MAKING THEIR VOICES HEARD

​Video Interview with Vivian Kirkfield, author of MAKING THEIR VOICES HEARD

March is Women's History Month, so it is a PERFECT time to share this lovely book by Vivian Kirkfield. Notwithstanding that she is a testament to women with all that she has accomplished and is accomplishing.  This book is beautiful in so many ways.  It's about two incredible women who impacted the world in amazing ways. It's also about their friendship and how they not only honored each other,  but also helped each other, and continued a pathway of light for women to build each other up, help each other, and honor each other.  That's a legacy worth honoring. Let's all of us honor and continue their legacy -- together!

VIDEO CREDITS:
PBJamz logo -- Allison Strick
Theme song co-creators/vocals -- Annie Lynn & Tonnye Fletcher
Theme song sound engineers -- Walt Wilczewski & Chris Arms
Guest -- Vivian Kirkfield

PB (Picture Book Tasting)

 This lovely picture book biography by Vivian Kirkfield, Illustrated by Alleanna Harris tells the story of a unique friendship between Marilyn Monroe and Ella Fitzgerald, both entertainers in their own right.  It details how Marilyn helped Ella and how Ella helped Marilyn.  It's the perfect book for a Jazz unit in music class, or the perfect book to talk about Women's History (March is Women's History Month.). It's a lovely book to talk about civil rights, racism, and tearing down fences/walls that separate people. (not just racially, but these women faced bias of numerous kinds.)  It's a wonderful book to highlight during a unit/study of friendship. Or a study of the entertainment industry, etc.  There are so many layers and ways you could use this book in the regular classroom or in the music classroom.  Families will find much to love about this book, too! (C2020 by little bee books)

A Little Jam . . . (The Music kind)

Teacher Tips/Curriculum Tie-ins

For classroom teachers, there are many topics, activities to use this book and/or Ella's music. 

• A unit on friendship, unlikely friends, etc.
• Helping others
• Civil rights/racism
• Discussion of bias (race, skin color, body shape, weight/size, intelligence/perceived intelligence, gender)
• Women's History unit
• Music History/jazz study
• Venn diagrams (compare/contrast)
• Primary sources/secondary sources (back matter of MAKING THEIR VOICES HEARD)

Tips and Topics for Music Teachers

There are lots of ways and topics where Ella's music could be featured:

• Compare versions of  A Tisket, A Tasket (kid version, Ella's version) or Old MacDonald Had a Farm
• Jazz unit -- scat singing, partnerships, elements of Jazz, etc.
• Women in Jazz -- alongside Billie Holliday, Etta James and other famous women of jazz
• Black History connections -- Check out David Row's black history blogpost for lots of great resources and tips!
• Check out the YouTube playlist for great musical content (rhythm play-alongs, percussion play-alongs, biographical videos, performances, kid songs, etc.)
• Music history
• Variations of songs (A Tisket, a Tasket, Old MacDonald, etc.). Changing tempo, instrumentation, rhythmic patterns, etc.
• Listen to a lot of Ella's music -- write about your favorite song/why?
• Compare/contrast her version of  Somewhere over the Rainbow (or other songs) with other versions kids may be familiar with.

Writing Prompts/Author Tips

Writing Prompts:

• Write about an unusual/unlikely friendship
• Write about a time your first impression of someone was wrong.
• Write about a time you helped someone or a time someone helped you.
• Write about a time someone judged you based on your appearance.

Some Writing Advice from Vivian:​

• My writing motto: Magic Happens When You Make Every Word Count.
  
• Never be too busy to offer an encouraging word, a sympathetic shoulder, and a hand up.
• The only failure is the failure to keep trying.
• Nothing is impossible if you can imagine it.

Links, More Fun, Extensions for Families and Everyone!

YouTube playlist for music activities and classroom activities to go along with MAKING THEIR VOICES HEARD. Please make sure you preview videos ahead of time to make sure they are developmentally appropriate for your kids/students.  
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8LDDelelmHmSpReuhS5POifF140Rf3Te

Pinterest board with lots of additional worksheets, books, music activities, and other extensions/activities: 
https://www.pinterest.com/tonnyef/pbjamz/making-their-voices-heard/

More books about Ella:
Skit-Scat Raggedy Cat
Ella Fitzgerald
​Ella Fitzgerald:  The Tale of a Vocal Virtuosa

PBS Kids www.wpbstv.org/xavier-riddle-the-secret-museum-full-episode-i-am-jesse-owens-i-am-ella-fitzgerald-pbs-kids/
​
​Miss Ella's Playhouse  album (YouTube link)

PBJamz Snack (Peanut Butter & Jelly French Toast)

What a simple and lovely idea!  These peanut butter and jelly French toasts were delightful!  I made some with regular white bread and some with Canyon gluten free bread.  Both were wonderful!  I used grape, plum, and strawberry jelly and jam.  All of them were delicious.  We didn't feel like these needed syrup, but you could certainly add that if you wanted.   I also left out the sugar in the egg/milk mixture.  It just depends on how decadent you want to be :-) We had them for breakfast, along with bacon, but you could also have them for lunch or snack or even dinner!
https://en.petitchef.com/recipes/snacks/peanut-butter-and-jelly-french-toasts-fid-1574243

Guest Links and Giveaways

Vivian's website
Vivian's Twitter
​Vivian's Facebook


​Vivian is giving away a 30-minute Zoom session.  Authors can use the zoom session to discuss writing and/or publishing  with Vivian.  Teachers can use it for a classroom visit. To be eligible for the drawing for a 30-minute Zoom, leave a comment below.  Winner will be chosen at random from comments received.