Music Is My Life: Soundtrack Your Mood with 80 Artists for Every Occasion

Based on the idea that songs provide the ideal soundtrack to specific emotions, Tanzer has organized the works of popular musicians and bands into 12 feelings-oriented themes, including “Cry It Out,” “Focus,” and “Fall in Love To.” Each artist or group receives a single page, illustrated by Mac in stylized portraits, that includes key facts, direct quotes, and text touching on works in Tanzer’s conversational, occasionally gushy prose: “To get a taste of how beautiful a Mariah Carey love song can be, listen to ‘We Belong Together’... you know just from the first few piano notes that you’re going to feel it.” The selected artists range from past to present (Beethoven, Beyoncé, Aretha Franklin, and Lizzo, among others), which may prove a useful jumping-off point for children readying to explore an eclectic musical world. Ages 8–12. [em](Feb.) [/em]