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Spotlighting
picture books (PB)
with
musical hooks (Jamz)

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MAKING THEIR VOICES HEARD

3/5/2022

29 Comments

 

​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)

Picture
 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.
29 Comments
Sherri
3/9/2022 09:17:10 pm

MAKING THEIR VOICES HEARD is a book I’ll search for in the library or will purchase. I want to know more about this unique friendship between Marilyn Monroe and Ella Fitzgerald, both entertainers in their own right.

Reply
Vivian Kirkfield link
3/9/2022 10:19:58 pm

Hi Sherri...Thank you so much for wanting to get a copy of Making Their Voices Heard...it is in hundreds of libraries across the country so I hope you will be able to read it soon. And there is more detailed information in the back matter of the book about both of these fascinating women.

Reply
Tonnye Fletcher
4/21/2022 09:42:35 pm

Hi, Sherri, Thanks for coming in! It is a wonderful story of Marilyn and Ella! I hope you've had a chance to take a closer look! Please share PBJamz with anyone else who might find these resources and book suggestions helpful! Stop in anytime! New content drops every Thursday.

Reply
Jany Campana link
3/10/2022 04:26:29 am

Thank you Vivian for all your inspiration! MAKING YOUR VOICES HEARD is not just my favorite picture book, but my favorite book of all time!!!

Reply
Vivian Kirkfield link
3/15/2022 07:58:33 pm

WOW! That's high praise indeed, dear Jany. I'm grateful for your support and your kind words. I'm thinking you must be an Ella and/or Marilyn fan. And a lover of music, too. What about the book captured your heart?

Reply
Tonnye Fletcher
4/21/2022 09:43:55 pm

Thanks for popping in, Jany! It's a fabulous book! I bought a copy for my music classroom! So many layers. . . .thanks for all your support and friendship!

Reply
Morgan Lau link
3/10/2022 04:33:43 am

Look forward to reading this book! Thank you Tonnye and love your website. So much great information!

Reply
Vivian Kirkfield link
3/15/2022 08:00:31 pm

Thank you so much, Morgan. I'm so glad you stopped by - and I agree - Tonnye's website is a gold mine.

Reply
Tonnye Fletcher
4/21/2022 09:46:53 pm

Aww, thanks, Vivian! And thanks for joining me and helping me make it a wonderful place of music, teaching, inclusion, writing, and more! You're a hero, and I sure do appreciate you!

Tonnye Fletcher
4/21/2022 09:45:25 pm

Thanks so much, Morgan! I'm so glad you like it and find it helpful! Please share PBJamz with others who might find it helpful as well, and stop back in any time. Blessings!

Reply
Monica Freeman
3/10/2022 08:03:55 am

This is such a fantastic mentor text, and the extra tips here have opened another window of opportunity!

Reply
Vivian Kirkfield link
3/15/2022 08:02:07 pm

Hi Monica...so glad you are using VOICES as a mentor text - I'm a big fan of using mentor texts when I write a manuscript.

Reply
Tonnye Fletcher
4/21/2022 09:48:17 pm

Thanks so much Monica for stopping in to PBJamz! I'm thrilled that you found some valuable takeaways! Stop back in any time. New content drops each Thursday with more amazing guests and lots more ideas!

Reply
Steena Hernandez
3/12/2022 11:53:53 am

What a great interview! It was such a treat to be able to hear the inspiration behind this book, and hearing the ways Vivian found out more about these amazing women's lives and friendship. I love this story so much! Thank you for sharing! :)

Reply
Vivian Kirkfield link
3/15/2022 08:03:47 pm

I'm so happy you love the story, Steena. Every manuscript I write seems to requires lots of digging for information - and with this one, I was so fortunate to get to speak with the woman who had worked with Ella for 37 years.

Reply
Tonnye Fletcher
4/21/2022 09:49:46 pm

It is a GREAT story, Steena! Thanks so much for stopping in. I'm so glad you found some helpful research nuggets in our chat! Good luck with your own research! :-)

Reply
Darla Christie
3/14/2022 05:08:00 am

Such a delightful interview! Loved learning about the origins of this book. Thank you Tonnye and Vivian for sharing!

Reply
Vivian Kirkfield link
3/15/2022 08:05:07 pm

Oh yes - it's fascinating to find out how stories got their start. I'm so glad you enjoyed the interview, Darla.

Reply
Tonnye Fletcher
4/21/2022 09:50:59 pm

Thanks for joining us, Darla! You are very welcome! I appreciate your friendship and support!

Reply
Maryellen annese link
3/14/2022 11:05:48 am

Thanks for the teacher tips! I can’t wait to check this one out! Thanks Tonnye and Vivian!

Reply
Vivian Kirkfield link
3/15/2022 08:08:08 pm

Hurray for teachers! What grade do you teach, Maryellen? I taught kindergarten back in the day when kindergarten was a place where teachers read picture books all day and the children played with blocks and finger painted.
I'm so glad Tonnye provided all of the amazing activities and resources!

Reply
Tonnye Fletcher
4/21/2022 09:53:16 pm

Maryellen, I'm glad you enjoyed it and hope you have a chance to read it soon! It's a great book! Thanks for stopping in! I hope you'll join us again. New content drops each Thursday.

Reply
Katie McEnaney
3/14/2022 11:41:10 am

Love all these different ideas of how to incorporate this book into the classroom. Kids need to see friendships represented in so many different ways - even from adults!

Reply
Vivian Kirkfield link
3/15/2022 08:10:58 pm

That's so true, Katie! If kids see diversity in books, and friendships between people who are different, they learn that's how it can be/will be. And didn't Tonnye amass an amazing array of activities and resources for parents, teachers and kids!

Reply
Tonnye Fletcher
4/21/2022 09:54:43 pm

Yes, this friendship is a great model for how we can be friends with people different from us! I'm glad you enjoyed this episode, Katie, and hope you'll pop back in again. I'm here every Thursday with new content and new interviews!

Reply
Jennifer Cowan
3/16/2022 09:16:56 am

What a great and informative interview- I had no idea that these two great ladies were friends. I’m headed to my local Childrens bookstore next week and can’t wait to get my hands on this book! Also recommending it to several teacher friends. Thank you so much for this interview and book!!!🌸🌸🌸

Reply
Tonnye Fletcher
4/21/2022 09:56:14 pm

So amazing, right?! I'm so glad you enjoyed it and hope you've had a chance to read the book! It's fabulous! Please share PBJamz with anyone else you think might benefit from it as well! Blessings!

Reply
Andrew W
3/22/2022 04:11:36 am

Thanks for sharing!!! This is amazing!! Reach out and touch the lives of all those around you!! I’m so happy to see happiness in these PB&Jamz!!

Reply
Tonnye Fletcher
4/21/2022 09:57:13 pm

Thanks for popping in and checking things out, Andrew! I sure do appreciate you, and so glad you like it! :-)

Reply



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