Louis Armstrong cover

Louis Armstrong

Author: Orr, Tamra

Reading Metrics

Grade Level Middle Grades (MG 4-8)
Book Level 6.2
Points 1.0
Fiction/Nonfiction Nonfiction
Word Count 5881
Points per Word 0.00017
Series American Jazz

Description

After a dramatic opening, an account of Louis Armstrong's arrest at age twelve for shooting six blanks straight up into the air, this book presents a clear, chronological biography of the jazz great.

Quick Summary

From the moment young Louis Armstrong fires six blanks into the New Orleans sky and gets arrested at just twelve years old, readers are grabbed by a musician whose bigger-than-life personality and legendary trumpet sound changed jazz forever. Kids will devour the stories of Satchmo's street-performing days, his rise from poverty to global fame, and the way his gravelly voice and dazzling improvisations made him one of the most recognizable figures in American history. If your kid loves the humor and heart of "Esperanza Rising" or the historical music vibes of "The Westing Game," they'll be blown away by this punchy biography that reads like a jazz solo. This 6.2 AR level gem is perfect for kids in grades 4 through 8 who enjoy quick, fact-packed reads about trailblazing artists.