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!

 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)

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)

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:

• 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.

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)

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

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.

Big congratulations to:
Brandy Bellittera!  Brandy won a PB Critique from me. I can't wait to read one of your stories, Brandy!
and
Steena Hernandez!  Steena won the copy of HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!  Steena, I'll be in touch to get an address to mail the book!

Join me as I interview Valerie Bolling, author of LET'S DANCE,  about musical connections, teaching points, and her new projects!

And, stay tuned NEXT WEEK when Vivian Kirkfield is with me talking girl power, music and star power, discrimination and friendship with the book MAKING THEIR VOICES HEARD.  It is a PB Biography about the wonderful friendship between Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe. Don't miss it! It drops next Thursday!

This book is an absolute joy!  From the very short rhyming couplets to the diverse and beautiful illustrations, it exudes happiness and movement! There is one spread (2 pages) of back matter (informational text) in the back of the book that explains and gives a bit more detail about each dance and its place of origin. This book is a wonderful introduction of dances of the world and would be a tremendous addition to a classroom library for classroom teachers, music teachers, and dance teachers.  It would be an integral part of a Music Around the World unit or a Dance Around the World unit, and would be a wonderful addition to a social studies unit focusing on world studies, dance, the continents, etc. For families, it is a beautiful bedtime book as the last spread ends with a child snuggled in bed counting sheep.  There are so many amazing ways to use this beautiful book! Illustrated by Maine Diaz, published by Boyd Mill Press 2020.

A super-sweet and fun little song -- perfect for Preschool - (maybe) 2nd grade.  It goes through different body movements and how music makes our bodies want to move. It begs for interaction.  You can download the music on Nancy's website 

• Here's a book review done by Kristen Larson with some teacher tips.
• Rhyme!
  • Make a list of rhyming words from the book on flash cards, worksheet, plastic egg halves, etc. and students match the rhyming words.
  • Have students try their hand at writing simple rhyming couplets.
• Vocabulary!!
  • Onomatopoeia --
    • tappity tap, etc. Find the onomatopoeia in the book.
    • Here's an excellent video from Jack Hartmann that teaches them how to spell it as well as what it is :-) 
• Verbs!
  • Swirl, twirl, tap, etc.
  • Find all the verbs (action words) in the text.
  • Brainstorm a list of other verbs that tell you how to move (hop, jump, run, etc.) 
  • Use that list to make cards and play charades or drawing games and allow students to guess the action word.
• Multi-cultural/Geography
  • Integrate with social studies for a dance field trip around the world. Read the book and ID the places on the map/globe.
  • Show videos of dances from those places.
  • Extend the study by looking at video or photos from those places.
    • ID animals, important plants, tourist attractions, etc.
• Diversity
  • The illustrations show lots of examples of diversity.  Use that as a jumping-off point for a discussion of how dance is for everyone.  Everyone is different in some way, but everyone enjoys moving their bodies to music.. (Be sensitive to the fact that some cultures and religions don't allow dance.)

​

Writing Prompts:

• Write about your favorite dance
• Write about a dance gone wrong
• Write about someone who's not a great dancer, but LOVES to dance!
• Write rhyming couplets (2 lines that rhyme)
• See if you can write 5 rhyming couplets about a topic.
• Can you try for 10?
• Write about a time you danced -- what was it like?

Author tips:
Valerie offers writing classes.  You can find out more here.

Beginning author tips from Valerie:
​1. READ as many books as you can in the genre you intend to write. Some people say that you shouldn't write a picture book until you've read at least 100 of them.
2. STUDY the basics of writing by taking a class or going to writing conferences with workshops. I teach classes. Here's my page: https://www.westportwriters.org/valerie-bolling. 
3. WRITE those ideas down and turn them into stories.
4. GET FEEDBACK on your stories. Find a critique group.
5. JOIN writing communities, like SCBWI, 12 X 12 Picture Book Challenge, and Black Creators HeadQuarters*.
 
*(if you’re Black, of course) 

https://www.peanutbutter.com/recipes/creamy-peanut-butter-dip 
Full confession -- this is not my picture :-(. I ran out of time this week and didn't actually try this recipe, but it is definitely on my radar.  If you try it, let me know how it was.  I'm planning to make it soon!  Since we're talking about dancing this week, I wanted something light, but still full of protein, and this fit the bill as a very healthy and protein-rich snack!

 Valerie's website
​
Follow Valerie on Twitter  
​
Valerie's Instagram 
​
Valerie's FB
​
Giveaways:
We still have 2 thumb drives of Annie Lynn's music available and
Valerie's publisher is kindly giving away a copy of the book LET'S DANCE

In order to be eligible for the giveaway, please comment below either:
1. A favorite dance memory
2. A tip for teachers for integrating more movement into their classrooms
3. Your favorite dance from the ones featured in the book LET'S DANCE. 
AND
if you are a teacher or NOT a teacher. 
​

You must comment by Wednesday, March 9 at midnight EST to be eligible for the prize, but comments are welcome any time if you found something helpful or have a question!

This book is perfect for second grade.  It highlights a lot of second grade content (change over time, timelines, similes. . . ). It's a bit of a longer read-aloud.  If you choose to read it to younger kids (preschool-first grade), I would definitely preview, highlight some sections to share, and shorten the read aloud.  You can also make it a more interactive read-aloud by having the students sing along with the song(s) as they are mentioned. Second -fourth graders will gain a lot from the book, and there are many hooks that will tie in beautifully to your lessons. (See the teacher tips section for specific ideas.). If you have other ways you have used this book in your classroom or discussions with your own children, please comment below, so we can all learn and grow together. 

This is a nice orchestral version without words.  For music teachers, you could have students identify instruments, tap out tempo, etc.  For classroom teachers and families, you could use this to sing along your own happy birthday song. 

Topics of Interest:
Timelines (math connection; also author ties in with trains in the back matter)
Origins of Kindergarten (German tie-ins and Kentucky tie-ins)
Using music to teach new concept/new content
Similes (Used throughout the book!). Simile search/write your own simile/simile poems
"Eureka" vocabulary word youtu.be/-jTNMzIArJY
​Change over time (social studies connections)

​**Check out the links section for more connections!

Topics/Activities:
Importance of copyright/ problems with piracy/giving credit where due
Variations on a theme (Happy Birthday song in the style of various composers.)
Changing lyrics as a form of variations (sisters sang many different lyrics to Happy Birthday tune.  Have students create further variations of lyrics.)
For younger kids, even the concept that every song was created by someone.
​
*Check out the YouTube and Pinterest links in the links section for more connections.

​

Writing Prompts:
1.  Write new lyrics to happy birthday tune
2.  "Grow a song in a garden?"  What's something else unusual you might grow in a garden?  Write about it.
3.  Write a simile poem homeschoolgiveaways.com/2016/10/free-printable-simile-poetry-worksheet/
4. Title:  Teachers Change the World
5.  Title:  The Power of a Song

Author Tips:
1.   Brainstorm a list of favorite birthday memories.  Choose one and develop it into a Picture book idea!
2.  Write from the perspective of a birthday cake, or a birthday balloon.
3.  Write about a birthday gone wrong.
​4.  Write about an untraditional birthday celebration.

YouTube Birthday Celebration songs playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8LDDelelmHkxNGiQNwyyczOpwswLUoc0 

YouTube Music Teachers Birthday Mix (Boomwhackers, recorders, freeze dance, Happy Birthday variations, etc.)  youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8LDDelelmHlx4Q1JeZmGGSDVshNCSzRK

Pinterest board with more birthday extensions:  https://www.pinterest.com/tonnyef/pbjamz/birthday-jamorama/​

You can find the recipe for these delicious PBJ cupcakes here: ​https://kellystilwell.com/peanut-butter-and-jelly-cupcakes/  They are really delicious!  They were a big hit with my family this week! The recipe is not overly difficult and turned out just right!  Next time you have a PBJ-lover with a birthday, give these a try!  Or, you know, just make them for fun! :-)  The recipe called for raspberry jam/jelly, and that 's what I used, but you could easily substitute your favorite jelly flavor.

Note:  I made these gluten free (except for the Nutter Butter garnish).  The ones with the raspberry garnish are completely gluten free.  I used King Arthur GF flour.  Everything else was the same.  For added garnish, I added a little water to the jelly and drizzled it. I crushed peanuts for added visual interest too.  

1.  Annie Lynn is giving away 2 free thumb drives full of amazing music.  Free to two teachers who comment below with a favorite birthday memory or a tip for teachers for celebrating birthdays in the classroom.   Please be sure to put in your comment you'd like to win the thumb drives of music! 
Follow Annie and find her products here:
annielynn.net
https://twitter.com/AnnieLynn215 

2.  Allison Strick -- Please check out Allison's links and follow her! Allison created the superfun PBJamz logo!
inktr.ee/ByAllisonStrick
https://twitter.com/byallisonstrick

3. Molly Ippolito -- Teachers, be sure to check out the video for a special thank-you offer from Molly! Everyone, please follow Molly and her teacher resource store  The Sunny Side!  Molly created the free birthday resource that you can access below! 
https://mollyippolitowrites429922845.wordpress.com 
twitter.com/MollyIppolito 


4.  Tonnye Fletcher -- I'm giving away 2 cool prizes!
a- a PB (picture book) critique for a manuscript of 500 words or less (non-rhyming please).  To be eligible to win, comment below about a favorite birthday memory OR a fun  birthday tip for parents or teachers to use for birthday celebrations.  Please put in your comment that you are an author or are hoping for the PB critique so I can put you in the proper giveaway.
b- a (used) copy of HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU by Margot Theis Raven This prize is available for anyone who comments below.  If this is the prize you would prefer, please note that in your comment, along with a favorite birthday memory or a favorite birthday tip for parents, teachers, music teachers, or writers!

Random drawings will be held for each prize based on your preference and eligibility.  Winners will be announced NEXT Thursday on the blog.  Comments are accepted for giveaway purposes through midnight Wednesday, March 2, 2022.

Thanks so much for joining us for the PBJamz Birthday Jamorama!  As a thank you, Molly Ippolito created this amazing birthday resource!  It's perfect for families and for teachers to celebrate special birthdays in style.  You can use it for a birthday wall or bulletin board, have your children/students use the graphic organizer to celebrate their special day, How will you use it?  Comment below and please follow Molly and check out her products here:

PBJamz is on its way!  What started as a dream a couple of years ago is slowly but surely manifesting itself in tangible and positive ways.  But, with all dreams, it takes a lot of hard work and it takes other people believing in your dream!  I am honored and so thankful to share today the logo illustration winner for the PBJamz multimedia Jamorama! It's designed to be a fun show/blog/social media explosion celebrating the connections between music and picture books in all its forms.  My hope is to provide lots of content that will be beneficial to authors who wish to integrate musical themes into their picture books, to readers who are looking for excellent picture books with musical content, live performances of music relative to kidlit, tips for classroom teachers and music teachers to use these musical gems with their students.  For parents, I hope it will be a place you can come to find great picture book recommendations with musical themes or elements.  My dream is to build a connected community around these things that I love so very much: reading, writing, teaching, and music.  However you fit into that collective, welcome to PBJamz!  The fun starts on Feb. 24.  So stay tuned, get your PBJ snacks ready to come jam with us!  Each Thursday, a yummy PBJamz snack will hit this space -- book review, video, read aloud, interviews, teacher tips, and more!

So, without further ado, here is the winner for the PBJamz logo illustration contest:

The winning illustration is by Allison Strick!  Congratulations to Allison!  She is the winner of a $50.00 Amazon gift card! 

I love how Allison's use of color and musical elements light up the screen!  There is the joie de vive I was hoping for, and you absolutely cannot go wrong with Strawberry and Grape jamming with Mr.  Peanut, center stage. And speaking of stage -- this stage, appropriately is made up of picture books!  I'm honored to make Allison's beautiful fun jammin' artwork the official logo for PBJamz, and I hope you'll find some amazing ways to support her talent too!

Here's where you can find out more about her:
https://www.allisonstrick.com/about.html, 
view her portfolio:
https://www.allisonstrick.com/portfolio.html
or commission her to do a beautiful piece of artwork for you!
https://www.allisonstrick.com/commissions.html

You can also follow her on social media to see the amazing drawing (and writing) that she's participating in!  PBJamz is not her first win, and I'm pretty sure it won't be her last!

Congratulations, Allison, and thanks for your beautiful work!

Y'all come back Thursday, Feb. 24 for my birthday jammin' celebration and the start in earnest of #PBJamz!