CHILDREN'S BOOK CORNER

Here is a selection of books related to the holidays and special days of this month, recommended for your child’s reading pleasure, related stamps are also highlighted.

ARBOR DAY ~ April 24th

\ANDRE PLANTS A TREE

Mikaela Wilson, author

Pardeep Mehra, illustrator

Overview: On Earth Day, André decides to take extra care of the planet all week. The story tell how he recycles, reuses and does his best to keep the environment clean. His actions tell how André tries to make the world a better place for everyone. Age 4-8 years

Tree Planting: KidsCare about the Environment

(Issued: 5/20/95 – Scott # 2953 with series of 4 stamps)

APRIL BIRTHDAYS

MARVIN GAYE ~ April 2nd
THE MAGIC OF MUSIC

Ella Tales Books, TC Littles, and Ella Janae, authors

Overview: Ella spends time with her grandfather and shares his love of music. Her grandfather teaches her about the magic of music by taking her on a journey through music history with a visit to the Motown Music Museum, and he shows her how Black music changed the world. Ages 5 – 12 years.

MARVIN GAYE (1939 – 1984) ~ Marvin Gaye was a singer, songwriter, and record producer. He helped to shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s. First as an in-house session player and later as a solo artist with a string of hits, earning him the nicknames "Prince of Motown" and "Prince of Soul".

Ages 5 – 12 years

(Issued: 4/2/19 as part of the “Music Icons” series – Scott # 5371)

MAYA ANGELOU ~ April 4th

MAYA’S SONG

Renee Watson, author ~ Bryan Collier, illustrator

Overview: Through the medium of poetry events in the life of Maya Angelou is captured. The book also contains a “Timeline” of the important events in her life. Ages 4 – 8 years.

MAYA ANGELOU (1928 – 2014) ~

Author, poet, actress and champion of civil rights. One of the dynamic voices in America’s 20th century literature. (Issued: 4/7/15 – Scott # 4979)

BILLIE HOLIDAY ~ April 7th

GOD BLESS THE CHILD

Billie Holiday and Arthur Herzong, Jr., authors

Jerry Pinkney, illustrator

Overview: The words of this song (written by Billie Holiday) are illustrated through a story about a Black family moving from the rural Deep South to urban Chicago during the Great Migration. It is a swing spiritual based on the proverb: “God bless the child that’s got his own.” Ages 4 – 8 years.

BILLIE HOLIDAY (1915 – 1959) ~ Jazz singer and composer who greatly influenced the course of American popular music. (Issued: 9/17/94 with “Legends of American Music: Jazz and Blues” – Scott # 2856)

ELLA FITZGERALD ~ April 25

ELLA FITZGERALD: The Tale of a Vocal Virtuosa

Andrea Davis Pinkney, author

(with Scat Cat Monroe – a feline fan whose imagined narrative sings with the infectious rhythms of scat)

Brian Pinkney, illustrator

Overview: This is the story of Ella Fitzgerald who began her singing career on the stage of the famous Apollo Theatre when she was seventeen. It tells of her rich voice and vocal innovations which brough her international fame and a career that spanned over half a century. Ages 6 – 8 years

ELLA FITZGERALD (1917 – 1996) ~ Singer; one of the greatest jazz vocalists of all times known as the “First Lady of Song.” (Issued: 1/10/07 – Scott # 4120)

DUKE ELLINGTON ~ April 29

DUKE ELLINGTON: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra

Andrea Davis Pinkney, author

Brian Pinkney, illustrator

Overview:: A brief recounting of the career of this jazz musician and composer, who, along with his orchestra, created music that was beyond category. Ages 3 – 10 years

DUKE ELLINGTON (1899 – 1974) ~ Jazz pianist, and band leader of jazz orchestras. Ellington was also the greatest and most prolific composer in the history of jazz. (Issued: 4/29/86 – Scott # 2211)

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