Ella Fitzgerald

This series is always a joy to read, it’s a really nice introduction to well known people for little children. Of course the plot is always a little bit fast but that’s to be expected and it’s totally understandable.
This was a nice recap of Ella Fitzgerald's life. I think it's very good for children to read that if you believe in it you can achieve your dreams just like Ella did. It's a beautiful message.

I am constantly marveled at the consistent and divine pleasure of these annotated biographies with amazing illustrations. This is another gem in the "Little People, Big World" series!

This very simple, attractively drawn life of Ella Fitzgerald would make a nice introduction to a very young future Ella fan.

The Queen of Jazz is someone who has inspired me and with this ’my first...’ Little People, Big Dreams I am certain Ella with inspire many others.
A stripped down journey and stunning illustrations, it is still a powerful story and a perfect read for any little ones.

The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The ‘My First Little People, Big Dreams’ series provides informative and inspirational biographies about people who left a mark on this earth, no matter what difficulties they have encountered.
These stories are very short, but that’s because they’re books for children, so it’s totally understandable.
I think they are a very smart and wonderful way to introduce little children to such important figures.
Ella's story is a very inspirational one and it teaches us to never give up on our dreams and keep fighting for them 'till we achieve them.

Awesome story book. It relates in very simple phrases the life and love of Ella Fitzgerald. A woman known for her musical voice. Loved the illustrations. Excellent for kids and parents who want their kids exposed to historical figures.
Thank you Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another great inspiring book from this series, great legends for little people to learn and be inspired by. Fun and educational reads


Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

I have bought several of the 'Little People, Big Dreams' book series for the school library and would encourage others to do so too. They offer an insight into the lives of people who genuinely made a difference for a variety of reasons. I find the texts engaging and the visual style is perfect to hold the readers interest. The Ella Fitzgerald text will be loved by my students and I can see it prompting discussion about her life and achievements, especially as part of our music appreciation curriculum. I'll be adding several copies to our school library.

Beautiful artwork, full of vivid colours that will definitely attract younger readers, and an exceptional way to present Fitzgerald's story in a simple and exciting book with an excellent message behind it.

This is another entry in this cool early history books for kids. This time it is Ella Fitzgerald.

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Very simple story of her life. Mostly pictures, but the pictures, as it is an a picture book, help move the story along, and tell their own part. A good first introduction for the young reader, of another important woman in musical and American history.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

Very cute illustrations and appropriate for the age group, I would recommend this title to preschool age providers and parents who are in search of material about music, black history, or American icons.

'Ella Fitzgerald: My First Ella Fitzgerald' by Mª Isabel Sánchez Vegara with illustrations by Bàrbara Alca is a board book about one of my very favorite singers.

Ella Fitzgerald grew up in New York. When the school she went to was too strict, she would run away and sing and dance in the streets. After winning a singing competition, she was on her way to singing with Chick Webb and his big band, but that wasn't enough for Ella, who became the First Lady of Song.

I loved this adaptation of Ella Fitzgerald's life. I especially loved the illustrations. There are so many fun details in them, from the animals watching little Ella dance, to the portraits of Ella (and the cool green wallpapter), to the many records Ella recorded. It was just fun all the way around.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Childrens, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

My First Ella Fitzgerald is a new early reader book in the Little People, Big Dreams series. I've reviewed a number of the books in the series on my blog.

This is the simplified version of the book, available in boardbook format. Written by Mª Isabel Sánchez Vegara and illustrated by Barbara Alca, it was released 5th Feb 2019 by Quarto on their Frances Lincoln imprint.

I am continually surprised at how these books can take the factual tragedies and challenges of the lives of the people they depict and do it in an appropriate manner for 3+ year olds. I really believe it's vitally important that we not forget the realities of the past, lest we be doomed to repeat them.

This book is charming. It does understandably gloss over some of the sadder parts of her early life (she was homeless for a time and busked and danced on the streets of NYC). It does not cut that part of her life from the biography completely. I was impressed by that.

The content is appropriate and appealing for all ages. It would make a superlative read-along or reading circle selection as well as a family bedtime read.

These are wonderful, high quality books.

Five stars.

Like the others in this series, this book is a quick intro to the life of a talented and remarkable public figure. Ella Fitzgerald's life and accomplishments are introduced to kids with bright colors and a fun attention to detail. Kids can simply appreciate the story -- a girl pursues her dreams and finds success -- but can also notice the details given in the illustrations and ask questions. One illustration out of several depicts Ella standing near a "Whites Only" sign with a cool, devil-may-care demeanor, which can spark a conversation about racism and the bravery many African-Americans displayed in pursuit of their livelihoods in the face of personal and systemic prejudice.
This was a cute title that would be excellent for women's history and black history month, as well as for any aspiring singers and musicians of any background.

Ella Fitzgerald teaches young girls that their dreams can never be too big and they can do anything they set their minds to.

3.5 Stars

I felt this was bit fluffier than other Little People, Big Dreams titles, but it was still cute and charming.

Gorgeous illustrations. A good introduction to a wonderful artist. Better introduction and conclusion than other titles in the series.

What a lovely little book, from the Little people, BIG DREAMS series, about Ella Fitzgerald.

Written in short, simple sentences that really bring new role models to a young generation. The illustrations are beautiful and quirky in a naive style....absolutely charming and educational too.

Every young child seems to loves music and dance. In Ella Fitzgerald they have that young talent who had the X Factor. Not sure running away from school and busking on the streets of New York City is the perfect role model. But as with other strong females in this series she had ambition at a young age and followed her dreams.
This is the message in these potted biographies aimed at babbies and todlers but which will engage early readers themselves with the simple sentences and vivid illustrations,
There is much more than here, that could be said about Ella's life and I'm happy that one drawing in particular flags up the rascism of the day.
I think the idea is to keep it simple and introduce the characters who can then be read about in greater detail by the growing child and young teenager.
A great idea for a series: Little People, BIG DREAMS. The story does not suffer in being translated into English and as a board book should be robust and stand the test of time of grubby hands and inquisitive fingers. A book to be read and adored growing up celebrating music and a unique voice.

Another great book by Isabel Sanchez Vegara. Ella Fitzgerald is definitely age appropriate and tells the story of Ella simply for those younger children.

This is the 4th book I review from this collection, and it was stunning as the others.
A very inspirational story from little Ella following her dreams.
Every kid should have access to this collection!

As an adult, the picture book versions are definitely more enjoyable than the board book versions, but I still thought this board book did a great job of giving details about Ella's life in a limited format. I would definitely buy this for toddlers in my life!

I love how the author created sentences to mirror the beautiful music of Ella Fitzgerald. Things like "She turned somersaults with her voice" vividly describe the music she created. The illustrations are magnificent.

I received a copy of this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was aware of this series for a while but hadn't read any of them until I picked up Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Tales of Extraordinary Women and was inspired by stories of important women around the world. I started the Little People, Big Dreams series with Emmeline Pankhurst, leader of the British suffragette movement who helped women win the right to vote. I was eager to read more.

As is the gist with all of the stories in this series, Ella Fitzgerald achieved incredible things as a grown woman but began life as a child with a dream. This book provides a brief biography into her childhood and then life as "The First Lady of Song". While simple in its idea, this book provides a creative and insightful look at Fitzgerald and is an inspirational read for both adults and young children. I especially enjoy how it is presented; it is visually so fun and cute, appealing to young minds who now have the opportunity to read about important female figures in history.

This is such a wonderful series.

This well illustrated board book is part of the My First series of the Little People, Big Dreams books. In this one, the youngest children can learn about Ella Fitzgerald. The reader will see that singing was what Ella had to do and will learn about her evolution as a songstress. The concept of the series, that you can dream and achieve your dream comes through. Another welcome addition to one of my favorite series.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.

I've read 4 books of the Little People, Big Dreams series, and since they're very similar (thus I can only say the same things about them), I've reviewed them together:
These are exactly the books I would love to dive in with my kid (once I'll have one)! They're very short, with very simple and short text - well, they're picture books. It's definitely suitable for only very little kids, toddlers. In themselves, at least. I can imagine telling a more detailed story about Hawking, Parks, Fitzgerald, Pankhurst, or any other hero of these books to a bit older child - I think when an adult reads it with them, adds things, and it's possible to discuss, than it could be quite enjoyable for even 5-6 year-olds. I find it very important to give role models to kids, ones who'd done something in their lives worth mentioning, especially in this age when all these celebrities and influencers are thrown at us who have never done anything useful that would earn them respect. These little board books (I've downloaded like 4) give help with that from a very early age, and that's wonderful!

Ella Fitgerald is an encouraging story for kids who have a passion to make it big. Although the story involves Ella leaving school and sining on the streets, an argument can be made that she wanted to sing on stage that she really dedicated time and effort to make that a reality. The language in this story is beautiful. I appreciate metaphors and similes and this story was like a sweet melody.

WE LOVE THIS SERIES! Great illustrations, simple uplifting story, gorgeously presented when finished copies are bound. It’s. a no brainier to stock, there’s just so many coming out it’s hard to know which ones to keep on the shelf.

A beautiful book that I read just in time for International Women's Day. A gorgeously illustrated telling of the story of the queen of jazz.

For this book: Ella: The words are sweet and put a smile on my face; and the illustrations have these little details that if you look, add a lot to the story. So go ahead and have fun playing ‘I Spy’ games, discuss the stories the pictures tell you, and simply enjoy the story and the illustrations! The book, while short, seamlessly introduces us to Ella and tells a lot of her life, while also including fun facts about her. All this is done in 12 pages – astounding indeed!

In Summary: for a few of the LPBD books featured together on my blog post at LadyInReadWrites
These books are adorable, admirable, and works of art all rolled together with a dose of inspiration for the youngest audiences! Buy the whole set for that little one you know 🙂

I know I am going use these as gifts in the future. And work on reading the others in the series as well soon.

Rating: A; and the board books are for up to 5 years of age while the picture books are for 5 to 8 year olds.

Disclaimer: Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group (Frances Lincoln Children’s Books) for the eARCs of the above books All reviews include my honest opinions of the books.

New in the Little People, Big Dreams series, discover the incredible life of Ella Fitzgerald. Ella always wanted to sing, even as a young girl. She constantly seized opportunities as they arose and took risks to be able to sing and entertain. She had a gift many had never heard before and she used it to the best she could. This is a child friendly biography with delightful illustrations. It is a story that shows a young woman striving to achieve her dream. This book could be used to teach young children how to write a biography, show that it is important to have a dream and strive to achieve it. This seems to be a sub-group to the series as it is simpler (for younger children) and is subtitled, "My First Ella Fitzgerald". I am not sure if that is why the section at the back of the book found in others in this series is missing. The end pages with notes, timeline etc. is something that I have come to expect and enjoy, but again, it may be because this is for a younger audience. I recommend this book to all public and school libraries.

I adore this series - such a fantastic way to introduce history and spark further discussion and learning!

Isabel Sanchez Vegara does it again! Another wonderful entry into the Little People, Big Dreams series.

This is the second children's book I've read and reviewed about Ella Fitzgerald's life. This book is fully focused on how Ella knew she wanted to be a singer very early in life and took risks, even as a young girl, to pursue her dreams. She did her best, seized opportunities as they arose, and had a gift the likes of which none had seen before. The illustrations are wonderful - bright, colorful, and lively. And I'm even more interested in her life now than I was before.

The only disappointment for me: at the end of every book in this series to date, there has been a more detailed recap about the subject's life in the back of the book, including photographs. In the digital copy that I received, this final section was lacking, and it's a feature of the series that I have learned to look forward to. It is, of course, entirely possible that it didn't make it into the digital galley version. The next time I'm at the bookstore, I'll be sure to check, and if it's in the print copy, I will gladly revise this review.

I love this series by Isabel Sanchez and the Ella Fitzgerald book was no exception. Loving Ella as a musician, I was excited to learn more about her and share the information with students. This will be an amazing book for Black History and Women's History month. Excited to add it to my class.

RATING: 4 STARS
2019; Quarto Publishing Group/Frances Lincoln Childrens
(Review Not on Blog)

(General series review) These are fabulous stories about great women and men in history (for the most part). The illustrations are so amazing, both for kids and adults. There is a brief history on the person that explains how this person contributed to history and matters.

***I received an eARC from NETGALLEY***

This is another book in the ”My first ____” series, which is for younger readers than the ”Little people. Big dreams” series.
I adore these books, and I love how well the writing and the illustrations go together. Together they tell the story of a famous person’s life, and what they overcame to reach their goals and dreams.
This book tells the story of Ella Fitzgerald.
It perfectly tells to keep on fighting for your dreams and not to give up, even if everything seems to be against you. Ella didn’t have the perfect childhood or all the opportunities handed to her, she had to work hard to achieve what she wanted, and that is perfectly shown in this book.
I received this eBook from netgalley in exchange for an honest review

This is another brilliant addition to this series – even as an adult I look out for the next book in the series being released. I love the images in this series and this is a delightful introduction to Ella Fitzgerald, one of the most amazing jazz singers we have had.

These mini books are excellent introductions to some of the well-known, and less well-known, characters that have had a great impact in our lives through a variety of subjects such as literature, women’s rights and music.

Ella was a brilliant artist with a fab story to show how she got to where she was and her story should encourage dreams for all ages, she literally went from singing on the streets of Harlem to singing to millions around the world. 5 stars from me for this one – a delightful read and one I will be highly recommending!!

This is an excellent series. The people written about in the series aren't your run of the mill children's biography subjects. But they are all intriguing people and make for interesting reading. The illustrations are going to appeal to the kids as well. These books are a good way to broaden their horizons.

I received an e-arc from net for review

I love this series, it's always a joy to read about someone who I may a lot, a bit or nothing at all. The art style is pleasing to look at, these are books would be a great addition to many elementary classrooms.