Buy new:
$29.23
FREE delivery May 15 - 16
Ships from: Orion LLC
Sold by: Orion LLC
$29.23
FREE delivery May 15 - 16. Details
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$29.23 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$29.23
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Orion LLC
Ships from
Orion LLC
Sold by
Orion LLC
Sold by
Orion LLC
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt. You may receive a partial or no refund on used, damaged or materially different returns.
Read full return policy
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt. You may receive a partial or no refund on used, damaged or materially different returns.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$5.64
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
Shipped fast and reliably through the Amazon Prime program! Book may contain some writing, highlighting, and or cover damage. Shipped fast and reliably through the Amazon Prime program! Book may contain some writing, highlighting, and or cover damage. See less
FREE delivery Wednesday, May 15 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery Thursday, May 9. Order within 1 hr 57 mins
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$29.23 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$29.23
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the authors

Andrea Davis Pinkney
+ Follow
J. Brian Pinkney
+ Follow
See all
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Ella Fitzgerald: The Tale of a Vocal Virtuosa (Great Black Performers, 3) Hardcover – April 1, 2002

by Andrea Pinkney (Author), Brian Pinkney (Illustrator)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 110 ratings
See all formats and editions
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$29.23","priceAmount":29.23,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"29","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"23","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"7gaiTSyhivdQCjbnAX48k1udcZUypHB27wUkxxkHExF9LpzfHfG7FzCxxz23wGtthMRNxR1T2mG5kAgu6Zr%2BH%2FEweXxWv6WCkXelGESTfoX3ZU%2BifNhlFiGJtT2Dc3tzZnU1eFA8dNBqhe3REhp4OTzBlctl7vgKcKrwnhSdvs5Er58TrlsBI5EP1XW6K6rL","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$5.64","priceAmount":5.64,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"5","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"64","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"7gaiTSyhivdQCjbnAX48k1udcZUypHB2fHzrQROezfJJttoXWuQpnrfLBLPIww6ZsRc7nfW4HFdj8YWA0DeFrTTv3f7J%2F88eMVbYu5CumTSlAPJennY0V1RrMt8S9ne23OXaUyvPYz0L4PAm2CjpR%2BjYUCC83Jhpm5f2klkFYlliRQ65cmIp8BmM%2BcJmKcjT","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

Ella Fitzgerald began her life as a singer on the stage of the Apollo Theater when she was just seventeen years old. Her rich voice and vocal innovations brought her fame and a remarkable career than spanned half a century and won her generations of fans around the world. Acclaimed author Andrea Davis Pinkney has told Ella's inspiring story in the voice of Scat Cat Monroe, a feline fan whose imagined narrative sings with the infectious rhythms of scat. Two-time Caldecott Honor winner Brian Pinkney's dramatic perspectives and fantastical images offer a jazzy improvisation all their own.
Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Reading age
    5 - 9 years
  2. Part of series
    Great Black Performers
  3. Print length
    32 pages
  4. Language
    English
  5. Grade level
    Kindergarten - 4
  6. Lexile measure
    700L
  7. Dimensions
    9.5 x 10.75 inches
  8. Publisher
    Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
  9. Publication date
    April 1, 2002
  10. ISBN-10
    0786805684
  11. ISBN-13
    978-0786805686
  12. See all details
Next page
The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Frequently bought together

Ella Fitzgerald: The Tale of a Vocal Virtuosa (Great Black Performers, 3)
$29.23
Get it May 15 - 16
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
Ships from and sold by Orion LLC.
+
Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra (Caldecott Honor Book) (Great Black Performers, 2)
$8.69
Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
One of these items ships sooner than the other.
Show details Hide details
Choose items to buy together.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The talented husband-and-wife team behind Duke Ellington turns to jazz biography once again, this time showcasing the First Lady of Song. Narrated by Scat Cat Monroe, a feline in a zoot suit, the book spins four "tracks" on Fitzgerald's life, from her childhood in Yonkers performing on street corners, to her discovery at a 1934 talent contest at the legendary Apollo Theatre to her move into the "ping-pong rhythms" of bebop. Whether swinging at the Savoy "to a house packed tighter than the A train" or breaking the racial barrier at many clubs ("Ella's popularity showed them that a true star has no color it just shines"), the singer's career is expertly framed to fit a picture book format. The prose, while occasionally labored, swings to a syncopated beat and piles on the synesthesia ("Ella rolled out a tune sweet enough to bake"; "Her voice was quick-fried rhythm, with a brassy satin twist"). Brian Pinkney turns out some of his best work yet. Rendered in a pleasingly high-contrast palette of pastels, the scratchboard illustrations are invested with magical realism, complete with dancers flying off the pages and topsy-turvy musicians. A particularly memorable spread about Ella's hit "How High the Moon" launches her into space on a trumpet with Dizzy Gillespie. A "skippity-hop-doo-dee-bop" picture book. Ages 5-9.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-4-Scat Cat Monroe, a feline who earned his name by knowing the "Queen of Scat," tells her story from "small-town girl to the First Lady of Song." The text, divided into four tracks (chapters), highlights Fitzgerald's early days in Harlem, singing with the Chick Webb Orchestra at the Savoy, and performing bebop with Dizzy Gillespie at Carnegie Hall. In a playful, conversational tone, this work nearly sings the rhythms of scat. Lively words and phrases like "Her voice was quick-fried rhythm" and "her scat swung to cloud nine and back" are scattered throughout. Brian Pinkney's distinctive scratchboard-and-acrylic paintings evoke the rhythm of the text and invite readers along on the ride. They will enjoy finding Scat Cat himself on most of the spreads. Bright colors, jazzy words, and energetic artwork bring the music of scat and Fitzgerald to life. A page of biographical information is included. This beautifully rendered tribute to the "Vocal Virtuosa" will be a welcome addition in all libraries.
Shauna Yusko, King County Library System, Bellevue, WA
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; 1st edition (April 1, 2002)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 32 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0786805684
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0786805686
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 5 - 9 years
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 700L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ Kindergarten - 4
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.5 x 10.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 110 ratings

About the authors

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Previous page
  1. Andrea Davis Pinkney

    Andrea Davis Pinkney

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

    See more on the author's page
  2. J. Brian Pinkney

    J. Brian Pinkney

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    As a child, Brian Pinkney loved drawing pictures on every piece of paper he could find. He also loved watching his father, Caldecott medalist, Jerry Pinkney, illustrate books for children. Brian couldn't wait to grow up and do the same thing.

    Today Brian Pinkney is a New York Times bestselling illustrator who has created numerous books for young readers, including two Caldecott Honor Books, The Faithful Friend by Robert D. San Souci and Duke Ellington by Andrea Davis Pinkney, his wife and frequent collaborator.

    Brian has been awarded the Coretta Scott King Honor Award for illustration on three occasions, as well as the Coretta Scott King medal.

    He is a five-time NAACP Image Award nominee, and winner of the Boston Globe/Horn Book Award, as well as the recipient of many American Library Association Notable Book citations.

    Brian is also a writer who has authored several acclaimed picture books based on his own experiences and interests. These include The Adventures of Sparrowboy; Max Found Two Sticks, hailed by The Horn Book as one of the classic children’s books of all time. On the Ball; Cosmo and the Robot, and JoJo’s Flying Side Kick. Brian’s books have been translated into numerous languages, reaching a broad and diverse mix of children.

    Brian has been named among the “25 Most Influential People in our Children’s Lives” by Children’s Health magazine. He has served on the faculty in the Master’s Degree of Illustration department at the School of Visual Arts. He is a former chairperson for the Society of Illustrators Original Art Show.

    Brian Pinkney lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife and frequent collaborator, New York Times bestselling author Andrea Davis Pinkney.

    See more on the author's page
Next page

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
110 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Laura Payne
5.0 out of 5 stars Best Ever Ella Book for K-5
Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2010
Verified Purchase
I am an elementary school music teacher, and I purchased this book as part of a lesson on Ella Fitzgerald. It's a little long for the little ones, but we can make it through. The upper grades love all the facts about Ella that are found in the book, and I love the "Scat Cat Monroe" narrator. This is a wonderful book to educate children about Ella. And EVERYONE needs to know about her!
6 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Arrived Quickly, just as described.
Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2018
Verified Purchase
Children heard the story then wanted to read it!
Helpful
 Report
Benny
5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous tribute to an amazing legend
Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2011
Verified Purchase
This book, in both words and illustrations, is utterly gorgeous. It builds a beautiful, and accurate, picture of the life of one of the greatest jazz legends. Highly recommend this to all ages.
3 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
P. Deley
4.0 out of 5 stars I don't know how kids would take to this book ...
Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2015
Verified Purchase
I don't know how kids would take to this book but I'm sure it could turn a lot of adults on the Ella's singing.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Aida
5.0 out of 5 stars Ella Fitzgerald
Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2012
I could not help but leave the review for last on this one. When a classy cat is the narrator, you know it's going to be a good book. As classy as Ella Fitzgerald was, are the binding, paper illustrations, and status of this book. Written much differently from the rest of the books available. I am usually turned away from Ebonics, street slang, and rhyming everything. Surprisingly, I was able to follow along almost rhythmic. I love the "Scat Cat Monroe" narrator. "You may think I look like any other cat. But baby, I'm in a class all by myself. Scat Cat's my name. Scat Cat Monroe. A name I've earned. Got my name from knowin' Ella. Ella Fitzgerald. The Queen of Scat. What's scat? you ask. Scat's the sound that don't hold back. Ella's sound-that was scat. Singing so supreme. Music's velvet-ribbon dream..." An iconic woman doesn't need a cat to tell her story but we need something to get kids engaged since this is about music way before their era. It was a great book to jive with. Beautiful pictures and a nice history lesson on this wonderful woman! Highly recommend this to all ages.
6 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
A. Bozzo
5.0 out of 5 stars LOVELY Book!
Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2011
I'm a middle school teacher who is currently using this book with her students. We are not only enjoying it for the fabulous story told in the voice of "Scat-Cat Monroe", but we are also using it to examine the personification, alliteration, similes, and metaphors that abound in the story. The students love the quality papers and the awesome illustrations. There are some great YouTube videos that you can search that help supplement the story and really make it come to life for the kids. Great for Women's History month as well.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
C. M. Chen
5.0 out of 5 stars the first lady of song
Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2003
The Pinkney couple's biography on Ella Fitzgerald is a delightful read for young children who want to learn more about the talented jazz artist. The use of narrator Scat Cat Monroe as a device to engage children is successful especially due to his use of language. The rhymes and rhythms the authors adopt to tell the story echo the snazziness of the music at the time. Young readers will thoroughly enjoy getting to know more about the artist Fitzgerald through this story.
8 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
E. M. Matthews
5.0 out of 5 stars I love Ella
Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2003
I found a children's book about her, even better. It was a great book to jive with. Beautiful pictures, and a nice history lesson on this wonderful woman!
5 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Peter
5.0 out of 5 stars A great read!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 29, 2015
Verified Purchase
A great way to introduce children to a jazz great.
Report
Red Bus Book and Theatre Lover
4.0 out of 5 stars Playful and attractive
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 11, 2018
Verified Purchase
This books plays with jazz terms and vocabulary to introduce Ella Fitzgerald's life. It could be a little confusing to children because of this fun use of language, so I am not sure I would use it as a class read-aloud, but for a jazz-loving household it would be an absolute treasure. There is a useful fact page at the back. The illustrations are very striking, inspired by Harlem artists.
Report