Elem. – Beautiful Noise: The Music of John Cage

Rogers, Lisa. Beautiful Noise: The Music of John Cage. Illustrated by Il Sung Na. Anne Schwartz Books, 2023. 978-0-593-64662-5. $18.99. Unpaged. Grades K-3.

In this uniquely written biography, avant-garde composer John Cage is introduced to young audiences through the use of several “what if” questions. For example, what if all the sounds you heard – garbage trucks screeching, cats hissing, balls bouncing, and so forth – sounded like music to you? The answer to this question (and all of the other questions posed in the book) is “Then you’d be like John Cage.” Using this format, the author introduces John Cage’s atypical style of writing music, his unusual instruments, and several of his notable concerts and performances. Na’s illustrations mirror Cage’s quirky style, placing vibrant, brightly colored dots, squiggles and lines on top of background drawings done in a more muted palette. Further information about John Cage is included in the author’s note, and a list of sources for further exploration is also provided.

THOUGHTS: This unique biography is sure to inspire students to learn more about John Cage and to think outside of the box themselves. Perhaps they’ll even want to experiment with everyday items to make their own distinctive music. A solid addition to any library looking to grow its biography or music sections.

921 Biography
780 Music

Elem. – Bravo, Little Bird!

Silvestro, Annie. Bravo, Little Bird! Simon & Schuster, 2023. 978-1-665-90692-0. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades PK-3.

Attracted by the sound of a piano, Little Bird flies from her valley, up a hill, and to a house where an old man plays his piano while his wife paints. Enchanted by the music, Little Bird joins in, singing to the music. When his grandson visits, the old man teaches him all he knows about music, and as Little Bird’s babies grow, she teaches them all she knows about music. Together, they all make music that floats down into the valley. In time, the grandfather becomes more and more tired, and the grandson and Little Bird keep the music alive. When the grandfather passes, the music stops… until one day Cardinal helps Little Bird discover the old man’s music living on in the valley below. Together, Cardinal, Little Bird and the residents of the valley bring the music back up the hill to the boy and his grandmother.

THOUGHTS: Music comes full circle in this book, both bringing a family together and showing the family that their loved one lives on in others. This gentle message of the gifts we give others in our lives offers a strong addition to library and guidance collections focused on supporting patrons and families experiencing loss. The story also provides opportunities for healing discussions with families. Recommended for libraries and guidance collections looking to add this message to their offerings. Consider as an option for students older than the listed age range as well.

Picture Book 

YA – Rise Up and Sing: Power, Protest, and Activism in Music

Warner, Andrea. Rise Up and Sing: Power, Protest, and Activism in Music. Greystone Kids, 2023. 978-1-77164-898-1. 299 p. $19.95. Grades 6-12.

This book is a collection of musicians as role models through highlighting the power of music to help change the world. Some of the artists featured are: Bob Dylan, Billie Elish, Beyonce, Lil Nas X, Lady Gaga, Bob Marley, and more. The book covers the social and environmental issues that each artist has brought to the attention of their fans. Climate change, the environment, decolonization, indigenous rights, civil rights, racial justice, disability rights, feminism, gender equality, nonbinary folks, anti-war movement, and human rights are all discussed through the artists’ lyrics and dedication to bring these issues to the forefront of their listeners.

THOUGHTS: An impressive collection of artists and their quest to bring awareness and justice to the world we live in are shared in this title.

781.64 Western Popular Music

YA – Plan A

Caletti, Deb. Plan A. Labyrinth Road, 2023. 978-0-593-48555-2. 416 p. $21.99. Grades 9-12.

Ivy DeVries has a lot of opinions just like the other women in her family. Living in Paris, Texas, however, her opinions do not always align with the political and religious landscape of the town. When Ivy becomes pregnant after an encounter she refers to as “The Uglies,” she is stunned to learn that abortions are illegal in Texas. But Ivy has a life and a future ahead of her, so she makes the choice to get an abortion. Her mother, brother, and boyfriend Lorenzo (who is not the father) are completely supportive of her decision even if her friends and neighbors are not. She embarks on a road trip with Lorenzo with an end destination of her grandmother’s beach house in Oregon where she can safely and legally get the healthcare she needs. Along the way, Lorenzo and Ivy decide to stop at all the places around the world within the western United States: Lima, Florence, Rome, and more. Along the way, Ivy stays with different relatives and friends of the family only to find out that every woman she knows has some kind of story about the choices (or lack of choices) they had to make regarding their bodies. Throughout her journey, Ivy realizes the strength she has within herself to do what is right for HER.

THOUGHTS: Although this topic is a bit controversial, especially for a school library, the story is one that is absolutely necessary to tell. Caletti handles the topic with sensitivity and honesty while leaving out any graphic details. This book is so powerful and should be in high school libraries with supportive communities.

Realistic Fiction

MG – Tegan and Sara: Junior High

Quin, Tegan and Sara. Tegan and Sara: Junior High. Farrar Straus Giroux, 2023. 978-1-516-05891-4. 298 p. $22.99. Grades 5-8.

Identical twins Tegan and Sara are starting 7th grade in a new school district now that they are living with their mother and stepfather. Unfortunately, middle school is not living up to the hype. The twins are in separate classes, dealing with first periods, and struggling to make new friends that they both like. The twins even start bickering for the first time in their lives. While navigating all of this, both twins are grappling with the idea that they might like girls, something they haven’t even shared with each other. Nothing seems to be going right until they discover a guitar stored in the garage and coated in dust. It belongs to their stepdad Bruce who, unbeknownst to them, was in a band back in the day. From the strum of the first chord, they are hooked. Tegan and Sara realize they have a natural gift for playing guitar and writing songs, and this closes the rift between them. They start a band and begin playing at friends’ parties. Once they realize they are stronger together, they take on junior high as a team.

THOUGHTS: Middle grade students may not know Tegan and Sara as indie rock stars that they are, but they are sure to relate to the semi-autobiographical book. Based on their adult memoir, the graphic novel version places Tegan and Sara in modern day rather than the 1990s when they actually attended high school. The illustrations are colorful and interspersed with Tegan and Sara’s inner thoughts that they only share with each other and now, the reader. This could be a great addition to middle grade libraries, especially for fans of the Sunny series and Raina Telegemeier.

Graphic Novel

Elem. – The Animal Song

Howley, Jonty. The Animal Song. Random House Studio. 2023. 978-0-593-38146-5. $18.99. Grades PreK-3.

A bear, crocodile, and a weasel. What do they have in common? They love music and are in a band together! From spring to fall, these animals play music for their forest friends. When winter hits and their forest friends go to sleep, they don’t have anyone to play for, and they aren’t ready to go to sleep! This musical animal band moves and continues playing through the winter, until finally, everyone is ready to sleep!

THOUGHTS: A fun musical story with a fun rhythm to read. The back of the book contains the lyrics and musical score for The Animal Song, allowing musical readers to play and sing along!

Picture Book

Elem. – The Case of the Eerie Heirloom

Cooper, Brigitte Henry. The Case of the Eerie Heirloom. Cecilia Messina. ABDO Books, 2023. 978-1-098-23322-8. 48 p. $22.95. Grades 1-3. 

The Case of the Eerie Heirloom follows Abby and Theo who are known as the Phantom Finders. They are enlisted to help Anya, a local resident, figure out why this older music box has begun playing music after being silent for many years. The clues lead them to the local theater, the Kirby Theater. Can they figure out the mystery behind this music box and help bring Anya peace?

THOUGHTS: This is a cute beginning to read type chapter book. There are words that are highlighted and are different sizes, colors, and fonts from the other words to help the reader as they move through the book. There is no need to read the books in order, so a reader can jump in at any time. Overall a great addition to any elementary collection.

Mystery

MG – Wait! What? (Series NF)

Gutman, Dan. Wait? What? Illustrated by Allison Steinfeld. Norton Young Readers, 2023. $17.95 ea. $94.98 Set of 6 (7th title due out 9/19/23). 144 pp. Grades 4-8. 

Albert Einstein Was a Dope? 2021. 978-1-324-01558-1. 112 p.
Amelia Earhart  Is On the Moon? 2021. 978-1-324-01562-8. 112 p.
The Beatles Couldn’t Read Music? 2023. 978-1-324-05302-6.
Lucille Ball Had No Eyebrows?
2023. 978-1-324-03073-7. 112 p.

Muhammed Ali Was a Chicken? 2021. 978-1-324-01560-4. 112 p.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg Couldn’t Drive? 2021.978-1-324-01560-4. 112 p.
Teddy Roosevelt Was a Moose? 2022. 978-1-324-01564-2. 112 p.

Part of the fun series on different personalities, The Beatles Couldn’t Read Music? is a jauntily illustrated and easily readable question and answer book on perhaps the most famous boy band in history, the Beatles. Author Gutman uses his usual humorous style to give each informative chapter set in Q & A format a jovial tone. Chapters entitled with each of the Beatles’s names spill over with interesting facts about the Fab Four. Dedicated fans will put their Beatlemania trivia to the test, and newfound fans will revel in uncovering well and little-known material on the talented celebrities, like the replacement of Pete Best with Ringo Starr, the origin of some of their songs, their tight friendship with the Rolling Stones, and some of their well-known quips. Includes timeline.

THOUGHTS: This book is 100% fun with its easy-to-read format. Gutman captures the light-hearted spirit of the Beatles and produces a browsing book that even struggling readers will like.

782 Vocal Music
Biography

Elem. – The Green Piano: How Little Me Found Music

Flack, Roberta and Tonya Bolden. The Green Piano: How Little Me Found Music. Illustrated by Hayden Goodman. Anne Schwartz Books, 2023. 978-0-593-47987-2. $18.99. Grades K-3.

The Green Piano: How Little Me Found Music is an autobiographical picture book about Roberta Flack that follows her from her early childhood through her life until she finally lives her dream as an adult. There is an author’s note in the back from Roberta that goes into more detail about her life and the true story of the green piano that her father found in a junkyard. There is also a section of career highlights of Roberta’s life. As the reader goes through Roberta’s life, we can see the influence her family had on her, as well as the teachers she had along the way. The reader really can appreciate the path that she took to become a five time Grammy award winner and how she never forgot that green piano she started playing on.

THOUGHTS: This is an amazing addition to any elementary or even middle school collection, especially for use in introducing Roberta Flacks’ music to students.

Picture Book
Autobiography

Elem. – The Teachers I Loved Best

Mali, Taylor. The Teachers I Loved Best. Illustrated by Erica Root. Doubleday Books for Young Readers, 2023. 978-0-593-56523-0. $18.99. Grades K-2.

The Teachers I Loved Best is a poem about how teachers that you love aren’t always the easy teachers or the ones who give easy tests. The teachers you love best are the ones who push you to be the best you can be. They are the ones who are supportive of you, or the ones who encourage you to do something even if you aren’t great or perfect at it. This poem also explores how teachers can be anyone such as a crossing guard who makes you want to work hard. Through the book, the illustrations show the different parts of the poem, showing the different teachers and the different scenarios that are described in the book.

THOUGHTS: This is a great book to give to a special teacher in your life, or to use for a teacher appreciation week read aloud. This book is also a great addition to any elementary collection.

Picture Book