Books Every Music Lover Needs

By Jamie Huang | May 13 2026 | AdultChildren's

With iconic music events like BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend (May 22nd-24th) and La Fête de la Musique (June 21) coming up, now is the perfect time to catch up on your music reads. We’ve selected 10 books that tour the history of music, our rich and intimate relationships with it, and the beauty of embracing yourself through music. These picks are perfect for readers of any age who love listening, playing, or just being in the world of music. Put on a good song, and enjoy!

Mei Mei The Bunny
Mei Mei The Bunny
Lauren O'Hara, Laufey
9798217051748
From two-time GRAMMY® Award–winning musician Laufey comes a bewitching picture book about overcoming mistakes and believing in oneself.
$18.99 US
Apr 21, 2026
Hardcover
32 Pages
Penguin Workshop
US, Canada, Open Mkt
View on Edelweiss
Absolutely on Music
Absolutely on Music
Haruki Murakami, Seiji Ozawa
9780804173728
A deeply personal, intimate conversation about music and writing between the internationally acclaimed, bestselling author and his close friend, the former conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
$19.00 US
Oct 03, 2017
Paperback
320 Pages
Vintage
US, Opn Mkt (no CAN)
View on Edelweiss
Major Labels
Major Labels
Kelefa Sanneh
9780525559610
An epic achievement and a huge delight, the history of popular music over the past fifty years refracted through rock, R&B, country, punk, hip-hop, dance music, and pop
$19.00 US
Oct 04, 2022
Paperback
496 Pages
Penguin Books
US, Canada, Open Mkt
View on Edelweiss
The Beautiful Ones
The Beautiful Ones
Prince
9780399589652
The brilliant coming-of-age-and-into-superstardom story of one of the greatest artists of all time, in his own words--featuring never-before-seen photos, original scrapbooks and lyric sheets, and the exquisite memoir he began writing before his tragic death
$32.00 US
Oct 29, 2019
Hardcover
288 Pages
One World
US, Canada, Open Mkt
View on Edelweiss
Wild Symphony
Wild Symphony
Dan Brown, Susan Batori
9780593704233
#1 New York Times bestselling author Dan Brown's mindful, humorous musical, and uniquely entertaining picture book now in paperback!
$8.99 US
Sep 19, 2023
Paperback
44 Pages
Dragonfly Books
US, Canada, Open Mkt
View on Edelweiss
Year of the Monkey
Year of the Monkey
Patti Smith
9781984898920
From the National Book Award-winning author of Just Kids and M Train, a profound, beautifully realized memoir in which dreams and reality are vividly woven into a tapestry of one transformative year -- with an entirely new chapter and ten new photos.
$17.00 US
Sep 01, 2020
Paperback
224 Pages
Vintage
US, Opn Mkt (no CAN)
View on Edelweiss
Tupac Shakur
Tupac Shakur
Staci Robinson
9781524761059
The first and only Estate-authorized biography of the legendary artist, Tupac Shakur, a moving exploration of his life and powerful legacy, fully illustrated with photos, mementos, handwritten poetry, musings, and more.Artist, Poet, Actor, Revolutionary, Legend- Tupac Shakur
$22.00 US
Oct 22, 2024
Paperback
448 Pages
Crown
US, Canada, Open Mkt
View on Edelweiss
The First Rule of Punk
The First Rule of Punk
Celia C. Pérez
9780425290422
Roller Girl meets School of Rock in this illustrated middle-grade novel about identity, friendship, and riot-grrrl power by librarian and debut author Celia C. Pérez.
$9.99 US
Jul 17, 2018
Paperback
336 Pages
Kokila
World
View on Edelweiss
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
Bob Spitz
9780593489093
From the award-winning, bestselling author of classic histories of the Beatles and Led Zeppelin, a groundbreaking reckoning with the world’s greatest rock 'n' roll band
$38.00 US
Apr 21, 2026
Hardcover
704 Pages
Penguin Press
US, Canada, Open Mkt
View on Edelweiss
Rock 'n' Roll, Baby!
Rock 'n' Roll, Baby!
Allison Black, David McMullin
9780593904978
Rock on, Baby! Explore a day in the life of a baby, from waking up to bedtime, through different types of rock ’n’ roll music. A dazzling rework of the classic lullaby "Rock-a-bye Baby"!
$8.99 US
Mar 03, 2026
Board Book
26 Pages
Random House Books for Young Readers
World
View on Edelweiss
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