The Story of Ella Fitzgerald - (The Story of Biographies) by Kathy Trusty (Paperback)

About the Book

Ella Fitzgerald was one of the greatest singers of all time. Before she found her voice and changed the world of jazz music, she was a playful girl who wanted to become a dancer. Her life changed when people started noticing her beautiful singing voice, and she was soon hired as a singer in a famous jazz band. Explore how Ella went from being a young girl growing up in New York to an award-winning artist who made musical history.

Book Synopsis

Discover the life of Ella Fitzgerald--a story about finding your voice for kids ages 6 to 9

Ella Fitzgerald was one of the greatest singers of all time. Before she found her voice and changed the world of jazz music, she was a playful girl who wanted to become a dancer. Her life changed when people started noticing her beautiful singing voice, and she was hired as a singer in a famous jazz band. Explore how Ella went from being a young girl growing up in New York to an award-winning artist who made musical history.

• Independent reading--This Ella Fitzgerald biography is broken down into short chapters and simple language so kids 6 to 9 can read and learn on their own.
• Critical thinking--Kids will learn the Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How of Ella's life, find definitions of new words, discussion questions, and more.
• A lasting legacy--Find out how Ella's impact on music and culture is still felt today.

How will Ella's persistence and incredible talent inspire you?

Discover activists, artists, and athletes, and more from across history with the rest of The Story Of series - including famous figures like: Katherine Johnson, Simone Biles, Jackie Robinson, Maya Angelou, and Michelle Obama.

Review Quotes

"A vibrant exploration of the life of Ella Fitzgerald! Easy to read to kids or for them to read independently with engaging illustrations and text features. A great tribute to the life of Fitzgerald, covering the history with grace and accuracy!" --Kenneth Burrows, director of Rap Opera for Kids, teacher, and educational content Creator

"I couldn't put this book down! It is an enjoyable and easy-to-read biography about Ella Fitzgerald. As an educator, I am most impressed with the ease with which the author included historical facts that coincided with Ella's timeline. Young readers will certainly benefit from the illustrations and text features." --Sandra Watson, early childhood and elementary education MSE

"Kathy Trusty's The Story of Ella Fitzgerald is excellent. It is well-researched with interesting facts. The questions geared to the young readers are well-crafted and offer them encouragement to pursue biographical histories. Well-done! Kudos to Ms. Trusty!" --Vivian B. Batts, retired educator, and short story and textbook writer

"This book is an easy-to-read, accurate, and straightforward depiction of the life of Ella Fitzgerald. The author immerses you in the history that it details, and it contains some pleasing and uncommonly known facts about Ella Fitzgerald and her contribution to music and to the world. Lastly, it encourages the reader to test knowledge and comprehension of what was read throughout. Highly recommended for readers of all ages." --Dr. Karin C. Gladney, college educator, mother, and grandmother

About the Author

KATHY TRUSTY is an independent historian and a Black history educator. She has been conducting presentations, creating displays, and producing Black history programs for more than 20 years. In 2020, she published a Black history alphabet book for toddlers and preschoolers.