Best Children's Musical History

Eye-catching illustrations and an accompanying 70-minute CD make this an exciting and educational introduction to the world of classical music-from composers and music history to the instruments of the orchestra-for elementary age children (and parents, too! There are interesting and sometimes humorous bits of information about the men, their music, and corresponding historical events. An accompanying CD provides musical selections for readers to listen to at specific places in the text.

Exclusive insights from a celebrated musician and passionate industry insiders, two accompanying CDs of legendary tracks and beautiful packaging make for a book with broad appeal -- one that will captivate fans of Robbie Robertson and music lovers of all ages. Part memoir, part tribute, and all great storytelling ... Music industry veterans Robbie Robertson, Jim Guerinot, Jared Levine, and Sebastian Robertson invite young readers to share with them in celebrating twenty-seven musical legends. Short profiles chronicle personal stories and achievements of extraordinarily talented artists whose innovations changed the landscape of music for generations to come. Carefully compiled like any great playlist, the line-up features originators, rebels, and risk-takers across diverse genres. From Ray Charles to Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry to Bob Dylan, Robertson shares anecdotes about these artists and the influence they had on his own musical journey. Always respectful of their reader, the writers never shy away from speaking about the difficult challenges these recording artists faced and the very human foibles that sometimes led to their tragic end. Most of all, it's the authors' passion and insights into these personal stories of creativity and collaboration -- and the power of music to shine a light on injustice and foster change -- that will fascinate, enlighten, and inspire music fans of all ages.”Exclusive insights from a celebrated musician and passionate industry insiders, two accompanying CDs of legendary tracks and beautiful packaging make for a book with broad appeal -- one that will captivate fans of Robbie Robertson and music lovers of all ages. In a graphite image, more like a photo than a drawing, a young, beautiful Elvis, guitar in hand, eyes the reader. Though each artist gets just a two-page spread, there’s such well-chosen personal and professional information, young people will come away with an understanding of each person’s evolution. All of the material feels fresh, and with back matter aplenty, there are lots of ways that this could be used in schools—or kids could just kick back, read, and listen.

Almost everyone can sing along with the Beatles, but how many young readers know their whole story? Geoff Edgers, is a reporter at The Boston Globe and lives in Arlington, Massachusetts.

Eye-catching illustrations and an accompanying 70-minute CD make this an exciting and educational introduction to the world of classical music-from composers and music history to the instruments of the orchestra-for elementary age children (and parents, too! There are interesting and sometimes humorous bits of information about the men, their music, and corresponding historical events. An accompanying CD provides musical selections for readers to listen to at specific places in the text.

Its easy and joyful learning style enables the young student to think, feel, and develop musically. * Ode to Joy by Beethoven * Amazing Grace. * Happy Birthday. * Jingle Bells. * Yankee Doodle. * When the Saints Go Marching In. * Scarborough Fair. * Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. * Mary had a Little Lamb. * Take Me Out to the Ballgame. * Michael, Row the Boat Ashore. * House of the Rising Sun. * This Little Light of Mine * Home on the Range * Shenandoah *And Many More Great Songs and Pieces! The book uses clear and logical layout, teaching the beginning student to learn the piano keys, songs and basics of musical notes and rhythms. My friends frequently express interest in their children learning to play the piano but... I would especially recommend this book to potential piano students without an extensive musical background. I am blown away by how the book was designed to present fundamental concepts in a manner that is easy for children to grasp. I tookpiano lessons many years ago, and I wanted to start playing again with my children, butit seemed like I couldn't remember even the most basic things. It simplifies the music reading process and fingering of keys so that my children and I can understand it, and I'm a brand new beginner!

Exclusive insights from a celebrated musician and passionate industry insiders, two accompanying CDs of legendary tracks and beautiful packaging make for a book with broad appeal -- one that will captivate fans of Robbie Robertson and music lovers of all ages. Part memoir, part tribute, and all great storytelling ... Music industry veterans Robbie Robertson, Jim Guerinot, Jared Levine, and Sebastian Robertson invite young readers to share with them in celebrating twenty-seven musical legends. Short profiles chronicle personal stories and achievements of extraordinarily talented artists whose innovations changed the landscape of music for generations to come. Carefully compiled like any great playlist, the line-up features originators, rebels, and risk-takers across diverse genres. From Ray Charles to Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry to Bob Dylan, Robertson shares anecdotes about these artists and the influence they had on his own musical journey. Always respectful of their reader, the writers never shy away from speaking about the difficult challenges these recording artists faced and the very human foibles that sometimes led to their tragic end. Most of all, it's the authors' passion and insights into these personal stories of creativity and collaboration -- and the power of music to shine a light on injustice and foster change -- that will fascinate, enlighten, and inspire music fans of all ages.”Exclusive insights from a celebrated musician and passionate industry insiders, two accompanying CDs of legendary tracks and beautiful packaging make for a book with broad appeal -- one that will captivate fans of Robbie Robertson and music lovers of all ages. In a graphite image, more like a photo than a drawing, a young, beautiful Elvis, guitar in hand, eyes the reader. Though each artist gets just a two-page spread, there’s such well-chosen personal and professional information, young people will come away with an understanding of each person’s evolution. All of the material feels fresh, and with back matter aplenty, there are lots of ways that this could be used in schools—or kids could just kick back, read, and listen.

Along with esteemed illustrator Bryan Collier, Andrews has created a lively picture book autobiography about how he followed his dream of becoming a musician, despite the odds, until he reached international stardom. Andrews desperately wished to emulate the musicians in his family and those he saw performing all over his city, so he and his friends made their own instruments out of found materials, played in the streets, and marched with bands. Collier's beautiful watercolor, pen-and-ink, and collage artwork picks up the rhythm and pace of Andrew's storytelling, creating an accompaniment full of motion and color.

As shown in his best-selling titles The Night Before Christmas and Here Comes Santa Claus , no one can portray the holidays better than Bruce Whatley; and he doesit again with I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas . Bruce has co-written a number of award-winning books with his wife Rosie Smith ( Whatley’s Quest , Detective Donut and the Wild Goose Chase and Little White Dogs Can’t Jump ) and his son Ben Smith Whatley (Zoobots ). In 2002 Bruce paired with author Jackie French and illustrated Diary of a Wombat – an iconic picture book that has become an international best-seller with foreign sales to nine territories.

The colorful animals' stickers allow kids to associate the notes on the keyboard with their places and names in the score without realizing that they are learning to read music.

NOW A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER AND INCLUDED IN THE BOOKLIST TOP 10 ART BOOKS FOR YOUTH! Our consensus is Hip Hop Speaks to Children is the most essential poetry purchase to make this year. HEAR poetry's rhymes and rhythms from Queen Latifah to Gwendolyn Brooks, Langston Hughes to A Tribe Called Quest and more! DISCOVER Langston Hughes's elegant gospel "The Negro Speaks of Rivers," A Tribe Called Quest's playful "Ham 'N' Eggs," Sterling A. Brown's hard-luck "Long Track Blues," Gwendolyn Brooks's wake-up call "We Real Cool," Kanye West's lovely "Hey Mama," and Martin Luther King Jr.'s awe-inspiring "I Have a Dream." Celebrate with remarkable poets, including: Eloise Greenfield. Mos Def. Lucille Clifton. Oscar Brown Jr. Tupac Shakur. Maya Angelou. Queen Latifah. Nikki Grimes. Walter Dean Myers. Common. and, of course, Nikki Giovanni. Poems Include: Ego Tripping. Rapper's Delight. The Negro Speaks of Rivers. Hey Mama. Ham 'N' Eggs. Everything Is Everything. Ladies First. "With its archival recordings of poems read by the poets themselves, [ Hip Hop ] reminds everyone that poetry springs from an oral tradition ." "Hip Hop Speaks to Children is a wonderfully composed collection of poems from writers like Eloise Greenfield to late rapper and poet, Tupac Shakur. My coworkers and I are already talking about doing a Hip Hop poetry story time for our elementary school kids." The grandchildren (ages 3 and 5) love it as well and ask to hear the CD while they pore over the pages and take breaks prancing around the room and singing to the beat. That’s hip hop in a flash,” and she goes on to link hip-hop to grand opera and present a capsule history of African American vernacular music. In keeping with hip-hop tradition, many of the selections are self-referential; others take on a variety of topics, from Gwendolyn Brooks’ celebration of “Aloneness” to James Berry’s inspirational “People Equal.” Calef Brown’s “Funky Snowman” is more about medium than message: “Turn up the music / with the disco beat, / when you’re in the groove, / you don’t need feet.” Similarly, on the CD, some presentations are straight readings, and others evoke jazz, rap, pop, and field- or pulpit-style chanting.

Puff, the Magic Dragon.