If I Only Had a Horn: Young Louis Armstrong

by Roxane Orgill, Leonard Jenkins (Illustrator)

Roxane Orgill’s vivid words and Leonard Jenkins’s dramatic pictures combine to tell the story of a boy who grew up to be a giant of jazz—the legendary and beloved Louis Armstrong. As a poor boy in New Orleans, where music was everywhere—dancing out of doorways, singing on street corners, crying from the cornet of the great Joe Oliver for all to hear—Louis longed for a horn so that he too could sing, bring home pennies, and, most of all, tap happy-feet blues till the sun rose. It wasn’t going to be easy. Many things, not all of them good, had to happen before he got his horn. But when at last he did, he sent music spiraling up into the New Orleans night sky like a spinning top gone crazy.

Genres: Biography, Picture Books, Childrens, Music, African American

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Roxane Orgill is an award-winning writer on music and the author of JAZZ DAY: THE MAKING OF A FAMOUS PHOTOGRAPH, illustrated by Francis Vallejo (Candlewick Press). JAZZ DAY earned six starred reviews and won The Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Best Picture Book in 2016. Orgill has written several biographies for young readers, including SKIT-SCAT RAGGEDY CAT: ELLA FITZGERALD and FOOTWORK: THE STORY OF FRED AND ADELE ASTAIRE (Candlewick). She is also the author of DREAM LUCKY, a book for adults about big-band jazz, race, and politics in the 1930s (Smithsonian Books). She lives in Dobbs Ferry, NY.

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compelling story about young Louis Armstrong. Author's Note at the beginning lists sources but notes unspecifically that the text is based on events related to the named sources. More clarification separating the fact from the fiction would have made this more valuable, but the text does a good job conveying the spirit of Louis Armstrong

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A picture book story of Louis Armstrong's childhood. A sweet story of perseverance and dedication, as well as a community coming together. I would recommend accompanying this with a more traditional biography of the musician, as this is strictly Armstrong's childhood and dosen't include his accomplishments as an adult.

[Kayla Boerner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of Louis Armstrong's childhood. Filled with poverty, gang violence, and other serious topics. This is a book I would not read until students were older. I would maybe use it to mentor troubled adolescents with similar backgrounds

[Joshua Krieger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Orgill, R., & Jenkins, L. (2002). If I only had a horn: Young Louis Armstrong. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

[Jenese Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was about Louis Armstrong’s childhood and the journey he took to get his horn so he could participate with others in the music of New Orleans. It really touched based on some serious topics like poverty and gang violence which is a great way to show reality in a different light

[Megan Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book tells the story of a young Louis Armstrong and how he came to play the horn he is so famous for playing. The story follows Louis and a few of his buddies as they form their own band after being inspired by Joe Oliver. The story takes place in New Orleans, and on New Year's Eve one night, Louis and his friends are playing music on the streets; all of a sudden, a boy fired a gun from across the street, and Louis fired one back. No one got hurt, but Louis got arrested and taken to a Home for troubled boys. It is there that he first played a cornet and moved people with his sweet, smooth music.
I liked this book! The illustrations were pretty, and the words in the story were beautiful and poetic. One saying that I thought was moving was, "If I could sing, I could bring home pennies, play slow drag blues, tap happy feet blues till the sun rose, if I only had a horn". That saying is powerful to me because it is the perfect example of how much Louis loved music, and all he wanted to do was play music.
I could use this book in the classroom to teach the students about having patience (like Louis had to have when he wasn't selected to join the band in the Home); it is a good book to read to remind students that "good things come to those who wait".

[Brian Cave · Rating 5 out of 5]

This biography tells of how the legendary trumpeter, Louis Armstrong got to that legendary status. The book tells of the story of Armstrong growing up quite poor in the city of New Orleans. The book details Armstrong getting his start by doing street concerts, and playing in a marching band when he was younger. A good biography.

[Alida · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about Louis Armstrong's life as a child and how he got his first horn. It takes place in his hometown of New Orleans, where music is the center of everything. I really enjoyed this book. I would use this when talking about music, dreams, or biographies.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting companion to Play, Louis, Play. I didn't feel quite as connected to Armstrong though with this perspective, even though many of the same events of his childhood are covered in a shorter book.

[Amanda S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author of this book uses vivid wording and the illustrations are lively. This book about Louis Armstrong as a boy was intriguing. Although, he faced set-backs and adversities, Louis was resilient and went on to be a wonderful musician.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice entree to Armstrong's early life. It's especially helpful for a young reader to look in on the young Armstrong as he finds his way to the instrument with which he is now so toweringly associated. Jenkins' illustrations seem the stronger of the two channels that comprise this book.

[wildct2003 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book and illustrations. Only gripe is of the picture with the head through the trombone slide.

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can be a little controversial due to gun violence. Good read though. Good for a person study.