The Little Piano Girl: The Story of Mary Lou Williams, Jazz Legend

Sisters Ann Ingalls and Maryann Macdonald - one a relative newcomer to children's books, and the other an established picture-book author - collaborated to produce this picture-book biography of Jazz composer and pianist Mary Lou Williams, who wrote and arranged pieces for the likes of Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, recorded over one hundred albums of her own, and was involved in the professional music world from the 1920s to the 1970s. Focusing on Williams' childhood, and her longing for an instrument to play, when her family must leave behind their organ, in moving from Georgia to Pittsburgh, The Little Piano Girl offers a moving portrait of a brilliant young girl whose gift could not be repressed, by either show more hardship or unkindness.

Chosen as one of our March selections, over in the Picture-Book Club to which I belong, where our theme this month is music, this wonderful little book will serve to introduce children to an influential figure in the world of jazz - a figure with whom (like me) they will most likely be unfamiliar. The accompanying gouache artwork of Giselle Potter is colorful and engaging, and although I can't say the faces are quite to my taste (something about the features just seems "off" to me), the overall effect is very pleasing. All in all, a solid picture-book biography of a woman composer who deserves to be better known, one I would recommend to young readers who are themselves musicians (or who want to become musicians), or who have an interest in jazz. show less

I had the opportunity to preview The Little Piano Girl by Ann Ingalls and Maryann Macdonald for my Library. This book was an eye opener for me on several counts. While not a hard devotee of Jazz, am familiar with the Big Names. Somehow, the title character of this biography, Mary Lou Williams, escaped me until now. I was further amazed to find out she lived not far from where I work!

The biography is very readable for kids and the illustrations are wonderful. Adult readers will also enjoy the story as it is well told. We follow Mary Lou from Georgia to Pittsburgh where her talent was rediscovered at an early age. I say rediscovered because we are told she actually began playing music when she was only three and living in Atlanta.

I have show more become intrigued enough about Ms Williams that I’m seeking out an adult version of her biography. I suggest this book to families with budding musicians of their own or for young kids with a musical interest of their own. Even as an adult, I have to give this work four and a half stars: the writing alone deserves four stars and the excellent artwork pushes this into the extra half star. show less

Until I read this truly spectacular picture book, I had no idea who Mary Lou Williams was, although as a fan of early jazz music, I have likely listened to many of her compositions and arrangements. The excellent and informative afterword states that she is considered the most famous female jazz musician of all time. And while most female jazz musicians of her time merely sang or danced, Mary Lou Williams became a piano virtuoso, who not only composed her own music, but also composed and arranged music for jazz greats like Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman.

Written by Anne Ingalls and Maryann Macdonald and illustrated by Giselle Potter, [b:The Little Piano Girl: The Story of Mary Lou Williams, Jazz Legend|6589763|The Little Piano Girl The show more Story of Mary Lou Williams, Jazz Legend|Ann Ingalls|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1299698291s/6589763.jpg|6783336] is a story of Mary Lou Williams' childhood, an evocative, emotional and uplifting tale, not only about music and natural musical talent and ability, but also how music, even in the absence of a musical instrument, can ease pain and homesickness (Mary Lou is able to play the piano by ear at age three, and music becomes her joy, her way of expressing herself). When Mary Lou has to leave her beloved piano behind when the family moves to Pittsburgh, she uses her natural talent, her sense of rhythm to play out her fears, the "bad sounds" of bullying and racial discrimination; using her voice and a table top, May Lou combats her fears, her sadness by pounding and singing them away.

Regarding the illustrations, they are also quite spectacular and provide a perfect foil for the story. They are evocative and expressive, and both colour scheme and texture are simply marvelous. Strangely enough, the only aspect of the illustrations I did not particularly enjoy, is how Giselle Potter draws (or paints) human feet; they always seem a bit too small and flimsy to support a human body. But other than this very minor, and likely personal quibble, I highly recommend [b:The Little Piano Girl: The Story of Mary Lou Williams, Jazz Legend|6589763|The Little Piano Girl The Story of Mary Lou Williams, Jazz Legend|Ann Ingalls|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1299698291s/6589763.jpg|6783336] to anyone. It is the perfect picture book for teaching a unit on music, women's and/or African-American history, and is also, quite simply, an uplifting and joyful story about a musically gifted little girl, who grew up to be one of the greatest jazz musicians of all time. show less

Famous jazz pianist, composer, and arranger Mary Lou Williams worked with both Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman, and helped mentor such greats as Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, and Miles Davis. A child prodigy, she taught herself to play the piano and by age six was already helping to support her ten half-brothers and sisters by playing for parties. Later on in life, she formed her own record label and publishing companies, founded the Pittsburgh Jazz Festival, composed sacred hymns and masses, and made television appearances. She also set up a charitable organization and opened thrift stores in Harlem, directing the proceeds, along with ten percent of her own earnings, to musicians in need. This book, however, focuses on her life as show more a little girl, and how the sounds from nature and from the streets around her inspired her musical sense. The warm and colorful illustrations, drawing from the naïve or primitive art tradition, are perfect for the focus on the artist's childhood. Musical notes and sounds swirl throughout the text, certain to intrigue and entertain the children who read this. show less

What a wonderful book about an under celebrated jazz musician from the golden age of jazz. In addition to telling a little bit about jazz history's most prolific female jazz composer, this is a great story about a little girl who was very special in her own way. Any family with a budding musician would love this book.

I really enjoyed "The Little Piano Girl." The illustrations were captivating and the story was so simple yet had a lot of history in it.

This was a story about a famous jazz legend named Mary Lou Williams. She began playing the piano at the tender age of four. She was instantly drawn to the piano after trying a hand on her mother's organ. Like many musicians, she gathered the rhythms that she heard of her surroundings and then tried to reproduce them on a chosen instrument; in her case, a piano. Music was an outlet for Ms. Williams. She used it to entertain as well as a close companion. Whenever she would experience things that would upset her, she would return to her piano. I thought this was an excellent book for young students who are interested in learning to play an instrument or just has a general curiosity of music to explore.