Teacher Summit: Resources for Juveniles and Young Adults

Children's Literature - Amanda Ledbetter
Black Sabbath is often associated with the birth of heavy metal music, as their music shaped the genre as it is known today. Through this book, old and new fans alike learn about the band's history and impact on the music industry. A short biography for each member explains how the men came to know each other and form the band.

Before he became one of the greatest guitar players of all time, Jimi Hendrix was a boy who loved to paint and listen to records, and who asked himself an unusual question: could someone paint pictures with sound?

Grade 5-8–Using a combination of simple prose, song lyrics, and illustration, this heartfelt picture-book biography traces Lennon's life from his childhood to his death. Striking in both its simplicity and complexity, it captures this enigmatic singer, artist, songwriter, and folk hero in a way that will move and fascinate those too young to remember the man but are surrounded by his music and myth. –Jane Marino, Bronxville Public Library, NY

Presents the life of the guitarist and inventor, discussing his early successes as a musician, his invention of the electric guitar and the sound-on-sound recording style, and his partnership with Mary Ford.

An exploration of the life and career of Michael Jackson that discusses his childhood, family, success, personal relationships, controversy, and untimely death.

Kallen peppers a chronological account of the rock band’s stratospheric rise with insightful analyses of their groundbreaking music, from the sing-along hooks of “She Loves You” to the studio-wizard craft of “Strawberry Fields Forever.” In any case, the narratives are strong enough to recommend these books for a wide range of uses, from biography assignments to personal-interest reading. Grades 5-8. --Ian Chipman

You might think the Doors would seem like a relic from the past, like a tie-dyed T-shirt that's been washed too many times. But that's far from the case. Although this band definitely has its roots deep in the psychedelic, drug-soaked soil of the sixties, the Doors have managed to make the transition into the twenty-first century.

This picture book biography follows a young Bob Zimmerman as he renames himself after his favorite poet, Dylan Thomas, and leaves his mining town to pursue his love of music in New York City. There, he meets his folk music hero Woody Guthrie, changing his life forever

The newest addition to the Music Library series, this title discusses the history of alternative rock and the ethos of alt-rockers as rebels who value independence, experimentation, and truth-telling. Rather than making music for broad commercial appeal, these musicians drew from a variety of styles that were considered unfriendly for consumers. Over the years, alternative rock has spawned mash-ups of garage rock, punk, new wave, rap, thrash, and hardcore. This group of indie rockers not only created a new sound but also put forth a different attitude, as they outwardly rejected the musical standards and sales practices set by major record companies.

The History Of American Pop starts at the beginning of the 20th century, discussing Tin Pan Alley, jazz, and blues, and traces the evolution of pop music throughout the decades, discussing the artists, DJs, and producers who shaped each genre and trend. Both books also cover the business of music, showing how technologies such as radio, LPs, cassette tapes, music videos, and the Internet have changed popular music. The writing style is fairly clear and straightforward, and the authors do their best to navigate the tricky challenge of describing musical styles in words.

Covers the music, the musicians, the instruments, and music's place in cultural history. Presents a history of each musical style, from its roots to its expression along with glimpses of the lives of leading composers and musicians.

In 1951, a group of musicians clad in plaid jackets belted out the song "(We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock" and a new form of music was officially born—rock and roll. Although the 1950s saw the rise of rock and roll, this music had deep roots in blues, jazz and the boogie-woogie beat. Kallen traces rock and roll from its infancy to its current popularity, providing an in-depth examination of how social events, rebellion, nostalgia and innovation have all transformed rock and roll.
— Leah Hanson

Introduction to critiques -- A closer look at Michael Jackson -- An overview of Off the Wall -- How to apply listener-response criticism to Off the Wall -- An overview of Thriller and Bad -- How to apply feminist criticism to Thriller and Bad -- An overview of Dangerous -- How to apply historical criticism to Dangerous -- An overview of HIStory and Invincible -- How to apply biographical criticism to HIStory and Invincible

Introduction to Critiques -- A closer look at Paul McCartney -- Overview of the Beatles' music -- How to apply biographical criticism to McCartney's Beatles-era music -- Overview of McCartney's 1970s-era music -- How to apply historical criticism to McCartney's 1970s-era music -- Overview of McCartney's music of the 1980s and 1990s -- How to apply listener-response criticism to McCartney's 1980s- and 1990s-era music -- Overview of Electric arguments -- How to apply feminist criticism to Electric arguments

Summary:
Discusses ten great rock bands of the sixties and how they changed music
Contents:
Bob Dylan : June 1965 to May 1966 -- The Beatles : November 1966 to April 1967 -- The Who : November to December 1965 -- The Doors : August 1966 -- Janis Joplin : June 1967 -- Jimi Hendrix : August 1969 -- Creedence Clearwater Revival : 1969 -- The Rolling Stones : December 1969 -- Neil Young and Crosby, Stills, & Nash : May 1970 -- Led Zeppelin : November 1971

Find out how rock music began, who were some of the first rock stars, and the different rock styles. From the rock music of the 1950s to today this is the history of rock music.

A brief history of rock bands from the 1950s to the present.

Describes the history of music, focusing on 20th and 21st century movements in popular music, groundbreaking musicians of the time period, and how music has influenced social, political, and cultural change.

Summary:
Rock around the clock with this fun and fact-filled introduction to the pioneers of rock and roll music
Contents:
Bill Haley -- Fats Comino -- Lavern Baker -- Little Richard -- Chuck Berry -- Elvis Presley -- Bo Diddley -- Carl Perkins -- Everly Brothers -- Jerry Lee Lewis -- Buddy Holly -- Wanda Jackson -- Rickie Valens -- James Brown

Grade 6 Up—This informative book includes an awesome introduction by Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth and is written by Goodmark, aka Sprout, of the female hip-hop group Northern State. It shows the ins, outs, and good and bad things that come with starting a band and making it successful. Even though the title might imply that rock is the focus here, other genres of music are heavily referenced. The conversational tone and quizzes throughout give the presentation the feel of a teen magazine. Readers will learn about everything that needs to be done—from deciding what kind of band they want to planning a first rehearsal, feeling comfortable onstage, and dealing with tough personal situations that inevitably come up.—Traci Glass, Eugene Public Library, OR

From greats like Patti Smith and Joan Jett to legends-in-the-making like Taylor Swift and Demi Lovato, girls want to rock. They want to start bands, write songs, get up on stage, and kick out the jams. Here's the book to teach them how. Written by an obsessive music lover who's spent her life playing, performing, publicizing, and writing about rock 'n' roll, The Girls' Guide To Rocking is a hip, inspirational guide for rad girls who want to make their rock dreams come true.