Music
You haven’t heard a song until you’ve read it
Lyrics that stick with us, artists who shape generations and the stories behind the songs we love. Reading lets you explore the meaning, inspiration and culture behind the music.
Here you’ll find a selection of music reads to dive right into. From books, to magazines and podcasts, explore what hits the right note and see where it takes you.
But this is just the beginning – there's a world of stories out there to help you Go All In on music, or whatever you’re into.
Reads for 0–5
Tiny tales with rhythm
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Picture Book
I Am Nefertiti
Ages 0-5When Nefertiti’s teacher shortens her name, she begins to shrink. With her bandmates’ support, she finds strength and helps show why her full name matters.
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Picture Book
The Diddle that Dummed
Ages 0-5A laugh-out-loud musical story full of hilarious word play and silliness from the author of Oi Frog!, brilliantly illustrated by Fred Blunt.
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Picture Book
Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes
Ages 0-5Pete the Cat is off for a walk in his brand new white shoes, and he feels like singing. But can he keep the music flowing if his shoes aren't so white any more?
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Picture Book
Tanka Tanka Skunk
Ages 0-5Tanka the elephant and Skunka the skunk drum out their names and explore rhythm with animals like lemurs, zebras, and yaks in a playful beat-filled tale.
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Picture Book Audiobook
The Music in Me
Ages 0-5A joyful picture book that uses music as a metaphor for emotions, encouraging children to recognise, express and celebrate their own unique inner rhythm.
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Picture Book Audiobook
The Animal Boogie
Ages 0-5Children boogie through the jungle as readers guess which animal appears next, spotting clues in the words and pictures in this lively, song-filled adventure.
Podcast
Song Exploder:
The stories behind the songs
Musicians from Lady Gaga to Fleetwood Mac to Metallica, delve into the creative process behind one of their songs, exploring their lyrical or musical choices.
Reads for 5–11
Books for young music lovers
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Book Audiobook
Kofi and the Rap Battle Summer
Ages 5-11Kofi and Kelvin create a rap‑lyrics fanzine, discovering friendship, growing up and the power of music in 1990s London.
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Book Audiobook
Can you feel the noise?
Ages 5-11Sophie becomes deaf and learns to feel music differently, finding new confidence, identity and strength through resilience.
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Book
The Piano at the Station
Ages 5-11Lacey discovers a love of piano that helps her grow in confidence, stand up for herself, and support her community.
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Book
Around the World in 80 Musical Instruments
Ages 5-11A vibrant look at instruments worldwide, from classics to rare creations, with a gatefold celebrating global musical diversity.
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Book Picture Book
Lift-the-flap Questions and Answers About Music
Ages 5-11A fun flap book answering big music questions, exploring instruments worldwide, with sounds via Quicklinks playlist.
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Graphic Novel
Finding My Voice
Ages 5-11When talkative Frankie starts secondary school, strict rules silence her—until a Battle of the Bands offers a chance to speak up and belong.
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Picture Book
Ossiri and the Bala Mengro
Ages 5-11Ossiri, a young Romani girl, builds her own instrument from scraps. Mocked but determined, her music awakens the ogre Bala Mengro and sparks magical events.
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Picture Book
Listen: How Evelyn Glennie, a Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion
Ages 5-11This inspiring picture book tells the true story of world-famous deaf percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie.
Ambassador
“My passion is music”
Alexander Armstrong loves the music of Baroque composer Bach and reading about him has brought to life the world that he inhabited and the experiences he had, making him appreciate Bach even more.
Reads for 11+
Reads that hit the right note
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Book
Rhythm and Poetry
Ages 11-16Hip hop poet Karl Nova shares honest, energetic poems drawn from workshops and performances, offering a fresh, authentic collection for young readers.
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Book
Steady For This
Ages 11-16MC Growls chases rap dreams, navigates embarrassment and friendship, and finds confidence through music, with a warm, funny look at supportive male friendship.
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Book
Rise Up: The #Merky Story so Far
Ages 11-16A biography of Stormzy. The author was excluded from school and talks about how he became a writer through a love of music.
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Book
Wild East
Ages 11-16After moving to a mostly white school, Ronny tries to balance anonymity with becoming the greatest rapper alive.
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Book
Glitter Boy
Ages 11-16James loves dancing, poetry and Mariah Carey, but bullying dims his spark. As secrets grow, he must find the courage to speak his truth.
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Book
About This Boy: Growing up, making mistakes and becoming me
Ages 11-16Leon, from the band Rudimental, tells his story of how he got there from growing up in Hackney.
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Book
Speak Up! A Graphic Novel
Ages 11-16Mia feels unseen in a world that doesn’t understand her true autistic self. She finds her voice through songwriting with her best friend Charlie.
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Podcast
Song Exploder
Ages 11-16Musicians from Lady Gaga to Fleetwood Mac to Metallica, delve into the creative process behind one of their songs, exploring their lyrical or musical choices.
Article
Great literature discovered through pop music
Music journalists at the Guardian reflect on the lyrics from Adam Ant, the Cure, Iron Maiden, and others, which introduced them to great works of literature.
Reads for Adults
The stories behind the sound
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Book
John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs
AdultsA compelling dual biography of Lennon and McCartney, tracing the evolution of their creative partnership and the deep, shared grief and longing that shaped their music.
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Book
Remix
AdultsTwo best friends attend a music festival to get over a broken heart.
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Podcast
Broken Record
AdultsMusic and storytelling meet on Broken Record, where artists across genres and generations sit down to explore the joy, chaos, and vulnerability of creating.
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Podcast
This Cultural Life
AdultsIn-depth conversations with some of the world's leading artists and creatives across theatre, visual arts, music, dance, film and more.
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Blog
The Line of Best Fit
AdultsKnown for its focus on new music, the Line of Best Fit publishes high-quality reviews and features, interviews and media.
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Book
Night People
AdultsBehind some of the biggest musical moments in the past two decades is one man: Mark Ronson. Night People captures his formative DJ days in '90s New York.
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Book
Rebel Music: Race, Empire, and the New Muslim Youth Culture
AdultsAidi examines how hip‑hop and other genres shape a shared Muslim youth identity worldwide in the face of War on Terror policies.
Website
A music magazine supporting readers searching for their new favourite band
Known for its focus on new music, the Line of Best Fit publishes high-quality reviews and features, interviews and media.
Library finder
You don’t have to
buy it to read it
Libraries make it easy to dive into books around your interests, without needing to buy them. Borrow titles, discover new authors and Go All In on your passions.
