Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe. On the outside, you couldn’t find two girls who looked more different. But on the inside, they were alike–full of hopes and dreams and plans of what might be.
Ella Fitzgerald’s velvety tones and shube-doobie-doos captivated audiences. Jazz greats like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington couldn’t wait to share the stage with her, but still, Ella could not book a performance at one of the biggest clubs in town–one she knew would give her career its biggest break yet.
Marilyn Monroe dazzled on the silver screen with her baby blue eyes and breathy boo-boo-be-doos. But when she asked for better scripts, a choice in who she worked with, and a higher salary, studio bosses refused.
Two women whose voices weren’t being heard. Two women chasing after their dreams and each helping the other to achieve them. This is the inspiring, true story of two incredibly talented women who came together to help each other shine like the stars that they are.
My Review:
I received a copy of this picture book from author Vivian Kirkfield in exchange for an honest review.
I have been looking forward to this story coming out for a long time and am thrilled to share it with my classroom. I love finding stories about people in history who left an impact on the world. Vivian has a gift for storytelling and sharing historical narratives. She captured the relationship between Marilyn and Ella in a stunning lyrical format that shows readers the importance of friendship and determination. These two women stood up for what they believed in and did not let anyone tell them differently. The illustrations Alleanna Harris are vibrant and capture the time- period beautifully. The back of the book has more information about the two women as well as a black and white photo of them together. This unknown Civil Rights story is a perfect addition to any historical unit. I look forward to seeing what Vivian and Alleanna will be writing next.
Ages 6 and up
40 Pages
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