Struttin' with Some Barbecue Lil Hardin Armstrong Becomes the First Lady of Jazz

Lil Hardin and her man, Louis Armstrong, were musical royalty--inventing a new kind of sound--makin' jazz. Believe it, baby!

This is the true story of Lil Hardin Armstrong: pianist, composer, and bandleader in the early days of jazz. Ahead of her time, Lil made a career for herself--and for Louis Armstrong, her modest, unassuming husband. Louis might never have become the groundbreaking jazz player he was, if it hadn't been for Lil. Scat-inspired verse celebrates how Lil overcame race and gender barriers to become the first lady of the Chicago jazz scene.

"Brimming with a contagious love of jazz and its first lady, this work brings down the house"--Kirkus Reviews, STARRED review

Acclaimed author Patricia Hruby Powell grew up in a musical family, became a concert dancer and choreographer, and married a jazz musician. When she hears Lil's music, she can't help but dance. Patricia's debut book, Josephine, received a Sibert Honor and a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor. Her equally moving and powerful second book, Loving vs. Virginia, established Patricia as a commanding voice in children's literature.

Rachel Himes is a museum educator, author, and illustrator. Her debut picture book, Princess and the Peas, puts a modern African American spin on the classic fairy tale. In Struttin' with Some Barbecue, Rachel conveys Lil's energy and verve through acrylic and collage illustrations inspired by period art and music. www.rachelhimes.com