A quick, short children's bio on Ella Fitzgerald. Although her struggles of getting into places because she was black is briefly mentioned, this is really more about her friendship with Marilyn Monroe (I had no idea) and the power of friendship. I would have liked a little more content, even for a children's book, but the illustrations were good

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for a digital advanced readers copy of this book.

The ebook I received had a few pages with missing text which spoiled the vibe for me a little. However, the illustrations are vibrant and stunning. The book is aimed at a general audience yet it does an incredible job of showing the highlights of an iconic life. The book is straightforward with Ella's talents for dancing and singing and the struggles she faces to make it to the top. But the winning point for me is the author's approach of the friendship between two remarkable women and how they celebrated each other; at the end there is even a short autobiographical section regarding both Ella Fitzgerald (the protagonist of the book) and her friend, the actress Marilyn Monroe.

Rating: 3.5/5

This book for children was definitely a hit with me! First of all, the illustrations were superb; I found them to be very lively and engaging.

The reader learns that Ella has a talent and is "on the way up." Unfortunately, she cannot sing at some venues because of racism. Marilyn (Monroe) intervenes and secures a club date for Ella (Fitzgerald). The friendship between the two is brought to life in this book. At the end of the story, there is a section with additional biographical information on both Ella and Marilyn.

This is a story worth telling. It is told in a simple and straightforward way. This is a good introduction to an important jazz singer.

Thanks to NetGalley and Quarto for the advance copy of this book. The opinions are my own.

Even though this is a children’s book, We learn not only about Ella but also about the role Marilyn Munroe played in her rise to stardom.

Wonderful illustrations, simple language and two biographies about these two famous women make this a good choice to teach the value of friendship.

This was a very short book - effectively only thirteen pages - aimed at a children's audience, to introduce them to a true diva, but for me it missed the mark. I don't lower my expectations for children's literature, but this book seemed to, and the ebook version - which as an amateur reviewer was the only one I had access to - was missing text on at least two pages as far as I could tell. Hopefully the print version is complete!

Ella Fitzgerald was known for her singing talent and in her earlier years for her love of dancing, but I didn't get any of that feeling for her out of this book which seemed more like it was interested in telling the tale of a struggling artist than telling that and the much more joyous success story - with a huge love of singing - that she became. Her career began when she wanted to enter amateur night at the Apollo theater, but was intimidated with regard to her dancing, so she chose to sing instead. She won first prize.

That pivotal moment was completely bypassed in this book, which began when she was already a mature performer. The first two pages which were, I assume, double-page spreads in the print version, simply showed her singing, with neither words nor descriptive text. The pages were not numbered, but the e-numbering at the bottom of the screen showed the first text appearing on page 'seven' where it began, "Before long, Ella was taking her music up and down the country" - so, story already in progress. It was a bit of a sour note for me.

While the illustrations were colorful if nothing extraordinary, and the text did tell her career story in brief, nowhere was there a song lyric. I know to quote whole lyrics demands all kinds of permissions, but to fail to quote even a line here and there, which is entirely permissible, was unconscionable for a story about someone of Fitzgerald's pedigree and contribution to music. We learned nothing of her childhood or influences, but first encounter her on the road, running from one gig to another.

There's a brief mention of how Marilyn Monroe helped her get a gig at a venue where 'coloreds' were typically not welcomed, and this boosted her career too, but then the story is pretty much over. On the 'Marilyn' page there were two speech balloons which contained no text. I don't know if this was intentional or not, but after the obviously missing text earlier in the book, it was irritating to be left in the dark about whether this was purposeful or not. Keeping Marilyn's name secret for a couple of pages previously seemed fatuous. I don't imagine for a minute than any child reading this has a clue who Marilyn Monroe was. Well, she was Norma Jean Baker! But kids today won't know that either so the reason that this section was written this way was obscure.

I felt this was a chance to really talk about a powerful and influential woman of color, and it was lost. I know for a book for young children, you can't go into huge amounts of detail and technical matters, but for a book for children, it helps to connect to them by showing that Ella was herself a young child at one point who came from poor circumstances, but who loved music and dance, and who overcame setbacks to reach success on her own merit. It could have been so inspirational, but to me it did neither her nor the young reader any favors. It essentially told a rather plodding story of how a white woman 'saved' a 'helpless' black woman, and it felt patronizing. Consequently I'm not able to commend this as a worthy read.

I enjoyed this Children's Book intro to Ella Fitzgerald. The story is simple and the illustrations are good-- complimenting the story. I especially appreciated that at the end, there is included a little more in depth biography of both Ella and Marilyn.

The story focuses on Ella's musical journey but is really about overcoming diversity and the power of friendship. The story is positive and uplifting even while tackling the issue of race in America in the 1950s.

I would definitely add this book to my child's library.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a children's book that tells an important story from the life of Ella Fitzgerald often remembered for her bluesy voice and is called the Queen of Jazz.
Helen Hancocks in simple text and bright colourful images has captured the spirit, sense and tone of the 1950's. But in telling this tale she has rediscovered an important friendship between the artist and Hollywood Icon Marilyn Monroe.
That venues were out of the reach of black musicians in postwar USA remains a shock, ever more so in multi-cultural societies todaywhere the colour of one's skin is not considered a factor and rascism is apparently consigned to the history books.
Perhaps though only to the generation the book is intended for; hopefully the parents will take the message onboard, when a white actress successfully partitions to get Ella and her band on the bill at the club that previous said no because of her colour. It also elevates Munroe in my opinion as someone trying to make her own way but prepared to challenge prejudice and stand up to injustice.
I think it is a timely message in a week where racial abuse has been directed at an England international during a football match between Chelsea and Man City due to the colour of his skin.
Maybe the problems haven't gone away and more education is needed. Such inteligent writing and naming of issues might not just promote a new love of jazz but an appreciation of our place in a much wider and diverse world.
I lovde the brief biography of both women's lives at the end of the book, which hopefully will give rise to further reading.

Ella Queen of Jazz is a children’s book that shows the power of friendship. Traveling around the country, Ella and her band found they were not welcome everywhere due to their race. When she was turned away from one of the biggest clubs in town, one of her friends who heard about it, secretly decided to help Ella, this friend was Marilyn Monroe. After that, Ella and her band played many nights there when they were invited back. She went on to win many music awards and Ella and Marilyn became great friends. This books shows that the power of friendship can overcome many obstacles.

A sweet children's book filled with information about Ella Fitzgerald, the Queen of Jazz. It's wonderful that books like this are being published so that children can learn about prolific figures through history, particularly those who aren't white.

A very cute children's book about the journey of Ella Fitzgerald.
And a story that should be remembered.

I've been a fan of Ella Fitzgerald for years, but didn't realize how little I knew about her early career until I read this book. I knew nothing about her long friendship with Marilyn Monroe, and the ways they supported each other. This book would make a wonderful addition to an elementary classroom. It offers a historical perspective, but feels relevant to modern times. As a child, I loved biographies, and this is a wonderful success story of perseverance and friendship.

Loved the illustrations and anything which introduces Ella Fitzgerald to children is a hit with me. Would have liked it to be a little longer and give us more background.

I never knew that Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe, two famous icons in the world, were friends. The story of their friendship and how they helped each other is quite impressive; it should set as an example not only to young readers but to all women as well. Not only being courageous but also women empowerment is a strong message that this children's book that wants to impart to all readers. Together with the colorful illustrations, the book briefly narrates the fascinating story of the friendship between Fitzgerald and Monroe — it is an excellent memoir that hails two of the greatest women in the entertainment industry.