Name: Before John Was a Jazz Giant
ISBN: 9781250822703

At a Glance

Why This Clicks

Where Sound Begins

A lyrical childhood portrait traces the sounds that helped shape John Coltrane’s music.

Come here for

Church songs, radio music, and household bustle
A vivid meeting of jazz history and childhood

Expect

Vibrant words and glowing colors
A picture book biography focused on Coltrane’s childhood

Book Details

Authors: Carole Boston Weatherford
Publisher: Square Fish
Published: April 5, 2022
Format: Print & ebook
Theme: Jazz · Music History
Reading lane: Jazz

Affinity

Publisher Categories

Performers' Biographies for Kids
African American Life (U.S.)
Jazz

About This Book

A lyrical picture book biography of John Coltrane that focuses on his childhood. Young John Coltrane was all ears. And there was a lot to hear, growing up in the south during the 1930s: church songs, preachers praying, music on the radio, and the bustling of the household. John was surrounded by all kinds of vivid noises that shaped his own sound as a musician. With vibrant words and glowing colors, Carole Boston Weatherford and Sean Qualls compose an amazingly rich hymn to...

Read full description

A lyrical picture book biography of John Coltrane that focuses on his childhood. Young John Coltrane was all ears. And there was a lot to hear, growing up in the south during the 1930s: church songs, preachers praying, music on the radio, and the bustling of the household. John was surrounded by all kinds of vivid noises that shaped his own sound as a musician. With vibrant words and glowing colors, Carole Boston Weatherford and Sean Qualls compose an amazingly rich hymn to the childhood of jazz legend John Coltrane. Before John Was a Jazz Giant is a 2009 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book and a 2009 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.