All summer, I’ll be sharing books for kids of all ages on topics that will interest them or offer them something new to learn about. Most of the time, these will be nonfiction books, but sometimes we can learn from fictional stories too. I believe reading over the summer is so important, and keeping kids interested in reading by finding books that are relevant and full of topics that they are interested in is very important. Kids should be reading at least 20 minutes every day, and I hope that these books offer you ideas to keep your kids reading and learning all summer.
Look for these posts every Friday. They will always have Summer Read-to-Learn in the title and the tags. There will be books from some of my favorite publishers as well as books on all kinds of topics kids love to read and learn about. Be sure to stop by each week to see what book I’m sharing as part of my Summer Read-to-Learn series.
To see all the books in the Summer Read-to-Learn series, click HERE.
KID MUSICIANS
True Tales of Childhood from Entertainers, Songwriters, and Stars
Kid Legends Series
By: Robin Stevenson
Illustrated by: Allison Steinfeld
Published: November 12, 2024
Publisher: Quirk Books
Middle-Grade/Non-Fiction/Biography
The newest book in the eleven-book Kid Legends Series, KID MUSICIANS, shares biographies of 16 musicians from pop stars to instrumental legends alongside colorful illustrations to make the reading experience more enjoyable and approachable for kids. A winner of the 2025 National Parenting Product Awards, the short biographies begin with the musician’s childhood through their adulthood, when their musical talents helped them become famous artists.
Kids will be able to see themselves in the musicians’ childhoods, whether they too moved around a lot, had divorced parents, struggled with making friends, or had a deep and innate love for music. Kids might be surprised to find that many of the musicians featured in this book struggled as children, either coming from poverty or difficult home life situations. But, they all worked hard to go after their dreams and become a pop star, or a famous pianist, or a rock legend.
Harry Styles didn’t find success right away, starting work in a bakery where he could be heard singing while sweeping. He auditioned for The X Factor and made it through the first round only to be eliminated at the boot camp. What if he had given up then?
At the age of 11, Taylor Swift’s mom drove her to Nashville, where she hand-delivered demo tapes to record companies all over the city. Not a single one called and offered her a record deal. Taylor didn’t give up and instead focused on writing her own songs and teaching herself to play the guitar. A year later, she sang the National Anthem at a basketball game in Philadelphia. At the age of 14, her family moved to Nashville, and by 16, her first album made her a star.
Many more stories of rejection, determination, and hard work are common among the musicians featured in this book. Even if your child isn’t dreaming of becoming a musician, learning about some of their favorite artists can help them realize that they, too, can follow their dreams.
Click HERE to purchase a copy of KID MUSICIANS
Check out the whole Kid Legends series, including athletes, artists, authors, activists, innovators, and more.
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Thanks to the publisher for sending a copy of this book for this review. This review is my honest opinion. If you choose to purchase through the above links, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase.
Posted Under Allison Steinfeld, Book Review, Children's books, Music, Robin Stevenson, Summer Read-to-Learn, biography, middle-grade, non-fiction