Skip to content
Pragmatic Mom
Menu
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • Policies
    • Media Kit
    • Privacy Policy
    • Copyright
    • KidLit Blogroll
  • My Book Lists
    • My List of Lists
    • Multicultural Books for Children: 60+ Book Lists
    • #OwnVoices
    • Summer Reading Lists for Middle School Kids
    • Asian American Children’s Books
    • African American Children’s Books
    • Arab American Children’s Books
    • Latinx American Children’s Books
    • Native American Children’s Books
    • LGBTQIA+ Children’s Books
    • Diverse Books for Kids
    • Best Books for Kids
  • Education
    • STEM/STEAM
    • Math
    • Social Studies
    • Art Projects for Kids
    • Applying to Art School
    • Applying to College
    • Book Club for Kids
    • 70+ Free Educational Games
  • Controversial
    • Sexual Misconduct in Children’s Book Publishing #MeToo #TimesUp
    • Rethinking & Examining Dr. Seuss’ Racism
    • Blood Feud over YA #BloodHeir
    • Tulsa Race Massacre: What They Don’t Teach You in History Books
    • The Chinese Exclusion Act – What They Don’t Teach in History Books
    • Segregation in California Schools: What They Don’t Teach in History Books
    • SCBWI Minnesota Racist Illustration and Gaslighting Response
  • My Books
    • My Book Announcements
    • The Traveling Taco on Reading Rockets’ Summer Reading Guide 2025!
    • We Sing From the Heart makes Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year 2025!
    • The Traveling Taco featured in Booklist
    • Origami French Fries: Activity for THE TRAVELING TACO
    • Book Announcement: A Place to Call Home! {and a new title …}
    • FOOD FOR THE FUTURE makes Sunshine State Young Readers Award Orange Blossom List for Nonfiction!
    • Cover Reveal of my latest picture book … FORTUNE COOKIES FOR EVERYONE!
    • Picture Book Announcement! BARBED WIRE BETWEEN US, illustrated by Violeta Encarnación
    • We Sing From the Heart gets a few stickers!
    • Book Announcement! Postcards from Malcolm X: How Yuri Kochiyama Became a Civil Rights Activist
    • Kirkus Reviews My Newest Picture Book: THE TRAVELING TACO
    • We Sing From the Heart is a Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner!
    • We Sing From the Heart gets a few stickers!
    • WE SING FROM THE HEART wins California Eureka! Nonfiction Children’s Book Award
    • WE SING FROM THE HEART is Orbis Pictus Recommended Book
    • WE SING FROM THE HEART is a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
    • Dorktales Podcast: Simon Tam, Hidden Hero of History
    • Food for the Future Wins Nautilus Silver Book Award
    • Food for the Future makes Mass Book Award Long List!
    • FOOD FOR THE FUTURE Makes Green Earth Book Award Long List!
    • Food for the Future is a finalist for 2023 INDIES Book of the Year!
    • New! Food for the Future Activity and Discussion Guide!
    • FOOD FOR THE FUTURE is a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection!
    • ‘Food for the Future’ selected for Chicago Public Library’s Best of the Best books
    • Scholastic Purchased CHANGING THE GAME!
    • Starred Review for FOOD FOR THE FUTURE from School Library Journal!
    • Sumo Joe makes Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year list!
    • How To Coach Girls wins Silver Award!
    • Posts on My Books
  • My Book Events
    • My Book Events
    • I’m Signing Books at ALA 2025 in Philly!
Menu
picture books about jazz

A 10 Picture Book Unit to Connect Kids to Jazz

Posted on April 30, 2018March 23, 2025 by Pragmatic Mom

Today is International Jazz Day! To celebrate, please welcome my guest author today, Matthew Gollub, with his list of jazz books for kids.

We are giving away a signed copy of The Jazz Fly (hardcover book with CD and free download). Please fill out Rafflecopter at the bottom to enter.

International Jazz Day

Matthew Gollub is the award-winning author and narrator of two well-loved jazz books for children, The Jazz Fly and Jazz Fly 2: The Jungle Pachanga (books with audio), Tortuga Press.) Recently, he performed The Jazz Fly in a concert series with the Orlando Philharmonic Symphony Jazz Quartet.

I suppose it’s natural for jazz-loving parents to hope that their kids develop similar tastes in music. Days after my son was born, I remember putting on a CD, dancing him around the living room and thinking, “This is the first time he’s hearing Thelonius Monk.”

These days, jazz-loving parents can also share musical books. Jazz books for kids seem to fall into one of two categories: child-friendly biographies of famous musicians, and playful fiction using jazz as a major theme. Both portray the sounds, moods, and culture of the music. Real people populate the pages of the first category; anthropomorphic animals tend to fill up the second. Both help children connect with the wide-ranging emotions that give rise to the music. Many are sufficiently well done and meaningful that teachers use them not just in music class but to supplement social studies and language arts.

Drawing mostly from the first category (picture book jazz biographies), here are ten titles for connecting kids to the music.

p.s. Related posts:

African-American Female Musicians Picture Books

HARLEM: Found Ways & Harlem Children’s Books

#BlackHistoryMonth by Carole Boston Weatherford

 

 

10 Jazz Books to Connect Kids to Music and the Wider World

 

10. Django: World’s Greatest Jazz Guitarist by Bonnie Christensen

An evocative portrayal of the “Gypsy Genius” Django Reinhardt whose childhood in Europe did not include school. Born into a musical Roma family, he suffered a crippling injury to his left hand—then defied all expectations and shared his gifts with the world. [picture book, ages 5 and up]

9. Before John was a Jazz Giant: A Song of John Coltrane by Carol Boston Weatherform, illustrated by Sean Qualls

Written as a poem, or church hymn, the text emphasizes the sounds young John heard growing up: the sounds of grandma stirring hambones in a pot, father’s ukulele, grandpa’s church sermons, mother’s piano accompaniment. The author’s note for older readers mentions some of the harsher factors shaping the life of this visionary musician. [picture book, ages 5 and up]

8. My Name is (Me llamo) Celia by Monica Brown, illustrated by Rafael Lopez

Let’s acknowledge for a moment salsa’s Latin jazz roots. This book feels as exuberant, colorful, and rhythmic as the salsa singer Celia Cruz’s on-stage persona. The bilingual narrative is wholly appropriate for a picture book covering “The Queen’s” Cuban roots and her forced emigration to Miami and New York. ¡Azúcar! [picture book, ages 5 and up]

7. Oscar Lives Next Door, a Story Inspired by Oscar Peterson’s Childhood by Bonnie Farmer, illustrated by Marie Lafrance

Sensitive prose and artwork follow the friendship of a girl named Millie and Oscar, one of five brothers and sisters who practiced music next door. Oscar began as a trumpet player! But tuberculosis harmed his lungs to the point that he had to re-channel his musical passion to the piano, and he eventually became a world-renown virtuoso. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

6. Ella Fitzgerald: The Tale of a Vocal Virtuosa by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Brian Pinkney

Told from the perspective of a cool “scat cat,” this book also traces a performer’s change of trajectory. As an orphaned teenager, the future “First Lady of Song” aspired to dance professionally, not sing! Girls wondering why women aren’t better represented in jazz should take heart both in Ella’s talent and life story. [picture book, ages 5 and up]

5. How Jelly Roll Morton Invented Jazz by Jonah Winter, illustrated by Keith Mallett

Jazz scholars dispute (and the author acknowledges) that maybe this larger than life jazz pioneer wasn’t really the “inventor of jazz.” What’s not disputed is that he was an immensely talented pianist and composer who spread the new sounds of New Orleans far and wide. [picture book, ages 5 and up]

4. When Louis Armstrong Taught Me Scat by Muriel Harris Weinstein, illustrated by Gregory Christie

This book serves as a rousing introduction to the iconic trumpeter and ambassador of jazz. “Can we scat about bubblegum?” a young girl asks in her dream. “Sure,” says Mr. Armstrong, playing the muse, “bubblegum’s hip.” And they’re off: “Oooba-lee-cooo, Oooba-lee-cat. Bubble me a bubble, an’ bubble it FAT…” Whimsical, free-flowing artwork matches the text. [picture book, ages 5 and up]

3. Jazz Baby by Lisa Wheeler, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie

This catchy read-aloud portrays a happy baby whose soulful family showers him with love—and an endless opportunity to snap, tap, scat, and swing to the music they provide at home. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

2. This Jazz Man by Karen Ehrhardt, illustrated by R.G. Roth

This swinging make-over of “This Old Man” introduces the roles of nine jazz legends amid gorgeous illustrations and plenty of onomatopoeia. Jazz buffs will recognize iconic performers such as trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie and tap extraordinaire Bill Robinson (“Mr. Bojangles”) For an inspired narration, check out children’s singer Miss Nina’s rendition on Youtube. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

1. Jazz on a Saturday Night by Leo and Diane Dillon

This book also portrays real jazz giants (Charlie Parker, Thelonius Monk, Max Roach, etc.) gathered in a fictitious nightclub setting. The authors explain that the eight musicians assembled never actually shared the stage. The informative “bonus” CD describes to young listeners how their instruments are played—and how each one sounds alone and together. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

 

More Great Picture Books about Jazz!

 

The Edelweiss Pirates by Jennifer Elvgren, illustrated by Daniela Stamatiadi

By 1938, open anti-Semitism became increasingly accepted throughout Germany, including in public schools. Portraits of Adolf Hitler hung in all classrooms. Students saluted Hitler at the start of school. They read books and played games that made fun of Jews. Teachers and students verbally and physically punished Jewish students.

In 1938, jazz music was forbidden in Germany and the Hitler Youth Patrol will harm anyone breaking the rules. Albert and his friends are part of the Edelweiss Pirates, a group of young people who play jazz and find other ways to defy the Nazis. Albert’s younger brother, Kurt, wants to join the Edelweiss Pirates but his brother thinks that he is too young. Kurt’s friend, Albert, is tormented at school for being Jewish. In an act of defiance, Kurt plays jazz on his trumpet at the school band concert. The Edelweiss Pirates join in. The Edelweiss Pirates were a group of more than 5,000 young dissenters in western Germany. [picture book, ages 8 and up]

In 2005, Germany officially recognized the Edelweiss Pirates as a resistance group, a tribute to those young people who dared to stand up to Nazi tyranny.

The Edelweiss Pirates by Jennifer Elvgren

GIVEAWAY: Signed Copy of The Jazz Fly

We are giving away a signed copy of The Jazz Fly (hardcover book with CD and free download). Please fill out Rafflecopter below to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Matthew Gollub

An author, drummer, and trilingual storyteller, Matthew Gollub performs at schools nationwide. For tastes of two of his musical books, click here for The Jazz Fly and here for Jazz Fly 2.

More about the author at www.matthewgollub.com.

 

p.s. Related posts:

Celebrating Musicians in Picture Books

African-American Female Musicians Picture Books

Meet Asian Pacific American Hero Bruno Mars

Cover Reveal of My Newest Book: Asian Pacific American Heroes!

First Country Music Album for Kids GIVEAWAY!

 

To examine any book more closely at Amazon, please click on image of book.

10 Jazz Books to Connect Kids to Music & GIVEAWAY

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

 

Follow PragmaticMom’s board Multicultural Books for Kids on Pinterest.

Follow PragmaticMom’s board Children’s Book Activities on Pinterest.

 

My books:

We Sing From the Heart picture book cover reveal of The Slants Simon Tam Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants®  Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court

  • ALSC Notable Children’s Book
  • Orbis Pictus Recommended Book for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
  • California Eureka Non-Fiction Award Honor Book
  • Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner (from National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council)
  • Junior Library Guild Gold Selection

 

Cover Reveal for THE TRAVELING TACO by Mia Wenjen Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

 

Cover Reveal: Boxer Baby Battles Bedtime!Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

 

Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Robert Sae-HengAmazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World

  • ⭐ Starred review from School Library Journal!
  • Junior Library Guild Gold selection
  • Massachusetts Book Award Long List
  • dPICTUS 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023
  • Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
  • 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
  • Green Earth Book Award Long List
  • Nautilus Silver Winner, Nonfiction Children’s Picture Book
  • Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids

cover for Sumo Joe

Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Bank Street College’s The Best Children’s Books of the Year

Changing the Game: Asian Pacific American Female Athletes by Mia WenjenAmazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

 

Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

 

The Elusive Full Ride Scholarship: An Insider’s GuideSigned or Inscribed by Me

 

How To Coach Girls by Mia Wenjen and Alison Foley

Signed or Inscribed by Me

Asian Pacific American HeroesSigned or Inscribed by Me

11 thoughts on “A 10 Picture Book Unit to Connect Kids to Jazz”

  1. Bianca Munoz says:
    May 1, 2018 at 9:36 am

    A fun children’s books is Max Found Two Sticks by Brian Pinkney!

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      May 2, 2018 at 9:08 am

      I love that one too! Thanks Bianca!!!

      Reply
  2. Jen Dieleman says:
    May 1, 2018 at 10:45 pm

    I love Jazz By by Walter Dean Myers

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      May 2, 2018 at 9:08 am

      Adding that to my TBR list! Thanks Jen!

      Reply
  3. Patricia Nozell says:
    May 5, 2018 at 6:35 pm

    Some wonderful choices to celebrate jazz & jazz musicians!

    Reply
  4. Ali says:
    May 12, 2018 at 8:31 pm

    I don’t know that I’ve read any Jazz books but these look like great suggestions to start with!

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      May 19, 2018 at 8:37 pm

      Thanks Ali!

      Reply
  5. Abigail Gibson says:
    May 27, 2018 at 2:38 pm

    I saw a really cool book at the librarry titled The Jazz Image: Masters of Jazz Photography
    by Lee Tanner, Nat Hentoff.

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      May 27, 2018 at 8:21 pm

      Hi Abigail,
      That book sounds great! I’ll be on the lookout for it! Thank you!

      Reply
  6. Heidi C says:
    May 29, 2018 at 12:42 pm

    I really enjoyed The Dance of the Violin by Kathy Stinson.

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      May 29, 2018 at 1:54 pm

      Thanks for that great book rec Heidi!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Looking for something? Search here.

I’m Mia Wenjen!

Mia Wenjen Pragmatic Mom

Hi, I’m Mia Wenjen. Nice to meet you!

I blog excessively about diverse children’s books (picture books through middle grade). I am also the co-founder of Read Your World Celebrates Multicultural Children’s Book Day on Jan 25, 2024, our 11th year!

I’d love to chat with you. Let’s connect! PragmaticMomBlog (at) gmail (dot) com or through my social media handles.

Free Blog Updates in your Inbox (RSS feed)

Monthly Newsletter with Subscriber Only Giveaways in your Inbox

My Linktree (click for my links & socials)

my linktree

My Websites

  • How To Coach Girls
  • I Love Newton
  • Mia Wenjen (My New Author Website)

Camp Cody: Overnight Camp in New Hampshire

Read Your World LGBTQIA+ Books Save Lives Merch!

https://www.pragmaticmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Read-Your-World-FINAL-Merchandise-Video.mp4

Purchase Read Your World Merch

LGBTQIA+ Books Save Lives Merch.

Buy it here!

Search Amazon

Find Children's Books

Newton Children’s Book Festival 2025

Newton Children's Book Festival 2025

Get My Books Signed or Inscribed through my shop (click to purchase)

Mia Wenjen signed books

Boxer Baby Battles Bedtime! (click to purchase)

Cover Reveal: Boxer Baby Battles Bedtime!

We Sing From the Heart (click to pre-order)

We Sing From the Heart picture book cover reveal of The Slants Simon Tam

FOOD FOR THE FUTURE (click to purchase)

Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Robert Sae-Heng

CHANGING THE GAME (click to purchase)

Changing the Game: Asian Pacific American Female Athletes by Mia Wenjen

SUMO JOE (click to purchase)

Sumo Joe cover reveal

Asian Pacific American Heroes (click to purchase)

Asian Pacific American Heroes by Mia Wenjen

GNOMES & UNGNOMES: Poems of Hidden Creatures // I have 3 haiku poems (click to purchase)

GNOMES & UNGNOMES: Poems of Hidden Creatures 3 haiku by Mia Wenjen
Read Your World is Multicultural Children's Book Day

ClothingRIC- A Premium Coupon Website!

ThingsFromMars- The Wondrous World of Wacky Gift Products!

How to Get Kids Reading

  • Multicultural Books for Children: 60+ Book Lists
  • Getting Kids to Love Reading
  • Summer Reading Lists for Kids By Grade
  • Summer Reading Lists for Middle School Kids

Heim Nest Kid Mattress Exclusive Deal

Heim Nest Kid Mattress

AdvancedWriters.com is an expert writing service which helps students with academic writing.

educational toys

CEX.IO is a versatile crypto exchange platform where users can buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrencies, as well as access resources and tools to learn how to trade effectively.

MyPaperDone.com
is surely one of the best when it comes to paper writing assistance.

My Custom Essay
will guide you through academic life.

Essay Writing Services

If you ask "write my essay", Topessaywriting can help you with paper writing

TranslationReport can help you to choose the best translation service

If you are looking for the most trusted essay writing service, check this article about best essay writing service reviews at Econotimes

educational toys from dhgate stores

Assignment Writing Services Offer Assignment Assistance In UK Based Company 50% Discount Students

Playing at online casinos can be an exciting and rewarding experience, and you can find the best options at casinoszondercruksonline.com. 

For those seeking a safe and reputable gambling experience, the Meest betrouwbare buitenlandse casino lijst is an invaluable resource.

Archives

Categories

The Elusive Full Ride Scholarship (click to purchase)

The Elusive Full Ride Scholarship: An Insider’s Guide

HOW TO COACH GIRLS (click to purchase)

How To Coach Girls silver award winner

Archives

I’ll be sharing WHAT I WISH I KNEW BEFORE I STARTED MY KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN

HOW TO COACH GIRLS book trailer by Mia Wenjen & Alison Foley

https://youtu.be/j74M0bBxrGg

Recent Posts

  • My Daughter’s Start Up SWARM wins $100k from VentureCat! June 20, 2025
  • The Traveling Taco on Reading Rockets’ Summer Reading Guide 2025! June 18, 2025
  • Cover Reveal for Fight for the Right to Read June 16, 2025
  • We Sing From the Heart makes Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year 2025! June 13, 2025
  • Sumo Joe turns 6 Years Old and 6 book GIVEAWAY! June 11, 2025

Categories

© 2025 Pragmatic Mom | Powered by Superbs Personal Blog theme
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
SAVE & ACCEPT