Before John Was a Jazz Giant: A Song of John Coltrane

Written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Sean Qualls, this book about the childhood of John Coltrane received a Coretta Scott King illustrator honor.  This picture book focuses on the sounds of life Coltrane heard as a boy growing up, from his grandfather's ukulele to weeping at a family funeral.  The book ends with John finally playing a note that imitates all these sounds he heard as a child.  The beautiful illustrations keep the focus on the sounds and work with the text to encourage any young, aspiring musician to listen to life around them as inspiration for their music.