(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Rachel Himes. This smart, lively biography in verse tells the story of Lillian Hardin Armstrong--her talent as a musician and composer, her drive, and her instrumental role in popularizing both the career of husband Louis Armstrong and jazz itself. The black-and-white illustrations' gracefully energetic lines echo and underscore the strength and elegance of the "First Lady of Jazz." Robust back matter complements the concise text. Timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Rebecca Hachmyer

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Michele Wood. Rockliff writes in an upbeat, toe-tapping first-person voice to tell the story of lesser-known black jazz pianist Lil Hardin, who was accomplished before she met and married jazz great Louis Armstrong. Wood's bold, naive acrylic paintings nicely match the era and subject. Photos, additional biographical information, and a list of songs complete the volume. Timeline. Bib.

Reviewer: Christina Dorr

(2) K-3 Illustrated by James Ransome. The story of Armstrong's childhood and early adulthood is told in two voices and two fonts: a black, sans serif font for the third-person account, and a colorful font for (undocumented) first-person quotations from Satchmo himself. While the illustrations maintain a consistently upbeat mood, the story is one of challenge and optimism. Details in a lengthy author's note are better suited to older readers.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2016

(4) K-3 Famous African Americans series. Each simply written title in this updated series (originally published in 1991 and 1992) provides an adequate introduction to a notable African American. Archival photographs, mostly black and white, and mediocre color illustrations appear on every spread. Large type and short sentences make these books suitable for use with reluctant readers. There are six other spring 2013 books in this series. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Famous African Americans titles: Carter G. Woodson, George Washington Carver, Louis Armstrong, Marian Anderson, Mary McLeod Bethune, and Paul Robeson.

Reviewer: Henrietta M. Smith

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Frank Morrison. Louis Armstrong's first trumpet narrates this story of Satchmo's boyhood. From his playing a toy horn around his New Orleans neighborhood to leading the Colored Waif's Home band to his days under bandleader King Oliver's tutelage, Armstrong's soon-to-be-illustrious career develops. The accessible text is filled with noteworthy facts and details. An afterword provides additional information. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(3) 1-3 Magic Tree House series. Illustrated by Sal Murdocca. Siblings Jack and Annie time travel to 1915 New Orleans in search of the young Louis Armstrong: they must get him on track to share his musical gift with the world. This is one of the better--smoother, more compelling--recent books in the series (a superfluous run-in with a ghost notwithstanding). The well-composed black-and-white illustrations occasionally span two pages.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. After dancing to Louis Armstrong's music with her mom, the narrator dreams that he teaches her to scat about her subject of choice: bubble gum. This commendable effort to introduce young readers to Armstrong could use some shaping, and scat on paper ("Dooo-bleee-ooo-DIP-DOP") just doesn't swing, but Christie's acrylics inject the printed soundtrack with as much music as possible.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) YA African-American Biography Library series. These entries in the competent series trace the lives and contributions of outstanding personalities in the performing arts. Information in each title includes a well-balanced presentation of the trials and triumphs of the subject, fostered by social attitudes during his time. The text, though uninspired, is useful. Formulaic design includes photos, sidebars, and boxed quotes throughout each book. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind. Review covers these African-American Biography Library titles: Duke Ellington, Paul Robeson, and Louis Armstrong.

Reviewer: Henrietta M. Smith

(4) 4-6 Who Was...? series. Illustrated by John O'Brien. Once past the unflattering cover caricatures, these informative biographies provide useful details on each subject's life, family, and career. The lack of divisions within chapters makes the books a little less accessible, although black-and-white drawings and occasional spreads on related topics help break up the text. Timeline. Bib. Review covers these Who Was...? titles: Who Was John F. Kennedy?, Who Was Louis Armstrong?, and Who Was Ronald Reagan?.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) K-3 Great African Americans series. Each simply written title in this series provides an adequate introduction to a notable African American. black-and-white photos, often poorly reproduced, extend the text. Large type and short sentences make these books suitable for use with reluctant readers. Along with a time line, an updated bibliography and a list of Internet addresses are included. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Great African Americans titles: Booker T. Washington, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Louis Armstrong, Marian Anderson, Martin Luther King, Jr., Mary McLeod Bethune.]

Reviewer: Henrietta M. Smith