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Book Details Title: Making Their Voices Heard: The Inspiring Friendship of Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe Author: Vivian Kirkfield,Alleanna Harris Number of pages: Publisher: little bee books (January 28, 2020) Language: English ISBN: 1499809158 Rating: 5     21 reviews

Book Description Review 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 ReviewsAfrican 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 whites-only 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 double-page 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., School Library Journal”Sometimes even stars need a little help to shine.” 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. The author alternates between the two stars, first sharing their discovery stories and then their struggles to overcome barriers. When Marilyn was given her first major singing role in a movie, she learned how to sing by immersing herself in Ella’s music. After the movie’s success, she sought out Ella to thank her in person, and a lifelong friendship began. After learning about the racial discrimination Ella faced, Marilyn used her influence to secure her a singing engagement at Hollywood’s top nightclub. The text moves smoothly, though the use of girls to describe the women may raise eyebrows. Softly focused illustrations blend cartoon style with realism. The overall effect is slightly uneven but generally captures each woman’s likeness. Back matter includes an author’s note and primary and secondary sources. A solid purchase for larger collections., Booklist Read more About the Author 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.comAlleanna 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. Read more Customers Review: Vivian knows how to bring heart to a story, and this one is full of heart. This is a beautiful story that will stay with you of two women who forged an unlikely friendship. I learned a lot about these two famous women. How their differences in race came down to common backgrounds that formed a lifetime friendship. The genius of this book lies both in the little-known information conveyed within the story and the detailed back matter, as well as the structure that it employs. The opening scenes for both Ella and Marilyn start at the beginning of their careers, when they are both “full of hopes and dreams, and plans of what that might be.” Then it shows how, although both women succeed, both are held back, or boxed in, because of their race or gender. It’s a beautiful story of two devoted friends, determined to achieve their dreams, who realize that “sometimes even stars need a little help to shine.”The back matter further draws a connection between their childhoods and highlights the struggles and accomplishments of Ella and Marilyn. This is a great book for parents who know these icons and for the kids to learn about some strong, socially active women who proved that friendship and collaboration can achieve great things. I never knew that Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe had so much in common and were such good friends. I was fascinated to learn about their forward thinking dreams and goals, really ahead of the days and time in which they were working hard to establish themselves as artists. Seemingly two opposites, Ella and Marilyn beat the system of the times by working together. I love how Vivian Kirkfield compared and contrasted both women and forged a link that I knew nothing about. This story is about hope, friendship, empowerment, and finding commonalities despite differences in outward appearances. It makes me want to go out and find some Ella music to hear and watch Marilyn videos. Backmatter nicely fills in more growing up and personal details for both women. The illustrations by Alleanna Harris are charming. Love this book! On the outside, Marilyn Monroe and Ella Fitzgerald looked nothing alike. But inside, they both had the same intelligence, heart, talent, and determination to succeed. In a time when segregation was still prevalent and women were considered inferior to men, Ella and Marilyn had a lot to overcome in order to achieve their dreams. The two women admired and valued each other as people. Their friendship helped them find a way to finally be heard. Young readers will be pulled into the story with Vivian Kirkfield’s engaging writing and Alleanna Harris’s gorgeous illustrations. It will likely prompt some important discussions about race and inequality. A must have for any classroom or library collection. A beautiful nonfiction, biographical picture book about two extraordinary women. The illustrations are stunning. The story follows both women as they struggle to make their dreams a reality. Both women are wonderful examples of grit, determination, and grace. I love reading biographies in picture book form to my class- it is such a great way to introduce them to amazing and inspiring people. But what sets this books apart is that it shows not one but two different people and how their lives intersect. When their two lives connect, Ella and Marilyn support each other, which is quite a refreshing look at how women can lift each other up. Together, they find a way to break through the discrimination that was holding Ella back in the United States. I had no idea that these two influential women not only knew each other, but were friends. The author’s note at the end is full of information, and an extensive sources list show show well researched this story is. #LitReviewCrew There’s lots to love in this story. Not only do we see two women who overcame difficult childhoods make their way in the world, but we see the power of a friendship that most would not have expected. Despite being so different on the outside, both women knew what it meant to be judged by their appearance. Each understood the other’s pain. What a great example of how we all need to have our “voices heard” and deserve respect—and also how we all have something valuable to give others when we offer our friendship. This engaging picture book does a terrific job telling the parallel stories of Marilyn Monroe and Ella Fitzgerald, and an even better job describing the friendship they developed when their paths finally crossed. The author describes how each woman helped the other to find (and share) her voice. The lively illustrations, an author’s note and extensive bibliography combine to make this a book well worth sharing with readers young and old.