African American Literature- ELLA FITZGERALD: THE TALE OF A VOCAL VIRTUOSA

Bibliographic Data

Pinkney, Andrea Davis, and J. Brian Pinkney. 2002. Ella Fitzgerald: The Tale of a Vocal Virtuosa. New York: Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN: 9780786805686

Brief Plot Summary

The narrator Scat Cat Monroe sings the story of the famous jazz singer, Ella Fitzgerald’s career in the style of scat.

Critical Analysis

Harlem Renaissance visual arts portray the history and culture of African Americans. It is intended to be uplifting through African American literature, art, and music bringing pride.

(Notice the scratches in this type of art)

Utilizing the scratchboard technique the illustrations in this book portray the jazz scene and career of Ella Fitzgerald. Readers will find many cultural markers within the pages. The art depicts Ella’s skin tone and her hair.

(Ella’s signature eyes. We also see her deep skin tone and hair)

Scat singing is a skillful type of singing in which the singer improvises using her voice as an instrument. Ella Fitzgerald is known as one of the best scat singers in history. The text is supposed to be lyrics to an album sung in a scat rhythm.

(Even the sections of the book are listed as tracks)

An element that occasionally comes up in African American literature is imagination and fantastical events. Though this story is based on a true celebrity we see depictions of fantastic events, specifically flying.

(Ella and Dizzy flying on a trumpet)

Awards & Best Books

Society of School Librarians International Book Awards, 2002 Honor Book Social Studies-Grades K-6 United States

Storytelling World Resource Award, 2004 Honor Book Stories for Young Listeners United States

Best Children's Books of the Year, 2003 Bank Street College of Education

Booklist Book Review Stars, Apr. 1, 2002 American Library Association

Capitol Choices, 2002 The Capitol Choices Committee

Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2003 H.W. Wilson

Children's Catalog, Nineteenth Edition, 2006 H.W. Wilson

Choices, 2003 Cooperative Children's Book Center

Core Collection: Artists in Picture Book Biographies, 2006 American Library Association

Core Collections: Artists in Picture Book Biographies, 2006 Booklist

Kirkus Book Review Stars, April 1, 2002

Notable Children's Books, 2003 ALSC American Library Association

Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2003 National Council for the Social Studies NCSS

Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, March 11, 2002 Cahners

Review Excerpt(s) 

“The Pinkneys have once again created a great picturebook biography about an outstanding African-American figure.” - Jeanenne (BookHive (www.bookhive.org))

“Younger children won't understand the sense in many of the phrases, but heard aloud, the rhythm in the words will give them a feel for the music; older readers will enjoy both the similarities to rap and spoken-word poetry.” - Gillian Engberg (Booklist, Apr. 1, 2002 (Vol. 98, No. 15))

“The design of this effort is quite remarkable; from time to time, words splash across the pages, and change in font and size, effectively mirroring rhythms and meanings.” - Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, April 1, 2002 (Vol. 70, No. 7))

Connections

After reading this title have students the scratchboard art in the book. Child-freidnly scratchboards are available from a variety of vendor such as Dick Blick http://www.dickblick.com/products/scratch-art-scratch-lite-stained-glass-sheets/

Conduct a whole unit on Jazz for children featuring videos, music, and other books from the children’s jazz booklist on http://delightfulchildrensbooks.com/2011/01/16/jazz-music/

African American Literature- BEAUTIFUL BLACKBIRD

Bibliographic Data

Bryan, Ashley. 2003. Beautiful Blackbird. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 9780689847318

Brief Plot Summary

Based on Zambian folklore, a group of colorful birds ask Blackbird which is the most beautiful. Blackbird iterates that beauty is inside, but still adorns each with a bit of black designs after the birds insist.

Critical Analysis

(Scissors used in creating this type of art)

The illustrations bring this title to life. The birds fill the page with color and shapes. They are created with cut pieces of paper. At the beginning we see pairs of scissors. Although it is two-dimensional the size of the shapes create depth.

(Blackbird is large indicating that it is closer than the other birds)

The text of this book is lyrical and musical, similar to spoken word. Lines rhyme and repeat.

“Oh beautiful black, uh-huh, uh huh

Black is beautiful, UH-HUH!”

In this story the color black is the most beautiful. All the birds want to be like Blackbird. Blackbird is not only beautiful on the outside, but also inside. Perhaps some who identify themselves as black would find pride in this message. He reiterates that the birds’ beauty is inside and stresses that each has its own identity by saying that the Ringdove doesn’t act like him, eat like him, or dance like him.

The reader knows this tale is Zambian from the information on the dust jacket. It is an adaptation of the tale. Though the dust jacket also claims that the birds were jealous in this story there is no indication of that emotion in the artwork.

Strengths of this title are the positive messages of beauty and identity. It is great for a read aloud because of the rhythm and the brevity.

Awards & Best Books

Best Children's Books of the Year, 2004 Bank Street College of Education

Capitol Choices, 2004 The Capitol Choices Committee

Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2004 H.W. Wilson

Children's Catalog, Nineteenth Edition, 2006 H.W. Wilson

Choices, 2004 Cooperative Children's Book Center

Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts, 2004 NCTE Children's Literature Assembly

Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2004 National Council for the Social Studies

Coretta Scott King Book Award, 2004 Winner Illustrator United States

Review Excerpt(s) (from Horn Book, SLJ, Booklist, etc.)

“Bryan employs boldly colored, cut-paper artwork to dramatize the action. The overlapping collage images fill the pages with energy as the songlike responses of the birds tap out a rhythm punctuated with ‘uh-huhs.’” - Julie Cummins (Booklist, Jan. 1, 2003 (Vol. 99, No. 9))

“The rolling language and appealing illustrations make this a must.” - Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, December 1, 2002 (Vol. 70, No. 23))

“Bryan's lilting and magical language is infectious.” - Publishers Weekly (Publishers Weekly)

Connections

As suggested by Smolen and Oswald, try a choral reading together with students (Smolen and Oswald, 2011).

Another great suggestion from Smolen and Oswald includes passing our cutouts of colorful birds and having students decorate them with pieces of black construction paper (Smolen and Oswald, 2011, p.105).

African American Literature- THE FIRST PART LAST

Bibliographic Data

Johnson, Angela. 2003. The First Part Last. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 9780689849220

Brief Plot Summary

New York teen, Bobby struggles to take care of his infant daughter while trying to complete high school.

Critical Analysis

Manning and Baruth note that many African American children are brought up in family structures different from children in other cultures (2009). Bobby’s parents are divorced. He lives with mother and occasionally visits his father or appeals to him for help.

His own relationship with Nia is complicated. They are separated while he cares for his daughter Feather on his own. When Mr. Phillips confronts Bobby about sleeping in class Bobby mocks and muses over the lifestyle he assumes Mr. Phillips has,

“He probably drives a jeep, and his girlfriend and him have been engaged for two years. They probably laugh at the same jokes and plan to have two kids and go to Disneyland in the summer” (Johnson, 2011, p.44).

The reader can tell that he feels a sense of otherness and perhaps shame being in the type of relationship he is in with Nia.

Many cultural markers sprinkle the storyline (names, hairstyles, language). Bobby’s friends are K-Boy and J.L. One of the sitters for Feather, Jackie tosses her beaded braids and they click when she moves (Johnson, 2011, .p45).

Language is another cultural marker in this book, “Nia’s parents always treated me good” (Johnson, 2003, p.18). That last quote showed how in conversation Bobby modified his verb with an adjective. He also casual cussed and said “hangin’” instead of hanging. Often his streams of consciousness are run on sentences.

The protagonist defies numerous stereotypes. Bobby’s family is well-traveled, many pictures in exotic locales despite being lower income. Most importantly he is strongly against giving up on being a single father or asking for help. He takes accountability for the circumstances he brought on himself although he does have some hiccups. He does get thrown in jail while ditching school to spray paint public property, an activity he has partaken in before.

Overall I think this book has a positive message about an unfortunate situation. It stresses strong character by Bobby doing what is right. It defies stereotypes and is a deep, emotional read.

Awards

Coretta Scott King Book Award, 2004 Winner Author United States

Georgia Peach Teen Readers' Choice Award, 2004-2005 Winner Georgia

Green Mountain Book Award, 2006 Winner Grades 9-12 Vermont

Heartland Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature, 2005 Finalist United States

Michael L. Printz Award, 2004 Winner United States

Society of School Librarians International Book Awards, 2003 Honor Book Language Arts Grades 7-12 Novels United States

Volunteer State Book Award, 2006 4th Place Grades 7-12 Tennessee

Best Books

Booklist Book Review Stars, Sep. 1, 2003 American Library Association

Booklist Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 2003 American Library Association

Booklist Top 10 Black History Titles for Youth, 2004 American Library Association

Capitol Choices, 2004 The Capitol Choices Committee

Children's Literature Choice List, 2004 Children's Literature

Choices, 2004 Cooperative Children's Book Center

Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Ninth Edition, 2005 H.W. Wilson

Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Supplement to the Eighth Edition, 2004 H.W. Wilson

Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2004 National Council for the Social Studies

Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, June 16, 2003 Cahners

Recommended Teen Books, 2003 Bank Street College of Education

School Library Journal Book Review Stars, June 2003 Cahners

Senior High Core Collection, Seventeenth Edition, 2007 The H. W. Wilson Co.

Senior High School Library Catalog, Sixteenth Edition, 2004 Supplement, 2004 H.W. Wilson

YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, 2004 American Library Association

YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, 2004 American Library Association

YALSA Teens' Top Ten, 2003 American Library Association ; Nominee

YALSA Teens' Top Ten, 2003 American Library Association ; Winner

Young Adults' Choices , 2005 International Reading Association

Review Excerpt(s)

“There's no romanticizing. The exhaustion is real… But from the first page, readers feel the physical reality of Bobby's new world.” - Hazel Rochman (Booklist, Sep. 1, 2003 (Vol. 100, No. 1))

“Johnson manages to convey a story that is always complex, never preachy. The somewhat pat ending doesn't diminish the impact of this short, involving story.” - Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, June 1, 2003 (Vol. 71, No. 11))

“Each nuanced chapter feels like a poem in its economy and imagery; yet the characters—Bobby and the mother of his child, Nia, particularly, but also their parents and friends, and even newborn Feather—emerge fully formed.” - Publishers Weekly (Publishers Weekly)

Connections 

Teaching Guide for The First Part Last:

http://wildgeeseguides.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/first-part-last.html

The teaching guide lists several discussion question and activities. One of my favorites is one in which the students write a letter to Nia describing what Feather and Bobby are going through. This activitiy brings in creative writing skills and recall.

Angela Johnson audio on her African-American protagonists:

http://www.teachingbooks.net/slideshows/johnson/Protagonists.html