Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra

Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra: Another stunning picture book biography of a prominent twentieth-century African-American in the arts, from the creative team behind Alvin Ailey.

About the Author & Illustrator:

Andrea Davis Pinkney has written several acclaimed picture books (Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra), works of non fiction, and novels. She lives with her family in Brooklyn, NY. Read more about her here.

Brian Pinkney is the illustrator of many acclaimed books for children, including the Caldecott Honor Books Duke Ellington and The Faithful Friend, and the Coretta Scott King Award winner In the Time of the Drums. Read more about him here.

A Few Reviews:

“The music of Duke Ellington–pianist, composer, band-leader–is a uniquely American treasure. He kept a big band together for half a century and wrote music that will never get old, such as “Mood Indigo.” He also thrived as a musician against the odds of racism. In this, he can inspire the youth for whom this little book was written.

But if you go deeper and study his life, you find a flawed man: a serial adulterer, a man who took credit for music he did not write, and a phony who projected an image of sophistication he did not truly possess. Terry Teachout’s book on Ellington makes this all-too-clear. However, the story of this celebrated musician is fascinating, not least of which are his “sacred concerts” from the last years of his life.” Amazon Reviewer Douglas Groothuis

“I am an elementary school music teacher & I ordered this book for my classroom. When I read through it upon receiving my order I was immediately impressed! The art work is amazing & the story is very child friendly. You will be pleased with this book as a parent or teacher. It is a wonderful resource!” – Amazon Reviewer 

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