I love "What Charlie Heard." But I'm a classically trained musician, not jazz, so that might make a difference. I already have certain memories associated with Charles Ives. But I do think Gerstein does an amazing job of making sound visual. Here's my review.
WHEN MARIAN SANG is an outstanding book. Selznick's illustrations are worthy of a Caldecott.
Jeanette Winter's SEBASTIAN: A BOOK ABOUT BACH is a good picture book biography.
For a biography of a composer who was a tad odd you might enjoy M. T. Anderson's STRANGE MR. SATIE, which was illustrated by Petra Mathers.
You won't want to miss JAZZ, a book of poems written by Walter Dean Myers. I was on the Cybil poetry nominating panel. I really liked this book, which we selected as one of the five finalists.
PLAY, MOZART, PLAY!, written and illustrated by Peter Sis, doesn't have much text--but I think young children can relate to this book about the composer's childhood.
In fact, when I was teaching second grade, I found that some of my students really liked biographies of famous children. Barron's publishes a series, in paperback, called Famous Children that includes books about Bach, Chopin, and Mozart.
Renee, your review is right on -- especially about Gerstein's use of silence. That's a hard page to read without choking up. One of the things I most admire about Ives -- and Gerstein's take on his life -- is that music was something he was passionate about in addition to the career that was his livelihood. He did not choose -- or have to choose -- between them.
Thanks for the suggestions, Elaine. M.T. Anderson's Handel, Who Knew What He Liked is another good one. As for Marian Anderson, I have to say that I like the book -- and admire her story -- much more than the recordings of her music, which strike me as arch and dated and fussy. When it comes to holding the interest of a toddler, she's got no chance against the likes of Ella and Woody.
Chris, I started writing up my comments and then they got way out of hand. I stuck to modern American music, though, and just got around to finishing the post (those link-y ones kill me...)
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