So You Want To Be A Singer - So You Want To Be A... 26
Formats: E-Book, Paperback
Ages: 8-11, 12-15
Every voice that has ever stopped a room started the same way — as a young person singing alone, wondering if the sound they heard inside themselves could become something real.
So You Want To Be A Singer is the honest, illustrated guide that takes kids ages 10 to 14 inside one of the most demanding and deeply human performance careers on earth. Not the talent-show version. The real one. The years of vocal training, the science of how a singing voice actually works, and the discipline it takes to turn a body into a reliable, expressive musical instrument.
Your voice is shaped by everything — your breath, your anatomy, the songs you love, every cold you catch, every emotion you carry into the room. This book explains the vocal technique behind that instrument: breath support, resonance, register, and placement. It shows young readers how singers learn to use their voices fully without damaging them, and why understanding the science of sound is just as important as feeling the music.
But singing is more than technique. This guide explores what it really means to inhabit a song — to bring emotional truth to material you may have performed a thousand times, whether on a musical theatre stage, in a recording studio, or at an audition that could change your life. From classical and jazz to pop and session work, each style demands something different from the voice and the performer, and this book lays out what those demands actually look like.
Young readers will also meet the team behind every great singer — vocal coaches, accompanists, sound engineers, and musical directors — and discover how these collaborators work together so that one voice, in one moment, can do something extraordinary. The book covers what a real singer's training life involves, from first lessons to professional performance, and what kids can do right now to explore whether this might be their calling.
Written for children who deserve real answers, not simplified ones. The illustrations throughout bring every concept to life, and the tone never talks down to its reader. This is a book about what singing careers actually cost, what they give back, and why the singers who do this work say a great performance — the kind where the music moves through you — is the closest thing to pure human connection that exists.
For the kid who sings everywhere — in the car, in the shower, alone in their room when no one is listening — and feels something shift. That voice is already yours. This book shows you how to build it.
Reviews
If you have a child who is constantly singing into a hairbrush or dreaming of the big stage, So You Want To Be A Singer by Linda Soules is the perfect roadmap for them. Soules treats the voice as a fascinating, living machine made of muscle and air, making the science of the diaphragm and larynx easy for children to grasp. The narrative explores the padded walls of a recording booth to the bright lights of a massive arena, showing exactly what happens behind the scenes. Kids will learn about the tools of the trade, like why singers use pop filters or how in-ear monitors help them hear over a loud band. It doesn't avoid the hard work either, detailing the daily scales, the importance of hydration, and the team of coaches and engineers who help a star shine. It turns the mystery of professional music into a tangible, exciting reality while teaching kids to respect their voices. So You Want To Be A Singer by Linda Soules is a fantastic non-fiction guide for children who want to take their passion for music to the next level. Soules's engaging approach keeps the book moving with great energy and clear writing. The author has a really friendly way of explaining things, making complex science—like how your vocal cords actually vibrate—sound like an exciting but educational lesson. What's great for kids is how the book balances fun aspects, like singing in huge arenas, with the reality of taking care of your body, getting enough sleep, and staying hydrated. One thing is certain: the fun facts section is a real game-changer and will definitely have young readers repeating trivia about synchronized heartbeats at the dinner table. This is a fun, encouraging guide that treats young performers with respect. It is a must-read for any parent who wants to support their child's musical journey with some informative, real-world knowledge.
For any child who has ever belted out a chorus in the shower or wondered how their favorite pop star hits those soaring high notes, Linda Soules' 'So You Want To Be A Singer' serves as a vital, backstage pass to the reality of vocal artistry. This nonfiction middle-grade title successfully de-mystifies the 'magic' of talent, replacing it with the empowering reality of craft, discipline, and self-care. Soules begins with a grounding premise: your voice is a birthright, but a professional singer's voice is a built instrument. By centering the narrative on the physical body, the book teaches readers that singing is as much about biology as it is about melody. The book excels at explaining complex concepts, like how the diaphragm powers sound and how the shape of the mouth creates resonance, in language accessible to its 9-12-year-old target audience. It frames the 'protagonist' not as a specific character, but as the reader themselves: an aspiring artist standing on the threshold of a serious pursuit. Unlike many career books that focus solely on the 'glamour,' Soules introduces a compelling practical conflict: How do you protect an instrument you cannot put back in a case? The book highlights the unique vulnerabilities of the singer, noting how external factors like weather and internal factors like stress can silence a performer. This section doubles as a gentle lesson in Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), as caring for the voice is presented as inseparable from caring for the self. The inclusion of potential setbacks, such as vocal nodules or the pressure of the commercial music industry, adds a layer of refreshing honesty rarely seen in middle-grade career guides. The middle sections broaden the scope to show the collaborative nature of music. Readers are introduced to the technical 'cast of characters' that support a singer: the producers and engineers who navigate the precision of the recording booth; coaches that help refine technique through repetition; and even audiences. Through the stories of icons like Aretha Franklin, Marian Anderson, and Andrea Bocelli, Soules illustrates how identity and history shape a voice. These examples provide a diverse look at how different singers have navigated everything from racial exclusion to physical disability to find their place in the cultural memory The book provides a wealth of practical guidance that transforms 'vague talent' into 'daily practice.' 'So You Want To Be A Singer' is perfectly paced for its audience. The short, punchy sections and clear subheads make it an ideal classroom resource or a gift for a music-curious child. Soules concludes with a moving resolution: training doesn't change who you are; it reveals the fullest version of your true voice. It is an inspiring, clear-eyed, and deeply respectful guide to one of the world's oldest forms of communication. Recommended for school libraries, choir rooms, and any young reader ready to take their voice seriously.
