Just the Two of Us ~ Will Smith
This book is based on Will Smith's hit song, "Just the Two of Us." I didn't recognize all the lyrics, but my husband said that the entire book consists of the lyrics to the song.
Music
Across the Alley ~ Richard Michelson
I began reading this book to my kids and after a few pages I stopped. It is about two boys who live across the alley from one another.
Rainbow Joe and Me ~ Maria Diaz Strom
Eloise is a young girl who loves to make colors. Her friend, blind Joe, also likes to make colors. Wanting to show Eloise how he is able to mix colors, Rainbow Joe pulls out his saxophone and the colors start to fly!
Ben’s Trumpet ~ Rachel Isadora
Ben loves to play his pretend trumpet while listening to the music coming from the Zig Zag Jazz Club.
The Song of Delphine ~ Kenneth Kraegel
Living inside the palace was a lonely servant girl named Delphine. With no family or friends, she found comfort in singing as she followed orders and kept the palace clean.
Violet’s Music ~ Angela Johnson
Violet absolutely loved music. Even when she was a few hours old, she made music with her rattle, hoping others in the nursery would join in.
Let Freedom Sing ~ Vanessa Newton
Using the uniting power of song, this book documents many of the triumphs of the Civil Rights Movement in the fight for freedom.
Knick Knack Paddy Whack ~ Steve Songs
This book is to the tune of the old classic song, Knick Knack Paddy Whack, but with a new spin on it.
Saving American Beach ~ Heidi Tyline King
MaVynee Betsch had a love for song and for the sunny shores of American Beach. Wanting a beach for all the enjoy where whites and “coloreds” were not separated by a rope, MaVynee’s great-grandfather purchase American Beach.
Music is a Rainbow ~ Bryan Collier
After his father leaves for work every morning and his mother gets sick, a young boy faces feelings of abandonment. Making poor choices, he gets into mischief with his friends. However, time after time, it is music that causes the boy to stop his wrongful actions.
Like a Bird ~ Cynthia Grady
This is an exceptional book! It features 13 spirituals with beautiful illustrations to go along with commentary explaining the correlation of the song to slavery and the hope for freedom.
Silent Night ~ Lara Hawthorne
The lyrics of the Christmas song, Silent Night, are accompanied by striking artwork featuring "brown like me" characters.
Hey, Charleston! ~ Anne Rockwell
This book tells the true story of the Jenkins Orphanage Band. The band, consisting of orphans, was started by Reverend Daniel Joseph Jenkins, who had a knack for turning bad to good.
He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands ~ Kadir Nelson
Featuring a boy and his family, the lyrics of the old spiritual are turned into a wonderful picture book. This book is so cute!
How Sweet the Sound ~ Cheryl Hudson
This book features 23 songs including Kum Ba Ya, Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing, Swing Low Sweet Chariot, This Little Light of Mine, Get on Board Little Children, and more!
My Friend Maya Loves to Dance ~ Cheryl Willis Hudson
Maya is a young girl who loves to dance. Whenever there is music, you are sure to see Maya moving.
Max Found Two Sticks ~ Brian Pinkney
Max found two heavy twigs and would tap his two make-shift drum sticks on anything he could find...his thighs, Grandpa's cleaning bucket, hat boxes, bottles, garbage cans.
Lift Every Voice and Sing ~ James Weldon Johnson
his poem was originally written by school principal and activist in Jacksonville, Florida. The poem was set to music by his brother and was first performed on February 12, 1900 by the principal’s students at a celebration of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday.
Squeak, Rumble, Whomp! Whomp! Whomp! ~ Wynton Marsalis
This is a rhythmic, rhyming book about a boy and the many musical stounds he hears throughout his day.
Before There Was Mozart ~ Lesa Cline-Ransome
This illustrated biography is about the life of Joseph Boulogne Chevalier de Saint-George, the son of a slave and her master, who became an accomplished violinist and composer.