Kid Musicians

A 2025 National Parenting Product Awards Winner

Inspiring, relatable, and totally true biographies tell the childhood stories of a diverse group of musicians, including Taylor Swift, Ella Fitzgerald, Harry Styles, Mariah Carey, Yo-Yo Ma, Paul McCartney, and 10 other influential performers.

Every superstar musician started out as a kid—and many discovered their love of music early on. Before leaving their mark on the world, these groundbreaking performers, songwriters, and musicians were regular kids. Tune in to the childhood stories of musical legends such as:

• Beyoncé, who used to play truth or dare in the middle of the night with the rest of her music group.
• Dolly Parton, who sometimes made up her own stories for class book reports.
• Louis Armstrong, who played instruments in parades all over New Orleans.
• Taylor Swift, who grew up on a Christmas tree farm!

Featuring kid-friendly text and full-color illustrations, Kid Musicians will inspire readers 8 to 12 years old to express themselves and march to the beat of their own drum.A Brightly Great Nonfiction Book for Tweens
A 2025 National Parenting Product Awards Winner

“Informative and compelling.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Hand this book (and others in the series) to reluctant readers when it is time for a biography assignment. . . . An interesting look at some famous musicians when they were ‘just kids.’”—Lisa Crandall, School Library Journal

Praise for the Kid Legends series:
“Telling the true stories of famous people’s childhoods, this book inspires kids to think big and humanizes historical figures in a new and fresh way.”—CNN Underscored, on Kid Innovators by Robin Stevenson

“These reads aren’t just educational, they’re inspiring – they remind us all that we’re never too young to start dreaming! Plus – they’re a great resource for school projects!”—YAYOMG.com, on Kid Innovators by Robin Stevenson

“Kids will be drawn in.”—Chicago Parent, on Kid Activists by Robin Stevenson

“The vivid details of each activist's story, combined with vibrant illustrations, demonstrate that every civil rights hero and popular firebrand started out as children, just like the rest of us.”—School Library Journal, on Kid Activists by Robin Stevenson

“A great way to encourage kids who already love science to pursue their interests as well as to show kids who are not motivated by traditional schooling that there are many paths to greatness.”—American Scientist Magazine, on Kid Scientists by David Stabler

“Illustrate[s] a wide variety of early influences and backgrounds, proving to kids that where they come from isn't important when fixing something that is.”—Terri Schlichenmeyer, The Bookworm Sez, on Kid Activists by Robin Stevenson

“Outstanding... Inspiring and entertaining.”—Booklist, starred review, on Kid Athletes by David Stabler

“A heartening reminder that 17 unconventional greats—not to mention all the rest—started out as children too.”—Kirkus Reviews, on Kid Artists by David Stabler

“Just like history class, only hilarious.”—Tim Federle, author of Better Nate Than Ever, on Kid Presidents by David Stabler

“Full of real information, but the author made it fun and funny.”—Michael, age 9, on Kid Authors by David Stabler

“These entertaining stories balance humor with facts and inspiration—the perfect combination for young readers!”—Tom Burns, BrightlyRobin Stevenson is an award-winning author of more than twenty books for kids and teens. Her writing has been translated into a number of languages, published in more than ten countries, and nominated for many awards. Her YA novel, A Thousand Shades of Blue, was a finalist for Canada's top literary honor, the Governor General's Award. Her YA non-fiction book, Pride, was a Stonewall Honor book and was selected to ALA's Rainbow List. She lives with her family on the west coast of Canada.

Allison Steinfeld obtained a BFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. She loves to create fun and playful work that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia.Introduction

     Do you sing along to your favorite songs or enjoy putting on shows with your friends? Maybe you play a musical instrument or think you might like to learn how to someday. Whether you make music or just love hearing it, one thing is for sure: music is an essential part of life for people all over the world.
     Music can make us want to dance. It can inspire us to create art or motivate us to run faster. It can allow us to express our feelings, helping us cry when we are sad and adding to our pleasure and sense of belonging when we come together to celebrate.
     There are so many different kinds of music to listen to and learn about: classical, jazz, rhythm and blues, reggae, country, pop, hip-hop, and many more! And music is always changing, as each new generation of musicians learns from the lessons and legacies of those that came before them, building on the innovations of the past to create their own unique sounds.
     The musicians in this book composed, sang, played, and performed in ways that pushed boundaries and changed the world of music. Today, they are all famous—but of course, they were once kids, too.
     Some of these musicians started learning their craft at an early age. When Mariah Carey was just a toddler, she used to listen to her opera singer mother practicing her scales. Yo-Yo Ma’s father began teaching him the cello when he was three years old.
     Many of them knew they would be musicians when they were still children. A young Prince told his teacher that he was going to be a rock-and-roll star, and eleven-year-old Cher spent hours practicing her signature for when she became famous. Still, other people didn’t necessarily believe these future musicians. When Dolly Parton announced that she was going to Nashville to become a country singer, her classmates laughed at her.
     Childhood was difficult for some of these musicians. In New Orleans, little Louis Armstrong dropped out of school at age eleven and learned to play trumpet in a reform school. Growing up in the 1950s, singers Diana Ross and Stevie Wonder often faced racism and discrimination. And in the Canadian prairies, singersongwriter Joni Mitchell spent months in the hospital battling polio.
     Some of these musicians were very poor before they became successful. Reggae artist Bob Marley found himself homeless at age seventeen, and singer Ella Fitzgerald lived on the streets for a time until she won a talent contest as a teenager.
     But no matter how great their talent or how challenging the obstacles in their paths, all of these musicians started out as kids who loved to play and be creative. Stevie Wonder rode on a bicycle with his brother, Harry Styles liked dressing up in a dalmatian costume, and Taylor Swift invented imaginative stories on her family’s Christmas tree farm. Classical pianist Glenn Gould loved animals so much that he even made a newspaper for his pets!
     These musicians pursued their dreams and made music that has touched the lives of millions of people around the world. Many of them inspired each other! Ella Fitzgerald used to imitate Louis Armstrong’s singing, Mariah Carey was a big fan of Stevie Wonder, Beyoncé studied the musical careers of Diana Ross and Prince, and Taylor Swift’s first demo tape included songs by Dolly Parton.
     Through music, people are able to communicate feelings and ideas—which means that songs can bring people together and help make big changes in the world we live in. Music has formed the soundtrack for movements towards civil rights, social justice, and world peace.
     All the musicians in this book have created music that has enriched our world. We hope their stories and music will enrich your life, too.