Making Their Voices Heard: The Inspiring Friendship of Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe

by Vivian Kirkfield (Author) Alleanna Harris (Illustrator)

Making Their Voices Heard: The Inspiring Friendship of Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

"This warm story emphasizes Ella's role in her success, thus avoiding the trap of the white-savior narrative. Many white artists have benefited from imitating black ones; this is the rare narrative to acknowledge that... saturated with color, they capture the iconic looks of the two stars. A good volume to include in a larger conversation about friendship, allyship, and social justice."-Kirkus Reviews

"An inspiring story about 20th-century icons that will be unfamiliar to most young readers."-School Library Journal

"Focusing on the friendship of Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe, this picture book highlights the similarities between the two women and the ways in which they helped each other succeed."-Booklist

Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe. On the outside, you couldn't find two girls who looked more different. But on the inside, they were alike--full of hopes and dreams and plans of what might be.

Ella Fitzgerald's velvety tones and shube-doobie-doos captivated audiences. Jazz greats like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington couldn't wait to share the stage with her, but still, Ella could not book a performance at one of the biggest clubs in town--one she knew would give her career its biggest break yet.

Marilyn Monroe dazzled on the silver screen with her baby blue eyes and breathy boo-boo-be-doos. But when she asked for better scripts, a choice in who she worked with, and a higher salary, studio bosses refused.

Two women whose voices weren't being heard. Two women chasing after their dreams and each helping the other to achieve them. This is the inspiring, true story of two incredibly talented women who came together to help each other shine like the stars that they are.

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School Library Journal

K-Gr 3--African American singer Ella Fitzgerald and blonde movie star Marilyn Monroe shared their need to be heard and helped each other along the way. Kirkfield describes the obstacles these women faced: Fitzgerald battled racism, and Monroe was underestimated due to her gender. Monroe taught herself to become a better singer by listening to recordings of Fitzgerald's songs and achieved star status for her role in the 1953 film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. In turn, she convinced the owner of a formerly whitesonly Hollywood night club to hire Fitzgerald, paving the way for the jazz singer's more universal recognition. The relatively simple text is supported by an author's note and extensive sources, both primary (videos and interviews) and secondary (books and online resources). Kirkfield makes clear that both women brought deep personal feelings to their performances. Harris's digital illustrations are varied, from vignettes to full and doublepage spreads. One striking spread echoed on the title page and cover shows the pair still engaged in conversation in an otherwise empty and darkened nightclub. VERDICT An inspiring story about 20th-century icons that will be unfamiliar to most young readers. Recommended for schools and public libraries.--Kathleen Isaacs, Children's Literature Specialist, Pasadena, MD

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Publishers Weekly

"Ella and Marilyn. On the outside, you couldn't find two girls who looked more different. But on the inside, they were alike--full of hopes and dreams, and plans of what might be." Readers may blanch at this opener, which appears above an illustration of the two women, but the story that follows embodies allyship. Monroe idolized Fitzgerald, studying her albums to learn how to sing in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Afterward, Monroe thanked Fitzgerald for her help and used her star power to persuade a prejudiced nightclub manager to give Fitzgerald a career-changing engagement and secure for herself roles that better reflected her intellectual sensibilities. In the extensive author's note, Kirkfield (Sweet Dreams, Sarah) quotes Fitzgerald: "Marilyn was an unusual woman. A little ahead of her times." Simple but effective text is supported by Harris's realistic scenes, which have a stylized, digital gloss. Ages 4-8. (Jan.)

Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe were mutual supporters according to this historical picture book.Ella and Marilyn were different on the outside, but both were "full of hopes and dreams" while their circumstances were humble. After they got their big breaks, Ella in jazz singing and Marilyn in acting, each struggled to reach her full potential. In the United States, Ella faced barriers due to racism and places that only hired "glamorous" stars. Marilyn got plenty of roles, but as a woman in an industry run by men, she lacked control over her career. When she got a script with a big singing role, she listened to her favorite singer, Ella, to practice for it. The movie was a hit, and Marilyn was finally able to get her voice heard as a professional. She went to thank Ella in person at one of Ella's shows, and the two talked into the night. When Marilyn learned of the barriers Ella faced, she used her star status to negotiate a performance for Ella at a popular nightclub. While Marilyn is shown attaining fame first, this warm story emphasizes Ella's role in her success, thus avoiding the trap of the white-savior narrative. Many white artists have benefited from imitating black ones; this is the rare narrative to acknowledge that. Harris' illustrations are stiff but engaging; saturated with color, they capture the iconic looks of the two stars. A good volume to include in a larger conversation about friendship, allyship, and social justice.(author's note, sources) (Picture book/biography. 5-10)— "Kirkus Reviews"
Vivian Kirkfield
Vivian Kirkfield's career path is paved with picture books. From shelving them in a children's library and reading them with her kindergarteners, to writing them, her goal has always been to help kids become lovers of books and reading. She is the author of many picture books including: Four Otters Toboggan: An Animal Counting Book; Pippa's Passover Plate; From Here to There: Inventions that Changed the Way the World Moves; and Sweet Dreams, Sarah. Her parent-teacher guide, Show Me How! Build Your Child's Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking is a valuable resource for child-care facilitators. Vivian lives in the quaint New England village of Amherst, New Hampshire, where the old stone library is her favorite hangout and her ten-year-old grandson is her favorite Monopoly partner.
viviankirkfield.com

Alleanna Harris has been drawing for as long as she can remember. As a little kid, she would draw on every page of her mom's legal pads, her notebooks at school, and on the programs at church. She graduated from the University of the Arts with a BFA in animation with honors, and it was during this time she realized her love for illustration. Alleanna finds inspiration in the beauty of everyday things. She seeks to create images that are immersive, rich in color, and have a sense of warmth. She lives in New Jersey. Find out more about her at alleannaharris.com.
Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9781499809152
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Little Bee Books
Publication date
January 28, 2020
Series
-
BISAC categories
JNF018010 - Juvenile Nonfiction | People & Places | United States - African-American
JNF053140 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Social Topics | Prejudice & Racism
JNF007040 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Biography & Autobiography | Music
JNF036040 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Music | Jazz
JNF007060 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Biography & Autobiography | Performing Arts
JNF007120 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Biography & Autobiography | Women
JNF039030 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Performing Arts | Film
JNF053060 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Social Topics | Friendship
Library of Congress categories
African Americans
Biographies
United States
Women
Jazz musicians
Singers
Female friendship
Motion picture actors and actresses
Actors and actresses
Fitzgerald, Ella
Monroe, Marilyn
African American women jazz singers

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