Ella Fitzgerald

By Author / Illustrator

Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, Barbara Alca

Genre

Adventure

Age range(s)

Publisher

Frances Lincoln Publishers Ltd

ISBN

9781786030863

Format

Hardback

Published

01-03-2018

Synopsis

Meet Ella Fitzgerald, one of the most influential jazz singers of all time! Part of the beloved Little People, BIG DREAMS series, this inspiring and informative little biography follows the inspirational life of the First Lady of Song, from her early singing days on the streets of Harlem to her success as a jazz legend, with the message: 'It's not where you come from, but where you're going that counts.'

Ella Fitzgerald grew up near Harlem, in New York, where she was surrounded by music and dance. After winning first prize in a talent competition at the Apollo Theater, she went on to tour the world with her pioneering voice. This moving book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the singer's life.

Little People, BIG DREAMS is a bestselling series of books and educational games that explore the lives of outstanding people, from designers and artists to scientists and activists. All of them achieved incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream.

This empowering series offers inspiring messages to children of all ages, in a range of formats. The board books are told in simple sentences, perfect for reading aloud to babies and toddlers. The hardback versions present expanded stories for beginning readers. Boxed gift sets allow you to collect a selection of the books by theme. Paper dolls, learning cards, matching games and other fun learning tools provide even more ways to make the lives of these role models accessible to children.

Inspire the next generation of outstanding people who will change the world with Little People, BIG DREAMS!

Reviews

In this fantastic addition to the inspirational 'Little People, Big Dreams' series, the author and the illustrator transport the reader into the world of 1930s and '40s New York where we meet a young Ella Fitzgerald who, despite a difficult start in life, goes on to become one of the world's most celebrated jazz singers. Ella's childhood happiness is cut short by the loss of her mother and by her cruel treatment at a reform school from which she escapes, making a living from singing on street corners during America's Great Depression. The harshness of her early life is conveyed in a very gentle and age-appropriate way and is complemented by the simple yet colourful illustrations throughout. As Ella's singing career takes off, the text and illustrations become suffused with the joy of music and the extraordinary velvety quality of Ella's voice. I am looking forward to reading this book to Year 2 who I think will really enjoy it (as they have enjoyed the others in this series) and I think it would really come into its own if I also play some of Ella's music for the children to listen to, to bring the story into context. I particularly like the timelines that feature at the end of these books, as they provide additional detail that would be of interest to Key Stage 2 readers, as well as the list of additional resources for further research. 32 pages / Ages 5-9 / Reviewed by Emily Marcuccilli, school librarian