Who Was Louis Armstrong?

by Yona Zeldis McDonough, John O'Brien (Illustrator), Nancy Harrison (Illustrator)

Overview

If not for a stint in reform school, young Louis Armstrong might never have become a musician. It was a teacher at the Colored Waifs? Home who gave him a cornet, promoted him to band leader, and saw talent in the tough kid from the even tougher New Orleans neighborhood called Storyville. But it was Louis Armstrong's own passion and genius that pushed jazz into new and exciting realms with his amazing, improvisational trumpet playing. His seventy-year life spanned a critical time in American music as well as black history.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780448433684
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	12/29/2004
Series:	Who Was? Series
Pages:	112
Sales rank:	17,511
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 7.50(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	780L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Yona Zeldis McDonough is the author of the novels You Were Meant For Me, Two of a Kind, A Wedding in Great Neck, Breaking the Bank, In Dahlia’s Wake, and The Four Temperaments, as well as nineteen books for children. She is also the editor of two essay collections and is the Fiction Editor at Lilith magazine. Her award-winning short fiction, articles, and essays have been published in anthologies and in numerous magazines and newspapers. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and two children.

Editorial Reviews

Gate. Satchelmouth. Satchmo. Brass Lips. All these are nicknames for the “King of Jazz,” Louis Armstrong. Louis Armstrong is one of the greatest jazz musicians of all time, and this book tells his amazing story. Armstrong grew up in a tough section of New Orleans called Storyville. At a young age, he got into trouble and was sent to a boy’s home. There, he discovered his love for music. From then on, Louis worked to make a name for himself as both a musician and a songwriter. His talents allowed him to escape Storyville, and he eventually received the opportunity to travel across the country and around the world performing his music. With his talent and music, he was able to break down color barriers and bring joy to millions. John O’Brien’s illustrations give the reader visuals to accompany the story. The book also includes interesting facts that help explain some of the topics that the narrator discusses, such as details on the history of jazz, the Great Migration, and some basic jazz terminology. These facts, combined with the illustrations, enhance Louis Armstrong’s story, which is one of determination and perseverance that the whole family will enjoy. Reviewer: Tony Webb

Children's Literature