THAT SWINGIN' SOUND by Rekha Rajan

Music, Access, Creativity, and Much, Much More

If you love books and music, don't miss this conversation about collaboration, the power of persistence and tenacity, and lots of gushing over beautiful illustrations and amazing music by two dear friends who are inviting you into this precious conversation!

THAT SWINGIN' SOUND:The Musical Friendship of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong

This beautiful book gives some of the backstory of two of the most iconic jazz performers of the mid-twentieth century, and then details how their twisty, twining, challenging paths eventually brought them together where they experienced even more success.  The language of this book takes the journey too -- twisting dance words into melodies and song into movement. Rekha does such a lovely job of creating music with her words all the way through this text in so many ways  --from rich similes to fun scat sections to simply beautiful combinations that sing and play their way through the book.  The art also sings and swings its way from page to page and cover to cover.  What a beautiful book about a beautiful duo that made beautiful music that makes all our lives more beautiful!

A Little Jam. . .(The Music Kind)

Choosing this was hard!  There is so much amazing music by Louis and Ella!  I chose this one for a couple of reasons:  It has them singing separately and together. Louis plays his horn. It's appropriate for kids (I try to choose pieces without a lot of heavy romance, ie kissing, etc.).  If it had them scatting it would be absolutely perfect, and if it was a live performance video, it would be even more perfect. Sigh. We can dream.  I can tell you this -- I cannot listen to Louis without smiling and Ella's voice often makes me just close my eyes.  This music -- pretty much anything by this duo is absolutely sublime!  If this one isn't your jam, there are plenty more on the YouTube playlist, along with play-along videos, body percussion, sing-alongs and more. Check it out in the links section.

​Teacher Tips, Tricks and Topics

• Social Studies
  • Black history/civil rights
    • Apollo Theater
    • Black performers vs. white performers (difference and similarities)
    • Change over time -- black performers in the 1940s-1960s compared to black performers of today.
  • US Geography -- New York, New Orleans (and lots of other places mentioned in the book), map skills, compare and contrast various places, etc.
  • Various forms of transportation
    • Walking
    • Riverboat
    • Trains
    • Cars (pictures only in the book)
• SEL (Social/Emotional Learning)
  • The power of teamwork
  • Resilience
  • Perseverance/Tenacity
  • Being brave/trying something new
• ELA (English/language arts/reading/spelling)
  • Nonsense words (tie in with scatting)
  • Onomatopoeia
  • Figurative language
    • Similes (scavenger hunt in the book, use as mentor text, write your own similes, etc.)
  • Verbs
    • Strong verbs vs. weak verbs
    • Changing forms -ed, -ing endings, etc.

​​Tips and Topics for Music Teachers

• Music History 1940s-1960s
  • Civil rights and its impact
  • The rise of jazz
  • Famous black performers
  • Musical styles 
  • Musical landmarks
• Biographies
  • Louis Armstrong
  • Ella Fitzgerald
• Jazz as a genre
  • Instruments
  • Performers
  • Characteristics
• Scatting
  • Who?
  • Why?
  • How?
• Jazz rhythms
• Careers in music
  • Singer
  • Instrumentalist
  • Dancer
  • Producer
  • Theater director
  • Teacher

​​Writing Prompts from Tonnye

1. Choose a song by Louis and Ella.  Close your eyes and listen to the whole piece of music. Then write a sentence, paragraph, or longer piece (depending on age and ability) about your thoughts and feelings about the piece.
2. Louis played trumpet and sang.  Which would you rather do?  Why?
3. After reading the book, what was your favorite page or spread (2 facing pages)?  Write about why you chose that part.
4. Louis Armstrong was often called "Louie" Armstrong, but he said in an interview he actually preferred Louis "Lewis".  If your name can be pronounced more than one way, write about which pronunciation you prefer and why.  OR if you have a name that is often mispronounced, or people call you a nickname or something different, write about that and how it makes you feel.
5. Louis and Ella made quite a team!  Write a story about a set of partners that are better together than they are apart.
6. Write a story about Louis and Ella told from the point of view of Louis's trumpet and/or Ella's microphone.
7. Change Louis and Ella into animal characters. Write THEIR story.
8. Ella and Louis mostly sang and played jazz music.  Do you like this genre? Why/why not?
9. Both Ella and Louis were famous for their scatting skills.  Scatting is singing in the moment with made-up/nonsense words.  Write your own song using nonsense words.
10. Ella was an orphan (She didn't have living parents who took care of her.) Write about how you think it would feel to be an orphan.
11. Louis got in trouble in New Orleans for disturbing the peace and was taken away from his family and had to live far away.  How do you think he felt being far away from the people he cared about?
12. Have you ever gotten in trouble?  How did it make you feel?
13. Louis and Ella both had moments where they were afraid.  When you are afraid, what do you do? How do you handle being afraid?
14. Write a letter to the author and/or the illustrator, telling them your favorite parts of the book. Include at least one question you have about their work.
15. Write a poem about something the book made you think about.
16. When things got hard or scary, Louis and Ella did not give up.  Why is it important to keep trying even if you feel scared or if what you're trying to do seems too hard?
17. What is one important lesson we can learn from Louis and/or Ella?  How can you use that lesson to help you or someone you care about?  
18. Take a music walk!  10 minutes. Walk around your school, your neighborhood, or your yard or a park.  Jot down all the "music" you hear.  Then go home and write about your experience hearing music everywhere.

Writing Tips from Rekha

When I finish a manuscript (even if I think it is done and perfect), I step away from it for a couple of weeks and come back to read with fresh eyes. It ALWAYS helps me to tweak and make edits!

Links, More Fun, Extensions for Families and Everyone!

YouTube playlist with so much Louis/Ella music, along with karaoke versions of some of their music, commentary, music class activities, biographies and more!

​Pinterest board full of jazz info and activities, scat singing, biographical info, coloring sheets and other things related to Louis and Ella.

Guest Links and Giveaways

Check out Rekha's links, visit her website, order her books (Review them and request them from your library as well!!). Visit and follow her on socials and see how and where you can connect!  Make sure you leave a comment below so you're eligible for her giveaways!

Rekha's website
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Rekha's Twitter/X
​Rehka's Amazon page (with all her books)
Rehka's Goodreads page

Goodreads page for THAT SWINGIN' SOUND (due out October 14, 2025!). Pre-orders are available! Read reviews, find out where to purchase, write your own review!

Rekha is offering a Winner's Choice Giveaway!  Leave a comment below to enter and IF you win, you can choose one of the following:

• A copy of THAT SWINGIN' SOUND
• A virtual school visit
• PB critique