Ella Fitzgerald: A Vocal Virtuosa (Module 2)

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Pinkney, Andrea Davis. 2002. Ella Fitzgerald: The Tale of a Vocal Virtuosa. Ill. by Brian Pinkney. New York: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN: 9780786805686.

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Starting with her dancing on the streets of Harlem with dreams of fame and ending with her singing at Carnegie Hall, this colorful picture book follows Ella Fitzgerald's life and demonstrates the impact that she had on the music world. Author's note, illustrator's note, bibliography, videography, and selected discography included.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The illustrations by Brian Pinkney jump off the page in this book. Done in the style popular in the time of Ella Fitzgerald's life, they are created with scratchboard and then painted. The effect is striking and memorable. The subject of the art is also quite striking as Pinkney taps into the creativity of jazz and the imaginative artistry that African American art is known for to create pages full of whimsy and fun. There's Chick Webb's band “swinging” as they play as well as Ella and Dizzy Gillespie flying across the night on a trumpet. These illustrations are not easily forgotten and will give readers plenty to admire and interpret in them. One illustration that demonstrates many of the cultural markers found within the art is the page of young people dancing. It shows a variance of clothing, hair styles, facial features, and skin tones, is full of fun, and highlights some amazing dancing feats (such as a woman flying high into the air).

Andrea Davis Pinkney has done an excellent job of creating the text with the right amount of rhythm and cadence for the subject at hand. Following “Scat Cat” introducing us to our subject, she has titled each section of Ella Fitzgerald's life as a Track, as if we are listening to a record rather than reading a book. In sharing about Ella Fitzgerald's amazing talent, Pinkney also shares how she broke a lot of racial barriers: “Ella's popularity showed them that a true star has no color—it just shines.”

The Pinkney's have created a fantastic biographical picture book that features in a jazzy style one of the most talented American singers ever. The cover showing Ella Fitzgerald as bigger than life really encapsulates the message they have gotten across: she was a big talent that moved through the racially prejudiced walls and knocked a few down as well.


4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

• Publisher's Weekly Starred: “A "skippity-hop-doo-dee-bop" picture book.”
• School Library Journal: “Bright colors, jazzy words, and energetic artwork bring the music of scat and Fitzgerald to life ”
• Booklist Starred: “Cue up the music and read this one out LOUD.”

5. CONNECTIONS

• Help the book come alive by listening to jazz music or watching a jazz performance. When doing so, please make sure to follow all applicable copyright laws. You can take this opportunity to discuss copyright laws as well, as there are many ways to watch or listen to Ella Fitzgerald online that are not following these laws (just try a search on Youtube).
• Brian Pinkney shares that his inspiration for the art in this book came from Aaron Douglas and William H. Johnson who were both artists of the period. Have students look at the work of these artists and the Art Deco movement to see if they can find similarities and differences with the pages in this book.
• The art in this book was done using a scratchboard. Babble Dabble Do, an artist's website for family art projects, has easy to follow directions on making your own scracthboard art.
• Other biographical picture books by this husband and wife team, Andrea Davis Pinkney and Brian Pinkney:

Alvin Ailey. ISBN: 9780786810772.

Bill Pickett: Rodeo-Ridin' Cowboy. ISBN: 9780152021030.

Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra. ISBN: 9780786814206.

Sojourner Truth's Step-Stomp Stride. ISBN: 9780786807673.