American jazz musicians Book

A simple chapter book for young readers that shares just as much about the history and culture of New Orleans as the origin of Louis Armstrong, A Horn for Louis presents a fresh take on the Jazz Great’s childhood based on an unpublished memoir. Eric Kimmel does a great job of describing the state of the city for the impoverished during Louis’s youth, and presents yet another well-crafter historical narrative on his origins as a musician. Once again we’re left with an aspiring musician, short on luck, whose eye is caught by a beautiful instrument beyond his reach. Unlike most tales related to Louis Armstrong, this one

The book is short on illustrations, but the charcoal pencil work of James Bernardin does a great job of drawing the reader into the rundown apartments, back alleys, and city streets of New Orleans. While messy compared to the pointillism style of many pencil artists, the illustrations offer detailed character portraits, with special attention paid to the facial details and appearance of the story’s main players.

A charming tale about family and pursuing one’s dreams, A Horn for Louis offers yet another unique perspective on his childhood, albeit one that’s a bit short for character.