{"id":1326517485647,"title":"Struttin' with Some Barbecue","handle":"struttin-with-some-barbecue","description":"\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: large;\" size=\"4\"\u003eStruttin' with Some Barbecue\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\" size=\"3\"\u003eLil Hardin Armstrong Becomes the First Lady of Jazz\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/patricia-hruby-powell\"\u003ePatricia Hruby Powell\u003c\/a\u003e \u003cspan\u003e\/ Illustrated by: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/rachel-himes\"\u003eRachel Himes\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\"Lil Hardin and her man, Louis Armstrong, were musical royalty--inventing a new kind of sound--makin' jazz. Believe it, baby!\"\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the true story of Lil Hardin Armstrong: pianist, composer, and bandleader in the early days of jazz. Ahead of her time, Lil made a career for herself--and for Louis Armstrong, her modest, unassuming husband. Louis might never have become the groundbreaking jazz player he was, if it hadn't been for Lil. Scat-inspired verse celebrates how Lil overcame race and gender barriers to become the first lady of the Chicago jazz scene.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/charlesbridge.blogspot.com\/2018\/12\/charlesbridge-unplugged-17-patricia.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eListen\u003c\/a\u003e to author Patricia Hruby Powell talk about \u003cem\u003eStruttin' With Some Barbecue.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/the-cazuela-that-the-farm-maiden-stirred\" title=\"The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred\"\u003eThe Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/princess-and-the-peas\"\u003ePrincess and the Peas\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/whoosh-lonnie-johnsons-super-soaking-stream-of-inventions\"\u003eWhoosh: Lonnie Johnson's Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/struttin-spread.jpg?6132369600788519699\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" class=\"cvr-border-gray\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e \u003cscript type=\"text\/javascript\" async=\"\" defer data-pin-shape=\"round\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePatricia Hruby Powell, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAcclaimed author Patricia Hruby Powell grew up in a musical family, became a concert dancer and choreographer, and married a jazz musician. When she hears Lil's music, she can't help but dance. Patricia's debut book, \u003ci\u003eJosephine\u003c\/i\u003e, received a Sibert Honor and a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor. Her equally moving and powerful second book, \u003ci\u003eLoving vs. Virginia\u003c\/i\u003e, established Patricia as a commanding voice in children's literature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - ENTER ILLUSTRATOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRachel Himes, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRachel Himes is a museum educator, author, and illustrator. Her debut picture book, \u003ci\u003ePrincess and the Peas\u003c\/i\u003e, puts a modern African American spin on the classic fairy tale. In \u003ci\u003eStruttin' with Some Barbecue\u003c\/i\u003e, Rachel conveys Lil's energy and verve through acrylic and collage illustrations inspired by period art and music.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eKirkus Reviews \u003c\/em\u003eBest Books of 2018\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2019 Paterson Prize for Books for Young People Honor Book\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSociety of Midland Authors 2019 Children's Nonfiction Award Winner\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cimg src=\"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/star-fade.gif?4673889858015672850\"\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e, starred review\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLil Hardin, dubbed \"the first lady of jazz,\" gets a loving ode in this biography in free verse. Raised by \"Mama and Grandma \/ in Memphis, Tennessee, \/ two blocks from \/ wild, wailin' Beale Street,\" Lil was a precocious musician from childhood. But the night life of Beale Street with its \"devil's music\" pulled her away from the proper, ladylike college life her mother wanted for her. She got a job at a music store and then won a place in an all-male band, an exceptional feat at the time. She met Louis Armstrong, a shy trumpet player, when they played in the same band. She told him he couldn't stay playing second trumpet and was behind much of his success. \"Dang, they were musical royalty— \/ inventing \/ a new kind of sound— \/ makin' \/ jazz.\" As she earlier demonstrated in Josephine (illustrated by Christian Robinson, 2014), Powell is a die-hard fan of jazz, and it shows in the hum of her lines. She writes in her introduction that she hopes this biography inspires readers \"to explore early jazz—and makes you want to get up and dance.\" On both counts, her writing succeeds. Himes' ink-and-graphite illustrations are inspired by the time period and add to the immersive feel of the work. Brimming with a contagious love of jazz and its first lady, this work brings down the house. (notes, timeline, glossary, resources, sources, index).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBCCB\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePowell introduces readers to the young Black woman who broke barriers as a pianist with King Oliver’s jazz band and established a solid career years before her name became associated with her husband, trumpeter Louis Armstrong. Four chapters in verse chronicle Lil’s life, detailing her childhood in Memphis and the tension between Lil and her very godly mother over playing “the devil’s music,” her career move out of a music store and into the spotlight of the Creole Jazz Band, and her management of Louis Armstrong’s nascent career—and heartstrings—even as her own career advanced and evolved. Kids who were charmed by Powell’s \u003ci\u003eJosephine\u003c\/i\u003e may be a bit disappointed with the stodgier graphite pencil illustrations in this title, but Lil Hardin Armstrong’s story is both inspirational and great fun, and it’s hard to resist the tale of teeny-tiny Lil ordering her famous husband back to Chicago: “‘Come now or don’t come at all.’\/ That did it.\/ Louis chose Lil.” This could be an easy step up from Mara Rockliff’s picture book bio \u003ci\u003eBorn to Swing\u003c\/i\u003e; a glossary, quotation sources, index, and resources for further investigation are also included.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis biography in verse tells the story of Lil Hardin Armstrong, the first lady of jazz and Louis Armstrong’s first wife. While the book starts with Hardin Armstrong’s birth, most of the text focuses on her time as a jazz pianist in the 1920s and her influential role in Louis Armstrong’s success. The poetry is free form and peppered with bits of scat as an ode to early jazz, and it works well as a vehicle to tell the story of such a strong figure in this movement. Hardin Armstrong’s life is compelling, and readers will be inspired by her perseverance and rise to success in a male-dominated field and in the face of segregation. However, details about her life are less realized than in a typical biography partly because of the book’s lyrical format. Thankfully Powell includes a variety of back matter including more information on Hardin Armstrong, jazz music, and the rise of jazz clubs in the 1920s. The charming illustrations nicely enhance the text. VERDICT Recommended for most libraries, especially where biographies circulate well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/struttin-cvr.jpg?141053762550561801\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"product-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/struttin-hi-res.zip?18388460924093597140\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eISBN: \u003cspan\u003e978-1-58089-740-2\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eE-book\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: \u003cspan\u003e978-1-63289-581-3\u003c\/span\u003e EPUB\u003cbr\u003e ISBN: \u003cspan\u003e978-1-63289-582-0\u003c\/span\u003e PDF\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 9-12\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 112\u003cbr\u003e6 x 9\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCorrelated to Common Core State Standards:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEnglish Language Arts-Literacy. Reading Literature. Grade 2. Standards 1-8, 10\u003cbr\u003eEnglish Language Arts-Literacy. Reading Literature. Grade 3. Standards 1-4, 6-8, 10\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]","published_at":"2016-08-22T15:04:00-04:00","created_at":"2018-05-18T10:51:34-04:00","vendor":"Charlesbridge","type":"Children's Book","tags":["Browse by Age_Ages 6-10","Browse by Fiction\/Nonfiction_Nonfiction","Browse by Format_Picture Book","Browse by Language_English","Browse by Subject_Art\/Music\/Theater","Browse by Subject_Diversity","Browse by Subject_Poetry \u0026 Language","civil rights","girl","nonfiction"],"price":1899,"price_min":1899,"price_max":1899,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":12330305126479,"title":"Hardcover","option1":"Hardcover","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"97402","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"Struttin' with Some Barbecue - Hardcover","public_title":"Hardcover","options":["Hardcover"],"price":1899,"weight":425,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_quantity":6,"inventory_management":"shopify","inventory_policy":"continue","barcode":"978-1-58089-740-2","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/struttin-cover.jpg?v=1586803333"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/struttin-cover.jpg?v=1586803333","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":"Struttin' with Some Barbecue book cover","id":2482393677903,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.679,"height":884,"width":600,"src":"\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/struttin-cover.jpg?v=1586803333"},"aspect_ratio":0.679,"height":884,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/struttin-cover.jpg?v=1586803333","width":600}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: large;\" size=\"4\"\u003eStruttin' with Some Barbecue\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\" size=\"3\"\u003eLil Hardin Armstrong Becomes the First Lady of Jazz\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/patricia-hruby-powell\"\u003ePatricia Hruby Powell\u003c\/a\u003e \u003cspan\u003e\/ Illustrated by: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/rachel-himes\"\u003eRachel Himes\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\"Lil Hardin and her man, Louis Armstrong, were musical royalty--inventing a new kind of sound--makin' jazz. Believe it, baby!\"\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the true story of Lil Hardin Armstrong: pianist, composer, and bandleader in the early days of jazz. Ahead of her time, Lil made a career for herself--and for Louis Armstrong, her modest, unassuming husband. Louis might never have become the groundbreaking jazz player he was, if it hadn't been for Lil. Scat-inspired verse celebrates how Lil overcame race and gender barriers to become the first lady of the Chicago jazz scene.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/charlesbridge.blogspot.com\/2018\/12\/charlesbridge-unplugged-17-patricia.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eListen\u003c\/a\u003e to author Patricia Hruby Powell talk about \u003cem\u003eStruttin' With Some Barbecue.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/the-cazuela-that-the-farm-maiden-stirred\" title=\"The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred\"\u003eThe Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/princess-and-the-peas\"\u003ePrincess and the Peas\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/whoosh-lonnie-johnsons-super-soaking-stream-of-inventions\"\u003eWhoosh: Lonnie Johnson's Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/struttin-spread.jpg?6132369600788519699\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" class=\"cvr-border-gray\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e \u003cscript type=\"text\/javascript\" async=\"\" defer data-pin-shape=\"round\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePatricia Hruby Powell, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAcclaimed author Patricia Hruby Powell grew up in a musical family, became a concert dancer and choreographer, and married a jazz musician. When she hears Lil's music, she can't help but dance. Patricia's debut book, \u003ci\u003eJosephine\u003c\/i\u003e, received a Sibert Honor and a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor. Her equally moving and powerful second book, \u003ci\u003eLoving vs. Virginia\u003c\/i\u003e, established Patricia as a commanding voice in children's literature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - ENTER ILLUSTRATOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRachel Himes, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRachel Himes is a museum educator, author, and illustrator. Her debut picture book, \u003ci\u003ePrincess and the Peas\u003c\/i\u003e, puts a modern African American spin on the classic fairy tale. In \u003ci\u003eStruttin' with Some Barbecue\u003c\/i\u003e, Rachel conveys Lil's energy and verve through acrylic and collage illustrations inspired by period art and music.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eKirkus Reviews \u003c\/em\u003eBest Books of 2018\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2019 Paterson Prize for Books for Young People Honor Book\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSociety of Midland Authors 2019 Children's Nonfiction Award Winner\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cimg src=\"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/star-fade.gif?4673889858015672850\"\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e, starred review\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLil Hardin, dubbed \"the first lady of jazz,\" gets a loving ode in this biography in free verse. Raised by \"Mama and Grandma \/ in Memphis, Tennessee, \/ two blocks from \/ wild, wailin' Beale Street,\" Lil was a precocious musician from childhood. But the night life of Beale Street with its \"devil's music\" pulled her away from the proper, ladylike college life her mother wanted for her. She got a job at a music store and then won a place in an all-male band, an exceptional feat at the time. She met Louis Armstrong, a shy trumpet player, when they played in the same band. She told him he couldn't stay playing second trumpet and was behind much of his success. \"Dang, they were musical royalty— \/ inventing \/ a new kind of sound— \/ makin' \/ jazz.\" As she earlier demonstrated in Josephine (illustrated by Christian Robinson, 2014), Powell is a die-hard fan of jazz, and it shows in the hum of her lines. She writes in her introduction that she hopes this biography inspires readers \"to explore early jazz—and makes you want to get up and dance.\" On both counts, her writing succeeds. Himes' ink-and-graphite illustrations are inspired by the time period and add to the immersive feel of the work. Brimming with a contagious love of jazz and its first lady, this work brings down the house. (notes, timeline, glossary, resources, sources, index).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBCCB\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePowell introduces readers to the young Black woman who broke barriers as a pianist with King Oliver’s jazz band and established a solid career years before her name became associated with her husband, trumpeter Louis Armstrong. Four chapters in verse chronicle Lil’s life, detailing her childhood in Memphis and the tension between Lil and her very godly mother over playing “the devil’s music,” her career move out of a music store and into the spotlight of the Creole Jazz Band, and her management of Louis Armstrong’s nascent career—and heartstrings—even as her own career advanced and evolved. Kids who were charmed by Powell’s \u003ci\u003eJosephine\u003c\/i\u003e may be a bit disappointed with the stodgier graphite pencil illustrations in this title, but Lil Hardin Armstrong’s story is both inspirational and great fun, and it’s hard to resist the tale of teeny-tiny Lil ordering her famous husband back to Chicago: “‘Come now or don’t come at all.’\/ That did it.\/ Louis chose Lil.” This could be an easy step up from Mara Rockliff’s picture book bio \u003ci\u003eBorn to Swing\u003c\/i\u003e; a glossary, quotation sources, index, and resources for further investigation are also included.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis biography in verse tells the story of Lil Hardin Armstrong, the first lady of jazz and Louis Armstrong’s first wife. While the book starts with Hardin Armstrong’s birth, most of the text focuses on her time as a jazz pianist in the 1920s and her influential role in Louis Armstrong’s success. The poetry is free form and peppered with bits of scat as an ode to early jazz, and it works well as a vehicle to tell the story of such a strong figure in this movement. Hardin Armstrong’s life is compelling, and readers will be inspired by her perseverance and rise to success in a male-dominated field and in the face of segregation. However, details about her life are less realized than in a typical biography partly because of the book’s lyrical format. Thankfully Powell includes a variety of back matter including more information on Hardin Armstrong, jazz music, and the rise of jazz clubs in the 1920s. The charming illustrations nicely enhance the text. VERDICT Recommended for most libraries, especially where biographies circulate well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/struttin-cvr.jpg?141053762550561801\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"product-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/struttin-hi-res.zip?18388460924093597140\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eISBN: \u003cspan\u003e978-1-58089-740-2\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eE-book\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: \u003cspan\u003e978-1-63289-581-3\u003c\/span\u003e EPUB\u003cbr\u003e ISBN: \u003cspan\u003e978-1-63289-582-0\u003c\/span\u003e PDF\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 9-12\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 112\u003cbr\u003e6 x 9\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCorrelated to Common Core State Standards:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEnglish Language Arts-Literacy. Reading Literature. Grade 2. Standards 1-8, 10\u003cbr\u003eEnglish Language Arts-Literacy. Reading Literature. Grade 3. Standards 1-4, 6-8, 10\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]"}