Kid Musicians: True Tales of Childhood from Entertainers, Songwriters, and Stars

Gr 4 Up–This compilation of short, casual biographies of 16 musicians ranges from jazz legends Louie Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald to modern pop stars Taylor Swift and Beyoncé. Many (but not all) of the up-and-coming musicians overcame childhood obstacles (poverty, racism, unstable living conditions, child abuse), but almost all had supportive parents/adults in their lives. The large font is easy to read, and the generous white space around the text and large illustrations keeps the informative pages from being intimidating. The writing is casual, but occasionally clunky with run-on sentences that can feel too chatty. Steinfeld’s bright cartoon illustrations emphasize the child-focused nature of these biographical sketches. Hand this book (and others in the series) to reluctant readers when it is time for a biography assignment. Students might need to supplement for a complete picture of their report subject, but this book should certainly keep their interest and provide a solid starting point.