What if you loved music more than anything? Suppose you had just learned to play the piano. Imagine that your family has to move to a new city and ...
read full description
reviews
Mar 07, 2011
Gundula
rated it: 
Until I read this truly spectacular picture book, I had no idea who Mary Lou Williams was, although as a fan of early jazz music, I have likely listened to many of her compositions and arrangements. The excellent and informative afterword states that she is considered the most famous female jazz musician of all time. And while most female jazz musicians of her time merely sang or danced, Mary Lou Williams became a piano virtuoso, who not only composed her own music, but also composed and arran
More...
15 comments
like
(6 people liked it)
Jan 30, 2011
Lisa
rated it:
This is a lovely picture book biography about the jazz musician Mary Lou Williams. If I had not know that before I started reading, I’d have learned it when I read the afterword. The story itself is told in a way that it could be either true or fictional. I knew nothing about Williams’ life before reading this book, and very little about her as a musician. The afterword makes clear how much she contributed to the field of music.
This account is adept at showing the transformative pow More...
This account is adept at showing the transformative pow More...
7 comments
like
(4 people liked it)
Mar 05, 2011
Crystal
rated it:
The Little Piano Girl: The Story of Mary Lou Williams, Jazz Legend was an enjoyable read. I knew nothing about Mary Lou Williams before reading this book. The "Afterward" was a great addition providing more information on Mary Lou's contribution to the world of music. I liked the illustrations and the colors used. Lots of blues and greens. Her story was a interesting to read and I enjoyed the flow of the story. I enjoy all types of music. Hearing of how Mary Lou Williams played and kno
More...
2 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Mar 09, 2011
Abigail
rated it: 
Sisters Ann Ingalls and Maryann Macdonald - one a relative newcomer to children's books, and the other an established picture-book author - collaborated to produce this picture-book biography of Jazz composer and pianist Mary Lou Williams, who wrote and arranged pieces for the likes of Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, recorded over one hundred albums of her own, and was involved in the professional music world from the 1920s to the 1970s. Focusing on Williams' childhood, and h
More...
5 comments
like
(5 people liked it)
Mar 28, 2011
Jenny
rated it:
Mary Lou Williams became a jazz legend duirng a time when few women were successful at Jazz. She could hear a song and almost immediately reproduce it on her piano. As I honestly don't know much about Jazz, I had never heard of her before reading this book, but I am amazed by her talent starting at such a young age. I'd love to learn more about her and will definitely be looking for some music by her to listen to.
Oct 09, 2011
Krista the Krazy Kataloguer
rated it:
What a musical genius! This girl could play the piano--without having had lessons!--at the age of three. She could play any tune she heard without sheet music. Ingalls here recounts the story of Mary Lou Williams' life, as she grew up in Atlanta, encountered prejudice in Pittsburgh, and transformed all her experiences into music. Ingalls' lively descriptions of Mary Lou's music made me wish that a CD had been included with the book. In an afterword note, I was surprised to learn that, in th
More...
Jun 13, 2010
Dolly
rated it:
This is a fascinating story about a female Jazz legend, Mary Lou Williams. I had never heard of her before, so I'm really glad we found this book. It showed the hardships and poverty she lived with and how she rose above it all to pursue her dreams and her passion. We really liked this story.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jan 18, 2012
Tpretz
rated it:
This is the story of Mary Lou Williams, the first female jazz musician. I will recommend this to third grade teachers during their biography unit and to teachers looking for read alouds about people who have followed their passions
Feb 10, 2012
Dec 07, 2011
Nov 06, 2011
Sep 22, 2011
Sep 13, 2011
Jul 24, 2011
Jul 24, 2011
Jun 27, 2011
Jun 08, 2011
Apr 20, 2011
Apr 11, 2011
Mar 29, 2011
Mar 12, 2011
Mar 10, 2011
Mar 09, 2011
Mar 08, 2011
