderson's remarkable musical gifts and devotion to her career, he makes it clear that meeting the challenges of racial barriers with poise and dignity "transformed her from a singer to an international symbol of progress in the advancement of human rights." An important volume for all students of music, biography, and history.

GANERI, Anita & Nicola Barber. The Young Person's Guide to the Opera. with CD. Harcourt. 2001.
Gr 4-8–This basic guide includes an overview of opera history, synopses of the stories of several well-known operas, brief introductions to some of its most prominent composers and performers, and glimpses into the world's major opera houses. Numerous color photos and drawings and boxes containing intriguing bits of trivia give the book a friendly, accessible look. The accompanying CD contains both vocal and instrumental excerpts from works mentioned in the text.

GANERI, Anita. The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra. with CD. Harcourt. 1996.
Gr 4-8–Based on a 1946 musical composition by Benjamin Britten, this comprehensive introduction summarizes the history of the orchestra, describes each instrument in each orchestral section, introduces several of the most famous composers who wrote for the orchestra, and mentions several great orchestras of the modern world. The layout is similar to that of The Young Person's Guide to the Opera,and the accompanying CD features Ben Kingsley's narration of Britten's piece.

GEORGE-WARREN, Holly. Shake, Rattle & Roll: The Founders of Rock & Roll.illus. by Laura Levine. Houghton. 2001.
Gr 4-8–Fourteen of the originators of Rock & Roll, including Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, and Bo Diddley, are featured in this energetic, lighthearted introduction to the 1950s "musical earthquake that shook everything up." Each spread features a one-page biography facing a full-page acrylic, folk-art flavored portrait. A good starting point for reports on the '50s or for students just interested in browsing.

KRULL, Kathleen. Lives of the Musicians: Good Times, Bad Times (And What the Neighbors Thought). illus. by Kathryn Hewitt. Harcourt. 1993.
Gr 4-8–Musicians of the past come alive in this collection of personalities that range from Vivaldi to Gershwin. Each brief biography is filled with appreciation for the musician's accomplishments and packed with tidbits that give readers a feeling for the eccentricities of these creative individuals. A caricature of each musician features an enormous head on a small body and incorporates some of the objects connected with Krull's funny anecdotes.

LESTER, Julius. The Blues Singers: Ten Who Rocked the World.illus. by Lisa Cohen. Hyperion. 2001.
Gr 4-8–Written as stories told to his granddaughter and sprinkled with personal anecdotes, Lester weaves the facts of 10 prominent blues singers' lives into a series of entertaining three-page biographies. Bold, bright full-page portraits and an imaginative layout add to the volume's appeal. The book is a useful resource for history or biography reports as well as a creative appreciation of the blues as an important art form.

MYERS, Walter Dean. Blues Journey. illus. by Christopher Myers. Holiday House. 2003.
Gr 5-8–A celebration, through verse and painting, of the emotional depth of the blues genre. Myers covers a range of experiences including poverty, slavery, heartbreak, lynching, and the civil rights movement. Verses draw on the blues call-and-response technique while the accompanying illustrations evoke the spirit and deep feelings of the poetry.

ORGILL, Roxane. Shout, Sister, Shout!: Ten Girl Singers Who Shaped a Century. McElderry. 2001.
Gr 6-8–One female singer from each decade of the 20th century represents the "events and national mood of those decades" along with a variety of musical styles. Presenting performers as diverse as Sophie Tucker, Bessie Smith, Joan Baez, and Madonna, this is a fascinating chronology of the musical and social history of a century. Music fans will enjoy the enthusiastic depictions of these entertainers' careers.

PARTRIDGE, Elizabeth. This Land Was Made for You and Me: The Life and Songs of Woody Guthrie. Viking. 2002.
Gr 5-8–Against a backdrop of the Depression, the Dust Bowl migration, Californian farm workers' camps, World War II, and the Cold War era, readers are introduced to the whirlwind of creative, nervous energy that was Woody Guthrie. This outstanding biography is full of photos, Guthrie's own sketches, and quotes. It presents a fascinating portrait of the historical upheavals that shaped his life and were reflected in his songs.