La pequeña Melba y su gran trombón

Review
By School Library Journal

Melba Doretta Liston loved music so much. She would listen to it day and night. She would dream of musical nights in her sleep. That’s why when the music bus passed by her street in Kansas City, her mom had to buy her an instrument. And the child chose the biggest one she could find—the trombone! At first, Liston found that playing the huge instrument was very difficult, but her grandpa told her, as long as you can breathe, you can play! And play she did! From the age of seven to her last breath, Liston never stopped loving music. She went on to play with famous musicians, including Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, and Quincy Jones, and even composed her own music. She traveled all over the U.S. and around the world. Although she sometimes felt lonely because of her race and gender, her music kept her company. Morrison’s award-winning art glistens like the buffed shine of Liston’s trombone, elevating the biography even further. The back matter includes ­selected discography and bibliographies, an author’s note, and photos of the musician. VERDICT A biographical read about a young woman who beat many odds due to her love of music. Perfect for burgeoning musicians and aficionados, and certainly for the nonfiction shelves.