Mary's Idea: A Picture Book Biography of Self-Taught Jazz Composer Mary Lou Williams for Kids

by Chris Raschka

Two-time Caldecott Medal winner Chris Raschka captures the sound, passion, innovation, and love of the arts that the renowned jazz pianist Mary Lou Williams shared with the world. Mary’s Idea is a stunning and transporting picture book about music and the creative process, for readers of Trombone Shorty and Chris Raschka’s acclaimed books about musicians, including Charlie Parker Played Be Bop and Mysterious Thelonious. At the age of three, Mary Lou Williams taught herself how to play the piano. At the age of fifteen, she was considered a professional. An American jazz pianist and composer, Mary Lou Williams wrote hundreds of compositions, recorded hundreds of songs, and wrote arrangements for musicians, including Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman. Mary’s Idea is an exquisite picture book about Mary Lou Williams, an artist often overlooked in the canon of American music because of her gender and skin color. With a text full of rhythm and movement and illustrations that sing off the page, Chris Raschka’s picture book is equal parts biography and celebration of the imagination, ideas, and creative process. Mary’s Idea will find readers in fans of Traci N. Todd’s and Christian Robinson’s Nina, and Brian Selznick’s and Pam Muñoz Ryan’s When Marian Sang . Includes backmatter.

Genres: Music, Picture Books, Biography, Nonfiction, African American, History, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

Published May 16, 2023

About the author

Chris Raschka is the illustrator of The Hello, Goodbye Window, which was awarded the Caldecott Medal. He is also the illustrator of the Caldecott Honor Book Yo! Yes?; Charlie Parker Played Be Bop; Mysterious Thelonious; John Coltrane’s Giant Steps; Can’t Sleep; and The Magic Flute. He lives with his wife and son in New York City.

Reviews

[Amanda]

If I hadn't read the author's note at the back I would have had absolutely no idea what was going on here. The story was so simplified that it was almost too simple and lost all meaning and context.

[Peacegal]

This is a different sort of picture book biography, in that the subject isn't immediately clear unless you read the book's description and endnotes. The simple text can be shared with a younger audience who may be too antsy for a traditional biography.

[Roben]

This book is, at first glance, deceptively simple. Mary learns to play the piano at three and then keeps playing and then suddenly stops. And then plays again. It's Chris Raschka so the illustrations are wonderful. And important because as Mary plays and stops and plays again, her hands on the keyboard change - the get bigger and older as Mary ages. Because this is an introduction to Mary Lou Williams, one of America's greatest musicians.
It may be difficult to discern that at first though the note at the end certainly helps. But it's important to know a bit about the author, also. First, he plays the viola so there is an interest in music. Second, he has written other books about Jazz artist. Mysterious Thelonious (Thelonious Monk); John Coltrane's Giant Steps; and Charlie Parker Played Be Bop. Reading the author's note, we learn that one of the reasons Mary Lou stopped playing was that a lot of her friends were dying. Charlie Parker was one of those friends. She focused on religion for a while but then came back to play again. She was a pioneer in Jazz music but also played swing and be bop and sacred music.
Kids will take it at face value. Adults, like me, will do a bit of research and learn what a treasure Mary Lou Williams is.

[Panda Incognito]

This artistic picture book biography is appropriate for all ages, but it is so simple that it will mainly appeal to younger children. The biographical information is in the author's note at the back, and each page spread just has a simple sentence and illustrations of Mary's hands, whether they are playing the piano or folded in rest, or the colors of her music entering someone's ears. The book is unique and artistic, but people who are looking for storytelling and more information about this musician's life will be disappointed.

[Stephanie Bange]

Raschka’s picture book biography about musician/pianist Mary Lou Williams is another contribution to his series of PB biographies about jazz musicians, joining Charlie Parker, Thelonius Monk, and John Coltrane.

Again, he strips it down to the minimum of text, with the focus on Mary’s hands on the keyboard. Set on brown butter board, the colors and images rendered in ink, pastels, and watercolor dance off the page. Check out the secret cover! Backmatter includes a half-page biography, drawing of Williams, and quote by her.

Recommended for grades PreS, K-3.

[Cara Byrne]

With brevity and soul, this book celebrates Mary Lou Williams' path - though one needs to go to the author's note at the end of the book for a more detailed explanation of her life. This is definitely one of the more experimental biographies of a lesser-known musician I've encountered in a picture book, and while I appreciate the poetic nature of the work, I would have loved a little more context. That being said, I deeply appreciate Raschka's spotlight on her and her legacy.

[Elizabeth]

3.5 stars.

This picture book biography is a poetic but simple introduction to jazz pianist Mary Lou Williams. The text covers the basic overview of her life (with a brief note at the end to further contextualise it) through sweet and thoughtful short lines and vivid art. It's an ideal introduction to her for younger children, but not for older children who are looking for more details. It's a sweet little book though!

[charlene.librarian]

Mary Lou Williams is an amazing figure in history. I'm so glad to have this rich portrayal of her in such simple conceptual illustrations. I don't want to discount the complexity of the art or its concept, but the beautiful simplicity works so well to communicate Mary's idea. The bio note at the end of the book is a marvelous addition including reference to the www.marylouwilliams.foundation. "She is an American music legend."

[Alexa Mosca]

I really enjoyed this book because I love music. I love that it shows that learning an instrument is not an overnight process. Many people start playing, stop, and then pick up again later in life, and I like that the story lets children know that it is okay to do that. I also love that the illustrations have neutral colors and then a pop of color.

[Hilary Professional]

This spare book is beautifully illustrated, but it doesn't make sense without context and background about Mary Lou Williams. There is a biographical page at the end of the book. The book could be a good jumping off point to talk about Williams, jazz, mental health, and some other topics, but it doesn't work as a standalone.

[Ellon]

3 stars (I liked it)

As other reviewers have said, the text in this book is so simple that its is somewhat hard to understand the plot without reading the endnote or back of the book. I think the concept is interesting but it's definitely not my favorite biography.

[madeline ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧]

Gorgeous! I read this because it was listed on the NYT's New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children’s Books and it absolutely delivered. Brought a tear to my eye, although I'm learning that may not be as hard as I thought before.

[Jessica]

I liked the approach of simple and intriguing text that required me to read the end note to know more about Mary. This will be a great example for me to use with students to show how important it is to read EVERYTHING the author includes in the book. Excited to use this one at school.

[Erin]

What if I wrote a biography, and then simplified it for kids, and then simplified it EVEN MORE so it would be a fun readaloud?

This would be a fun book to read, with a nice repetitive refrain, but even the afterward is fairly slim on Mary's life.

[Edward Sullivan]

A loving, evocative, inspirational homage to the influential, pioneering jazz musician Mary Lou Williams.

[Kimberly Wright Oelkers]

Simple and beautiful.

[Rachel]

Very few words capture the impact of Mary, love the way the illustrations are constructed.

[Emily Haage]

Simple, engaging introduction to musician Mary Lou Williams. The bold illustrations, almost all close ups of Mary’s hands, are beautiful.

[Stacie]

Ok. I wish there was some info about the colors on the keyboard.

[Emily]

Read aloud to Charlotte during a burp break. Now I need to listen to Mary Lou’s Mass!

[Sara]

In typical Chris Rachka style- the words and images build a captivating rhythm that honors the subject of the book.

[Jim]

Raschka paints music. i wish i had his mind and talent

[Holly Mueller]

Sparse words, but engaging illustrations featuring Mary Lou Williams's piano-playing hands. Good biography for very young children.

[Wallace Carroll]

Who is this book even for? I do like the illustrations though.

[Ricki]

A lovely tribute to Mary Lou Williams