Music Everywhere! by Maya Ajmera

Photographs from around the world celebrate the universal joy that kids get from making music.

Dem Bones by Bob Barner

Sing along with a colorful skeleton band in this exuberant rendition of a traditional most-loved African-American spiritual, passed down by word of mouth for generations.

Uptown by Bryan Collier

A tour of the sights of Harlem, including the Metro-North Train, brownstones, shopping on 125th Street, a barber shop, summer basketball, the Boy's Choir, and sunset over the Harlem River.

Music Time by Gwendolyn Hooks, illustrated by Shirley Ng-Benitez

Henry's drum practice at home is too loud so he goes outside and when he sees his friends playing jump rope he figures out a way to play drums and play with his friends.

Punk Farm by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Five farm animals tune their instruments to perform in a punk rock band while Farmer Joe gets ready for bed.

Pig Has a Plan by Ethan Long

Poor Pig! He just wants to take a nap, but his barnyard pals are making a terrible racket. Pig hatches a plan to block all the noise, and then learns that his friends have been planning a surprise for him!

Mole Music by David McPhail

Feeling that something is missing in his simple life, Mole acquires a violin and learns to make beautiful, joyful music.

Mr. Putter and Tabby Toot the Horn by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Arthur Howard

Mr. Putter's neighbor, Mrs. Teaberry, decides that they should join a band, but finding the right one isn't as easy as it sounds–for them or their pets.

Let’s Have a Parade by Erica Silverman, illustrated by Jess Golden

Unable to interest her parents, her brother, or even her dog in having a parade in the rain, Lana lines up her toys in the hallway and is soon leading the parade of her dreams.

Grandma’s Records by Eric Velasquez

The author describes his boyhood summers spent at his grandmother's apartment in Spanish Harlem where she introduced him to the sounds and steps of the merengue and the conga and told him stories of Puerto Rico.

Grades 2–3

Salsa: Un poema para cocinar / A Cooking Poem by Jorge Argueta, illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh

Dance and sing with a new yummy salsa recipe.

The Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey

The Bad Guys, Mr. Wolf, Mr. Shark, Mr. Snake, and Mr. Piranha, want to be heroes, and they decide that the way to do it is free the 200 dogs in the city dog pound–but their plan soon goes awry.

Lola Levine and the Ballet Scheme by Monica Brown, illustrated by Angela Dominguez

Lola is forced to spend time with the new girl in second grade, but what starts out rocky blossoms into friendship when they learn how much they have in common.

Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea by Ben Clanton

A happy-go-lucky, waffle-loving narwhal and a cynical, no-nonsense jellyfish forge an unlikely friendship and share adventures while exploring the ocean together.

Unicorn in New York: Louie Lets Loose! by Rachel Hamilton, illustrated by Oscar Armelles

Louie the unicorn has traveled from his home in Storyland to New York City to make all his dreams come true!

Celia Cruz, Queen of Salsa by Veronica Chambers, illustrated by Julie Maren

In the fabled land of Havana, where rhythm grows, sweet and juicy, like oranges in Florida, there lived a girl. She looked like a girl and talked like a girl, but everyone who ever met her agreed, she sang like a bird.

Weird Sea Creatures by Laura Marsh

National Geographic Readers presents some of the strangest and oddest-looking creatures in the ocean.

The Major Eights: Battle of the Bands by Melody Reed, illustrated by Émilie Pépin

Keyboardist Jasmine, age eight, tries to convince her bandmates, Maggie, Becca, and Scarlet, to prove themselves in a Battle of the Bands competition, despite their poor equipment.

Belinda the Unbeatable by Lee Nordling, illustrated by Scott Roberts

Join Belinda as she speeds through a magical game of musical chairs.

Nate the Great and the Musical Note by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat, illustrated by Marc Simont

Grades 4–5

Bud Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

In 1936, orphaned Bud hits the road to find a jazz band that holds the secret of his own roots.

Hiding Out at the Pancake Palace by Nan Marino

When musical prodigy Elvis Ruby completely freezes up on television, he is forced to hide out in the Pinelands of New Jersey and try to find his way back to music once again with the help of a new friend.

Anne of Green Gables: A Graphic Novel by Mariah Marsden, illustrated by Brenna Thummler

A gorgeous graphic adaptation of L.M. Montgomery’s classic novel. With flame-red hair and an unstoppable imagination, 11-year-old Anne Shirley takes Green Gables by storm.

Weird but True! Gross: 300 Slimy, Sticky, and Smelly Facts by National Geographic Kids

Get ready to be shocked by these odd yet true facts.

What Is Rock and Roll? by Jim O’Connor, illustrated by Gregory Copeland

Rock out to the story of one of music’s most enduring genres.

The Lightning Queen by Laura Resau

In rural Mexico, Teo and Esma begin a magical friendship and fight to make their dreams come true.

Short by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Julia is the shortest kid in class, but she has the biggest dreams in the school play.

Nnewts #1: Escape from the Lizzarks by Doug TenNapel

Herk the Nnewt must flee the vicious Lizzarks after his village is destroyed.

Graveyard Shakes by Laura Terry

Two sisters at boarding school must team up to battle a haunted graveyard.

Castle Hangnail by Ursula Vernon

12-year-old Molly shows up to fill the role of Castle Hangnail’s new wicked witch.