CCBC booklist are compiled from books we have recommended in various editions of CCBC Choices. Most of these booklists are updated annually. You can also select books from one or more booklists to create a custom list, which can also include additional books from the CCBC-Recommended Book Search.
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How Sweet the Sound: A Soundtrack for America
CCBC Review:
An exuberant, lyrical text celebrates the rich history and variety of music made and influenced by Black Americans. The chronological account begins with the beat of talking drums, “the fireside chorus / of the motherland,” before moving to forms of music that “shouldered” the enslaved and “lifted / the insufferable weight off our world”: hymns, field hollers, juba, litanies, spirituals. Music “crooned” and “moaned” in juke joints and jazz clubs, sometimes a “rapid-fire tempo,” other times a “musical conversation.” As the decades passed, music evolved and genres emerged: scat and bebop, rock ‘n roll, funk, rap, and more. Often inextricably tied to or reflective of the political moment, Black music—American music—is “a symphony / of refuge and redemption / the sweet sound of a people / surviving and thriving / all the while learning / to love themselves / by singing it LOUD / and PROUD.” Brimming with energy and emotion, and smoothly incorporating song and album titles and lyrics, the text reads not like a straightforward history but like music itself; it begs to be read aloud and revisited. Vibrant, dynamic acrylic paintings complement the text, while extensive back matter provides additional historical context and elaborates on the musical styles, artists, and songs to which the main narrative alludes. ©2026 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
Illustrated by Charly Palmer
CCBC Age Recommendation: 5-10
Age Range:
PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7)
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Format:
Picture book
Subjects:
Activism and Resistance
African Americans
History (Nonfiction)
Music and Musicians
Politics and Political Systems
Slavery
U.S. History
Diversity subject:
Black/African
On CCBC Booklists:
Black Experiences: Affirmation and Resilience, Activism and Resistance in 45 Books for PreK-Grade 12
Picture Books for Older Children and Teens: Never Too Old
Publisher:
Little, Brown
Publish Year: 2025
Pages: 40
ISBN: 9780316442497
CCBC Location: Non-Fiction, 780 Alexander
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Our Recommended Book Search includes access to CCBC-recommended titles based on subject headings created by our staff.
Please send questions or comments about CCBC booklists to ccbcinfo@education.wisc.edu.