International Jazz Day isn’t just for the virtuosos! Introduce your kids to the world of jazz in the most fun and engaging way. If they have never heard jazz before, these books will get them hooked fast! Jazz is music that moves—your kids will feel it in their fingers, feet, and heart! These storybooks make jazz come alive in fun, silly, and rhythmic ways, perfect for little readers. Some books share the lives of real jazz musicians, while others invite kids to scat, count, clap, and dance right along. With bold pictures, musical words, and joyful beats, these books are made to keep your kids laughing, learning, and moving from cover to cover. Whether your kids love to sing, play pretend instruments, or simply enjoy a good beat, these jazzy picks will bring music straight into your story time!
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Jazz
Let your kids feel the rhythm bounce off every page! This book is full of short poems that swing and jump just like jazz music. From fast bebop to slow, smooth tunes, it shows different sides of jazz in a fun and colorful way. The bold art and music glossary will keep your kids turning pages and snapping along. A great intro for young music lovers!
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Welcome to Jazz
Your kids can hear real jazz sounds right from the book! With music buttons and fun facts, they’ll learn how jazz works while listening to trumpets, drums, and singing. The story breaks down solos, improvising, and rhythms in a simple, exciting way. It’s like a mini jazz concert your kids can hold in their hands!
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Ella Fitzgerald: The Tale of a Vocal Virtuosa
Discover how Ella Fitzgerald became a jazz legend with her amazing voice and fearless spirit! They’ll follow her journey from dancing on street corners to singing in front of thousands. The book is filled with jazzy words, colorful scenes, and inspiration for little dreamers. It’s a powerful story about music, strength, and joy!
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Jazz Baby
Your kids won’t sit still with this lively read-aloud! Everyone in the story joins in—sisters, uncles, and even grandma—all making music together with claps, snaps, and songs. The rhymes are bouncy and fun, making it easy for young children to join in. It’s a playful celebration of rhythm and togetherness that makes a perfect bedtime jam!
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This Jazz Man
Classic counting meets jazz legends in this playful spin on “This Old Man!” Your kids will meet big names like Satchmo and Mingus while learning to count from one to nine. The rhymes are catchy and the illustrations are full of life. Whether they know the tune or not, they’ll be singing along by page two. There’s also a quick intro to each musician at the end. It’s fun, energetic, and great for little learners!
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Squeak, Rumble, Whomp! Whomp! Whomp! A Sonic Adventure
Sounds are everywhere, and your kids will love finding them all! This book turns the world into one big jazz band, using onomatopoeia to bring noise to life. They’ll hear doors squeak, stomachs rumble, and trombones shout. It encourages kids to listen closely to what they hear every day. The rhythm of the words makes it feel like a beat they can move to. It’s an invitation to find music in the ordinary!
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Charlie Parker Played Be Bop
Words jump and spin just like Charlie Parker’s saxophone in this lively read! Your kids will repeat silly phrases that match the rhythm of bebop. The pictures dance around the page, giving the book a fun, free-flowing feel. It doesn’t try to explain jazz—it lets kids feel it instead. You can almost hear the music just by reading. It’s simple, energetic, and full of cool sounds. Let your kids bop along with Charlie!
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Little Melba and Her Big Trombone
Meet a girl who made a big noise with a big brass instrument! Kids will be amazed by Melba Doretta Liston’s story as she follows her dreams in a world where girls didn’t usually play trombone. She teaches herself, joins bands, and writes music for jazz legends. The story shows real challenges but focuses on Melba’s joy and love for music. It’s empowering and exciting all at once. The bold illustrations help bring her world to life!
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The Little Piano Girl: The Story of Mary Lou Williams, Jazz Legend
A little girl with a big talent changes everything with her piano keys! Let them follow Mary Lou from childhood to her rise as one of the strongest women in jazz. She faces tough times, but music becomes her strength. She starts playing at four and never stops. This story reminds kids that greatness can start early. There’s emotion in every word and every note. Let your kids see how powerful music can be!
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Before John Was a Jazz Giant
Every great musician starts as a great listener—and your kids will see just how true that is! This book tells the story of young John Coltrane, soaking in the sounds of his southern town. From sermons to street chatter, every noise shapes his future music. The story is poetic and full of feeling. It encourages kids to use their ears and hearts. There’s beauty in quiet moments, too!
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Jazz on a Saturday Night
Step into a concert with legends like Miles Davis and Ella Fitzgerald! Your kids will feel like they’re in the front row with bold illustrations and bouncing rhythms. The book brings each musician to life with movement and color. It’s more than a story—it’s an event. There’s even a CD that lets kids hear the music for real. The vibe is fun, full, and friendly!
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If I Only Had a Horn: Young Louis Armstrong
Every kid has a dream, and Louis Armstrong’s was to play music that made people dance! Let your little ones walk beside him through New Orleans streets where music fills the air. They’ll see his struggles and his determination to make music anyway. The story captures both hardship and hope. It’s rich in rhythm and strong in heart. Let your kids believe in big dreams!
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Dizzy
Rules weren’t made for Dizzy Gillespie, and your kids will love that! The story zips and zings through his life, from mischief to musical genius. He plays loud, fast, and completely different from everyone else. The words fly off the page in rhythm and rhyme. It celebrates being unique and bold. There’s nothing quiet about Dizzy’s story!
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Trombone Shorty
Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews started playing when the trombone was bigger than he was! Your kids will be wowed by his passion and his New Orleans roots. He builds his own band and never lets go of his dream. The book is full of energy, movement, and joy. It shows what happens when music is part of who you are. The message is clear: start young, play hard, dream big!
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Django: The World’s Greatest Jazz Guitarist
This book shares the story of Django, a boy who taught himself how to play guitar while growing up in a traveling family! After a fire left his hand badly injured, people thought he’d never play again—but he found a way, and your kids will get to see how he kept going no matter what. The pictures really help show how exciting and emotional music can be. It’s a great introduction if your kids are curious about how music and determination can go hand in hand!
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Ben’s Trumpet
Your kids will meet Ben, a boy who loves jazz so much he plays a pretend trumpet on his front steps every night! He dreams of being part of the band he hears nearby, even though some kids tease him for it. This story is all about imagination, music, and finding your voice. The illustrations are simple but strong, and they help your kids feel the rhythm of Ben’s dreams!
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Becoming Billie Holiday
This one’s for older kids who are ready to learn about someone real who faced a lot of tough things while chasing her dream! Your kids will follow Billie Holiday’s journey—from a girl named Eleanora to a powerful jazz singer—through short poems that show her hopes, struggles, and music. It doesn’t shy away from the hard parts, but it tells them in a way that makes sense to young readers. If your kids are interested in music or stories about not giving up, this one connects deeply!
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Alligator Jazz
Alligator Slim is tired of being sad, so he heads to the city to play upbeat jazz instead—and your kids will love following his big adventure! The book has fun animal characters, jazzy rhymes, and lots of rhythm in the words that make reading out loud extra fun. When trouble shows up in the form of a jealous weasel, things get tricky, but Slim keeps going. It’s a great pick if your kids like music stories with energy, colors, and a happy beat!
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Oscar Lives Next Door: A Story Inspired by Oscar Peterson’s Childhood
Your kids will meet Oscar as a boy who loved music but had to switch instruments after getting sick—and that’s when he discovered the piano! Told through the eyes of a pretend neighbor, the book shows how much music meant to him and how he kept playing through everything. It’s friendly and gentle, and helps your kids understand that finding your thing might take a few tries. The illustrations bring the neighborhood and the music to life, giving your kids a sense of time and place!
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Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band
This is a fun, silly story that mixes animals, music, and teamwork—your kids won’t even realize they’re learning about jazz along the way! Acoustic Rooster wants to win a talent show and brings together a band with names like Duck Ellington and Bee Holiday to help him jam. The story keeps things light and full of rhythm, and even has a few jokes for grown-ups. If your kids love music, funny names, and animals who know how to party, this one’s a hit!
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20 Lessons Kids Learn Best Outside the Classroom
The lessons on this list speak to the heart of real-world learning. While it’s easy to focus on grades, test scores, and academic performance, we must not forget that so much of a child’s development happens when they are allowed to explore, experience, and interact with the world around them. As parents, we want to ensure that our children are not just book-smart but also emotionally intelligent, resilient, and ready for the challenges life throws at them. Let’s dive into these 20 lessons that can only be learned outside the classroom.
20 Ways You’re Accidentally Undermining Your Child’s Confidence
You don’t need to be a “bad parent” to impact your child’s self-esteem; it’s not always the big moments that matter most, but the sighs, the rushed mornings, the offhand comments, and the unconscious habits we’ve picked up over time. Parenting is full of pressure, and we all slip into patterns that don’t always reflect our intentions. So read this list not with guilt, but with curiosity and self-compassion—because learning, growing, and showing up is something you and your child are doing together.
Tamara Tsaturyan is the owner and writer of Thriving In Parenting, a website focused on providing simple tips for busy parents — easy and healthy recipes, home decor and organization ideas and all things P A R E N T I N G.
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