Little Melba and Her Big Trombone

Little Melba and Her Big Trombone tells the story of Melba Doretta Liston, who grew up in Kansas City during the 1920s jazz era. From age seven, Melba demonstrated natural musical talent after selecting the trombone as her instrument of choice. The biography follows Melba's journey as she learns to play, performs in youth bands, and eventually moves to Los Angeles with her mother. Her dedication to practice and innate abilities lead her to perform with professional musicians while still a teenager. As Melba enters adulthood, she tours with major bands and faces the challenges of being both African American and female in the male-dominated jazz world. The story tracks her rise as she becomes known for her skills as both a performer and arranger. This picture book biography celebrates persistence and artistic passion while highlighting an overlooked figure in American jazz history. Through Melba's story, young readers encounter themes of determination, breaking barriers, and the transformative power of music.

Readers emphasize this book's value in teaching children about an overlooked female jazz musician. Teachers and parents note it works well for grades 1-5, with vibrant illustrations that capture the energy of jazz music. Liked: - Frank Morrison's artwork receives frequent mention - Clear, engaging storytelling style for young readers - Includes timeline and additional historical context - Shows perseverance against gender discrimination - Effective introduction to jazz history Disliked: - Some found the text too long for very young children - A few readers wanted more detail about Liston's adult life Ratings: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (570 ratings) Amazon: 4.8/5 (156 ratings) One teacher wrote: "My students were fascinated that a girl chose the trombone and succeeded in a male-dominated field." A parent noted: "The illustrations alone tell the story beautifully - my 4-year-old follows along even if she doesn't grasp all the words."

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🎵 Melba Doretta Liston taught herself to play the trombone at age seven, despite the instrument being nearly as tall as she was 🎺 By age eight, Melba was good enough to perform on a local radio station in Kansas City, Missouri 🎭 Author Katheryn Russell-Brown is not only a writer but also a law professor and director of the Center for the Study of Race and Race Relations at the University of Florida 🌟 Melba Liston went on to play with jazz legends like Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, and Billie Holiday, breaking barriers as one of the first female trombonists in big band jazz 🎨 The book's illustrator, Frank Morrison, started his artistic career as a graffiti artist and breakdancer in New Jersey before becoming an award-winning children's book illustrator