Just a Lucky So and So by Lesa Cline-Ransome - OPTIONAL

Cline-Ransome, Lesa Just a Lucky So and So, illustrated by James Ransome.  PICTUREBOOK. Holiday House, 2016. $16.95. Content: G.  

Louis Armstrong was troubled youth, growing up in New Orleans. He bought a cornet from a pawn shop and started his own band.  Often in trouble with the law, he was sent to a boy’s home at the age of 11.  Always interested in music, he worked his way to bandleader of the boy’s home, returning home leading a big parade.  As an adult, he was mentored by many famous jazz musicians of the day.  Who would have ever thought that a small boy from a rough part of New Orleans would grow to be the famous “Satchmo” Louis Armstrong?  

This fully illustrated picturebook biography includes an author’s note (more detailed biography) and resources, including places to visit and websites where you can see photographs and listen to his music.  Too much name dropping though - without the background knowledge of who all these people were, it’s just a list of names.  This would be a good springboard for a research project on Armstrong or Jazz.  

EL - OPTIONAL  Lisa Librarian