Celia Cruz, musician

Oct. 21, 1925-July 16, 2003

Celia Cruz, Queen of Salsa by Veronica Chambers, illustrated by Julie Maren (Dial, 2005)

When this salsa superstar was a child, her neighbors crowded the street to hear her sing to her family. Jewel toned illustrations add much to this vibrant story of her life.

The Smithsonian National Museum of American History featured Celia Cruz in a exhibit called Azucar! The Life and Music of Celia Cruz.

Dizzy Gillespie, musician

Oct. 21, 1917-Jan. 6, 1993

Dizzy by Jonah Winter, illustrated by Sean Qualls (Arthur A Levine Books/Scholastic, 2006)

Everything changed the day Dizzy Gillespie’s music teacher gave him a trumpet. From that moment on, Gillespie channeled all his feelings into his music. Jazz was his music and with it he created a whole new sound, BEBOP.

Drop by PBS.org to learn more about the man and his music from Ken Burns’ Jazz.

Ursula Le Guin, author

Oct. 21, 1929-

Amelia to Zora: Twenty-Six Women Who Changed the World by Cynthia Chin-Lee, illustrated by Megan Halsey and Sean Addy (Charlesbridge, 2005)

Best known for her Earthsea fantasy series, Le Guin is featured as “U” in this collective biography of women.

Visit Ursula LeGuin’s web site to read more about the Earthsea series, current work and other facts.