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Skit-Scat Raggedy Cat: Ella Fitzgerald

3/21/2016

1 Comment

 
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Candlewick Publisher: A swinging bio of young Ella Fitzgerald, who pushed through the toughest of times to become one of America’s most beloved jazz singers.

When Ella Fitzgerald danced the Lindy Hop on the streets of 1930s Yonkers, passersby said good-bye to their loose change. But for a girl who was orphaned and hungry, with raggedy clothes and often no place to spend the night, small change was not enough. One amateur night at Harlem’s Apollo Theater, Ella made a discovery: the dancing beat in her feet could travel up and out of her mouth in a powerful song —and the feeling of being listened to was like a salve to her heart. With lively prose, Roxane Orgill follows the gutsy Ella from school-girl days to a featured spot with Chick Webb’s band and all the way to her number-one radio hit "A-Tisket, A-Tasket." Jazzy mixed-media art by illustrator Sean Qualls brings the singer’s indomitable spirit to life.



The beauty about books is that everyone will find ones that they love and ones that don't touch them.


This was one of those books that I found extremely hard to follow, finish and analyze. My first impression was that it was written in "Skat" but it didn't flow.

Here is my analysis:
Nugget: How Ella Fitzgerald found her place in the world.

Needs Enticement: Begins with Ella cranking the handle of a photography and three Boswell sisters sing.
* I know what a phonograph machine is but do children? Was it really important to already have the name of other characters that were truly irrelevant to the story?

Escalation: Ella's home life. Ella's learning and traveling to hear music and dance. Ella finding her fame.

Satisfying Ending: I am not sure that I was satisfied. It does tie the title in nicely though.
Sources: I love how this bibliography was done. Everything was separated by reading, listening and viewing resources as well as websites.
Show Words: Skit scat, skedddle, the words in this story are fun to say over and over. Words such as smooth as honey to describe a voice. I really loved the choice of words to describe scenes.
Why: Ella Fitzgerald lived a hard life and still found a way to survive. I truly think there is a great story about her waiting to be written but not sure that this was it.
Need and Want: Ella needs stability but wants to be famous. This story only focused on the want and never provided the need. Sat truly.

1 Comment
Giora
5/4/2016 12:54:25 pm

Because my PB is also about music, I enjoyed reading this review, with what you liked and what you didn't like. It was interesting to see your sections of analysis like: Needs Enticement. Why? Need and Want. Never thought about this analysis with my own PB, so going over to try and implement it. Thanks.

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    Kristen is the author of several up coming nonfiction picture books. Following the simple points on a compass rose, Kristen finds direction in nonfiction writing.

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