How Sweet the Sound

by Kwame Alexander

Featuring artists ranging from Miles Davis to Kendrick Lamar, dive into this stunningly illustrated celebration of the history of Black music in America by the award-winning author of The Undefeated .

Listen to the sound of survival, courage, and democracy—the soundtrack of America. Hear Billie Holiday's raspy, mournful voice, and tap your foot to Louis Armstrong's trumpet. Scream with James Brown and bop your head to Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. Can you spot the 80+ references to artists like Robert Johnson, Ella Fitzgerald, Jimi Hendrix, Whitney Houston, Lauryn Hill, and Beyonce?

Come dance to Kwame Alexander’s melodious narrative of the history of Black music in America, accompanied by the vibrant illustrations of Charly Palmer.

The book includes extensive back matter, providing even more context and history about the music and musicians.

Genres: Picture Books, Music, Nonfiction, Poetry, History, African American, Childrens

Audible Audio

Published January 14, 2025

About the author

Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, and New York Times Bestselling author of 21 books, including The Crossover, which received the 2015 John Newbery Medal for the Most Distinguished Contribution to American literature for Children, the Coretta Scott King Author Award Honor, The NCTE Charlotte Huck Honor, the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, and the Passaic Poetry Prize. Kwame writes for children of all ages. His other works include Surf's Up, a picture book; Booked, a middle grade novel; and He Said She Said, a YA novel.

Kwame believes that poetry can change the world, and he uses it to inspire and empower young people through his PAGE TO STAGE Writing and Publishing Program released by Scholastic. A regular speaker at colleges and conferences in the U.S., he also travels the world planting seeds of literary love (Singapore, Brazil, Italy, France, Shanghai, etc.). Recently, Alexander led a delegation of 20 writers and activists to Ghana, where they delivered books, built a library, and provided literacy professional development to 300 teachers, as a part of LEAP for Ghana, an International literacy program he co-founded.

Reviews

[Book Buying With Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh must buy for my classroom ASAP

[Bailey Cassada · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was in the mood to listen to a quick, educational audiobook while at work yesterday. As someone who used to be involved in my school’s band and choir, music has always been an interest to me. While I learned quite a bit listening to this audiobook, I can’t help but feel disappointed that there was…no music. I went into it thinking that there’d be samples of the songs they were talking about. Instead, it felt like I was listening to an encyclopedia. The audiobook was just under an hour, so I knew it wasn’t going to be incredibly detailed, but I still wish there was music to listen to.

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deep roots and beautiful imagery! Loved hearing Kwame talk about (and read from) his book. Such a treat!

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - very interesting and educational, but agree with the person who said it would have been nice if there were actual examples of the songs being discussed. I know that's probably a copyright nightmare, but we can still dream.

[Holly Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the lyrics (poetry) and bagillion references. But mostly I loved looking up the songs, listening to them and feeling so moved by all the beauty. I wish there was a playlist somewhere. This book seems prefect for a series of elementary school music lessons. It's a must buy.

Turns out there is:

https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/lit....

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

An informative lyrical picture book that tells the story of the history of Black music in America. Beginning with the musical traditions of Africa, this beautiful book describes how the music was transformed from chants to today's modern music including spirituals, jazz, boogie-wooogie, scat, rock, soul and more. Don't miss the additional information at the back! This will be an invaluable resource to add to units about Black culture.

"Listen to the Amazing Grace
of the Jubilee Singers
to the joyful noise
of Sunday morning gospel
and Let the Church Say
Amen. Amen. HALLELUJAH"

[Chispita Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

very unique! poem with a lengthy historical explanation after (as far as i understood it) very very interesting

[Phobean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comes with its own syllabus! The text is vibrant and lyrical. The end notes I am still going through, listening to all of the featured music in order across decades.

[Pinky · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is so much content, history, and skill worked into this book - more than 80 musical artist references and accompanying gorgeous, gorgeous artwork representing the history of American music. I read the book at least 5 times and then read all of the notes. Then I listened to the audiobook which brings even more of the layers to life by incorporating some of the music and sounds featured in the text. It’s a masterpiece.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

First sentence: Listen to the fireside chorus
of the motherland
to the talking drums
dancing beneath the golden sun
that beat a bold tapestry
of yesterday's stories
and tomorrow's dreams.
To the magnetic chants that welcome each day
and the praise songs that sing us farewell.

Premise/plot: Picture book for older readers. How much older? A lot older. The premise is simple enough: an overview or history of Black Music in America. The delivery is anything but simple. How Sweet The Sound requires a LOT of unpacking--which requires effort and diligence. NONFICTION POETRY. History is conveyed through poems. Poetry in and of itself requires a good bit of unpacking to appreciate. The lines are coded; in other words, each poem features many coded lines--insider code that requires unpacking. Meaning can only be clarified/understood if you're in the know. Each poem has a decoder, if you will, annotations that go into greater depth explaining most every word. If you don't read the back matter, then you've missed the point.

My thoughts: I read it the first time and skipped the back matter. I was not impressed. Not really. Sure I knew that my appreciation was expected, was required, was almost mandatory. (Some books are like that.) I decided that before I gave it a review, I'd reread it. I decided to start with the back matter. Would I recommend this method? Maybe. Probably. It wouldn't hurt. I would either a) suggest starting with the back matter b) suggest reading a spread/poem at a time and then flipping to the back matter.

I don't know that I love this one. I think in part because I keep wanting the book to be something else. Which is not at all fair. I'll try to clarify. I love, love, love, love, love reading picture books about jazz, for example. Fiction. Nonfiction. I have read many picture book biographies of black jazz musicians, for example. I've read picture book biographies of other musicians--not just jazz. This book isn't about one genre, or even a handful of genres. It is all encompassing. ALL genres, many centuries, many decades. There's some name-dropping here and there--mainly coded. But this is like a fly-over or skimming. It isn't a deep-dive. Poetry is a natural choice for the narrative. It is. It truly is. It makes sense in so many ways. Yet poetry is another barrier for me personally.

[Christie Kaaland · Rating 5 out of 5]

The revered and illustrious Kvame Alexander invites readers to listen as he shares his take on the soundtrack for America in multiple double-page spreads in glorious color (art by Charly Palmer). Listen to the fireside chorus
Listen to the deep blue-black moans and simple melodies
Listen to the jazz, the hymns, the message
Yeah, just listen

to the eloquent words of Kvame Alexander as he whisks readers away to bygone important times from a history we must not forget and never repeat. Alexander's joyful songs are filled with pain, but also healing, strength, and "everlasting hope". Through poetry Alexander delivers generations of contributions by Africans and African Americans to the soulful beautiful tempos of the world of music.

Palmer's illustrations paint the pain and the joy in deep hued stained glass church windows and the faces of Whitney, Michael Jackson, James Brown, and less familiar talents from Jamaica and Congolese Blacks in Cuba. The art jumps off the pages with vibrancy.

A combination of artist and author presenting a combination of music and dance from around the world by amazing Black musicians.

[Calista · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the history of American music from spiritual, to rhythm and blues to jazz. Basically everything that makes rock n roll what it is has roots to African music. Unless it's Polka music. That all European.

Kwame has a little poem for each special bit of music in our past and he keeps building. He tucks in lyrics here and therre from the famous songs and by the time he gets to the modern era, we see Prince, Whitney and Michael show up. They are the giants that top the heap, standing on shoulders of their ancestors.

The artwork is amazing. It looks like acrylic or some other pain medium. The energy in the artwork really brings the poems to life. You can hear the music in the paint strokes. Very beautiful colors and details.

Anyone interested in a little music history in a fun poem format will love this.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five-star fabulous! For an adult audience, that is, and perhaps young music aficionados who can decipher all the allusions to musical styles, interpret the jargon, recollect the song titles, and recognize all the names being dropped throughout Alexander’s sophisticated and beautifully crafted poem. Expressive illustrations with bold, brash colors and lots of action convey the vibe of each type of music and capture the soul of many famous performers. The extensive Musical Notes in back pages provide an excellent introduction to the musical styles, famous songs, and notable performers mentioned in the poem.

[Jody Kyburz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book, but I took off one star because it's really...mostly...for adults. It would make a great framework for a college course about the history of Black Music in America. I can't imagine reading it aloud to my second graders and holding their attention because they simply don't have enough background schema. I rarely say that, but the rhythm and the cadence of the words is exquisite, but a bit out of reach perhaps. Maybe fifth graders...maybe not? But I LOVED it! And the end matter is a course in and of itself.

THE ART!!! The art is SO incredible!!!

What a duo to make this amazing book!

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kwame's words and Charly Palmer's colorful collages are a winning pair. Recognizing the words and titles of famous songs throughout and the back matter that gives more background to the words and illustrations is lovely. I am, however, a Detroiter, and feel that Motown musicians deserved a bigger nod. (Selfish, I know.)

This book reminds me of my favorite book by Carole Boston Weatherford. It traces the gifts of black musicians from the slave trade to modern times. Jazz is my favorite in both of these books.

[Zan Porter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listen to the sound of survival, courage, and democracy--the soundtrack of America. Hear Billie Holiday's raspy, mournful voice, and tap your foot to Louis Armstrong's trumpet. Scream with James Brown and bop your head to Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. Can you spot the 80+ references to artists like Robert Johnson, Ella Fitzgerald, Jimi Hendrix, Whitney Houston, Lauryn Hill, and Beyonce? Come dance to Kwame Alexander's melodious narrative of the history of Black music in America, accompanied by the vibrant illustrations of Charly Palmer. "--

[LaVonne Hanlon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This magnificent picture book captures the feelings and sounds surrounding Black contributions to American music. From the drum-based anthems of enslaved people in the rural South to the rappers of the last half of the 20th century, award-winning author Kwame Alexander and illustrator Charly Palmer recount the history of Black musicians and how they've created and informed music in this country. A comprehensive Musical Notes section at the back of book defines different forms and lists examples of over two hundred years of American music. This book is a must-have purchase for every library.

[Sasa · Rating 5 out of 5]

i implore readers to immersive read this with the audiobook and ebook/physical if able. readers will be met with a symphony of incredible black art throughout US history, full of illustrations and music. then the audience will be ferried into an illustrious history of music birthed and influenced by the most creative black musicians to grace the globe. kwame alexander covers everything from the gospel hymns of enslaved black people, to country and folk, to kendrick lamar and electronic dance's house music today. highly recommended for every reader, especially any music enthusiast.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, LibroFM, for the ALC of this incredible book by Kwame Alexander. This is a beautiful audiobook that includes music, vocabulary, and the well-researched history of Black music. I've already added the book to my classroom wishlist and I am thinking about ways to incorporate this book into my curriculum next year. Alexander is an incredible writer who makes the vast history of Black music and culture accessible to young readers and those new to music history. Tracing music from Africa, to the lives of the enslaved, and connecting to our present is a powerful way to history.

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lyrical depiction of the development of the blues and gospel, Jazz and doo wop and funk - music that is truly American. Reggae and rumba, country and folk - Kwame covers them all.
He also seamlessly incorporates titles from many popular songs.

At the end there is an in-depth explanation of the different instruments, music, and artists mentioned and depicted in the book.

This is an excellent and accessible book.

Take a peek under the dust jacket - the cover of the book is different.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is it possible to hear music by reading words in a book? If Kwame Alexander is the author, then the answer is a resounding YES!!!!!

At the end of the book are "Musical Notes." - Information about the instruments, hymns, moans, messages, rhythms, and more that you should pay attention to when listening to this type of music.

The Art (illustrations) are both beautiful and bold and were done by Charly Palmer.

An Outstanding book!

[Kiki · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fantastic journey through the history of music created by Black artists. From hymns and litanies to jazz to R&B to reggae to rap. From Bessie to Billie to Ella to Tina to Whitney to Beyonce. From Duke to Louis to Marvin to Smokey to Jimi to Prince to 50 Cent. And plenty before, after and in between.

[Laura M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Music teacher and mom—we loved it. My only issue is the first page—they mention a talking drum and there’s a picture of a djembe. These are 2 different instruments—they’re played differently, come from different places, and sound different. This is certainly nit-picky, but musicians (especially percussionists) will notice! But I loved it overall!

[Cara Byrne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently took a group of fifth graders to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to see an exhibit on the history of hip hop, and I wish I had read this book with them first. It's a beautiful, poetic love letter to African American musical traditions, accompanied by Palmer's expressive art. The musical notes at the end of the book provide rich context for the poem.

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The backmatter is excellent and thorough, explaining all the references in the main text in depth and providing lots of context about music in US Black communities.

I'm curious about how this would feel to read a first time if you didn't have all the references, but the rhythm of it still feels good and the illustrations are great.

[Sarah Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book on the history of black music in America very informative and intriguing. Kwame Alexander just has such a way with words that keeps you hooked from start to finish. Readers of all ages can learn from this short but impactful book. This would be great in libraries of all kinds, including on home bookshelves and in classrooms. Thank you to Libro.fm for the ALC!

[Abbigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did you read The Undefeated and think, I want this same exact thing but with a focus on music? This is the book for you. Lots of musical references and language full of imagery-- i think this is best for older kids or kids who already have an interest in music. Six full pages of tiny print backmatter that goes spread by spread to add lots of context.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great pairing between Kwame Alexander's word/poetry and Charly Palmer's illustrations to portray the amazing history of Black music in America. I couldn't easily find an audiobook version to listen as I went along. I hope it has some of the music playing in the background to bring the book (and history) to life.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like where the author was going with this one, so cool! But...I'm not sure that I can recommend it to anyone that plans to play the music selections listed in the book. Not sure "In Da Club" is appropriate for the targeted audience to play in a classroom setting. I enjoyed it overall, especially the beautiful illustrations.
(D 26/27)

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

striking, the rhythm, the illustrative work. an absolute joy--but one that would be more enjoyable within the company of an adult? by an adult? or perhaps an older child who has a good musical education or is inspired to learn it.