Clayton Byrd Goes Underground - Rita Williams-Garcia, Frank Morrison

Around his grandpa, Cool Papa Byrd, “Clayton didn’t feel like a kid. He felt like a person.” Clayton idealizes his grandfather and desperately longs to be a great bluesman just like Papa Byrd. Clayton’s mom, however, doesn’t much like her father or his music. When Papa Byrd dies unexpectedly, Clayton is left struggling with his grief while his mother forbids him from playing the blues. He refuses to accept that decree, so Clayton Byrd Goes Underground (Amistad, $16.99) with his harmonica to form his own band. From award-winning author Rita Williams-Garcia comes a new journey of loss, family, and the rhythm of the blues. Coupled with illustrations by Frank Morrison, Clayton’s story will captivate readers. Ages 9-12.