June is African American Music Appreciation Month
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Created by President Jimmy Carter in 1979, this month celebrates the African American musical influences that comprise an essential part of our nation’s treasured cultural heritage.
Before There Was Mozart: The Story of Joseph Boulogne, Chevalier de Saint-George. Lesa Cline-Ransome. Illus. James E. Ransome. ISBN 9780307982490. $10.99. (Schwartz & Wade Books).
The Bat Boy and His Violin. Gavin Curtis. Illus. E.B. Lewis. ISBN 9780689841156. $7.99. (Simon & Schuster).
He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands. Kadir Nelson. ISBN 9780803728509. $17.99. (Dial Books for Young Readers).
Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra. Andrea Pinkney. Illus. Brian Pinkney. ISBN 9780439109949. $5.21. (Scholastic Press).
Trombone Shorty. Troy Andrews. Illus. Bryan Collier. ISBN 9781419714658. $17.95. (Abrams Books for Young Readers).
Hip Hop Speaks to Children. Nikki Giovanni. ISBN 9781402210488. $19.99. (Sourcebooks).
When Marian Sang. Pam Munoz. Illus. Brian Selznick. ISBN 9780439269674. $16.95. (Scholastic Press).
Ella Fitzgerald (Little People, Big Dreams series). Isabel Sanchez Vegara. Illus. Bàrbara Alca. ISBN 9781786030870. $15.99. (Frances Lincoln Children’s Books).
Harlem’s Little Blackbird. Renee Watson. Illus. Christian Robinson. ISBN 9780593380055. $20.99. (Random House Books for Young Readers).
This Jazz Man. Karen Ehrhardt. Illus. R.G. Roth. ISBN 9780544339224. $7.99. (HMH for Young Readers).
Happy!. Pharrell Willams. ISBN 9780399176432. $19.99. (G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers).
Beyoncé: Shine Your Light. Sarah Warren. Illus. Geneva Bowers. ISBN 9780358063346. $12.99. (HMH Books for Young Readers).
Nina: Jazz Legend and Civil-Rights Activist Nina Simone. Alice Brière-Haquet. Illus. Bruno Liance. ISBN 9781580898270. $16.99. (Charlesbridge).
By and By: Charles Albert Tindley, the Father of Gospel Music. Carole Boston Weatherford. Illus. Bryan Collier. ISBN 9781534426368. $17.99. (Atheneum Books for Young Readers).
What a Wonderful World. George David Weiss & Bob Thiele. ISBN 9780689800870. $19.99. (Atheneum Books for Young Readers).
Squeak, Rumble, Whomp! Whomp! Whomp!. Wynton Marsalis. Illus. Paul Rogers. ISBN 9780763639914. $15.99. (Candlewick Press).
Charlie Parker Played Be Bop. Christopher Raschka. ISBN 9780531070956. $7.99. (Scholastic).
Muddy: The Story of Blues Legend Muddy Waters. Michael Mahin. Illus. Evan Turk. ISBN 9781481443494. $17.99. (Atheneum Books for Young Readers).
Epic! has a great list of books to peruse.
See more diverse book lists and content.