Aaron Copland (Getting to Know the World's Greatest Composers)
                                         Mike Venezia        ISBN 0-516-44538-3

All of Mike's books look good, but so far this is the only one I own.  I really like it for my older students.  It combines actual pictures with silly cartoons to tell about the life and times of Aaron Copland.  I'm a big advocate of teaching kids about music and musicians from many cultures, but that includes our own...and Aaron Copland is one of United States' most famous composers!  A great book for any parent or educator who agrees with me!
 

Aïda                               Leontyne Price        ISBN 0-152-00405-X

Leontyne Price has presented us with a treasure in this book. It is a wonderful gift for any child -- or adult. It is told clearly and with beauty, strength and love. The illustrations are an especially wonderful companion to the story. Styled uniquely to the story they provide a gentle, beautiful flow which endlessly illumines the imagination. Although the ending is classically "tragic," this tale of love is presented in both word and pictures appropriate for any age child.
 
 
Amazing Grace:  the Story of the Hymn
                                        Linda Granfield     ISBN 0-887-76389-8

This beautifully illustrated book tells the history of this heart touching hymn which is commonly believed to be a folk song.  Instead, this books informs the reader of a former slaver turned minister who wrote this hymn after being inspired by his own heart-felt prayers during a terrible storm at sea.  I think that this is a good addition to any unit on spirituals, African-American influence on music, or any non-musical unit which touches on slavery...Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, for example.