Book Descriptions
for Make a Pretty Sound by Eleanor Davis and Traci N. Todd
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
“Ella is a South Side girl, a Bronzeville bird, skipping in streets that smell of sweets and black-eyed peas.” A narrative that pulses with rhythm and sings with lyrical language describes the life of Ella Jenkins, who was attuned to the sounds of the world around her, including music, from the time she was a child growing up in Chicago. Ella moved to San Francisco in adulthood, continuing to absorb diverse sounds and rhythms. She learned to play conga drums, developing her own style that she shared with the children she taught as she sang old songs and wrote new ones “on the spot.” She played and sang in marches for freedom, too, but singing for children gave her the greatest hope, “for all that music can teach them about themselves and about each other.” This “First Lady of Children’s Music” eventually traveled the world, playing to and for children, and learning new songs and rhythms to share. Warm digital illustrations showcase Ella’s boundless energy and caring nature in this dynamic picture book written in the present tense. A lengthy author’s note tells more about Ella, who died at age 100 in November 2024, shortly before this book was released. Ella’s recordings for children will make a perfect accompaniment to this composition about her life. (Ages 4-8)
CCBC Book of the Week. © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2025. Used with permission.
From the Publisher
Once upon a time, children's music was just Mother Goose, nursery songs, and lullabies. And then came Ella Jenkins.
Ella Jenkins is an American folk singer and living legend dubbed "The First Lady of Children's Music." For nearly 70 years, she has been writing and performing music that has entertained and engaged generations of young listeners. In Make a Pretty Sound, Ella's life and legacy are captured in vibrant sights, sounds, and stories that leap right off the page.
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, and raised in Chicago, Ella grew up loving music of all kinds--the call-and-response of Cab Calloway, the exciting rhythms of Moroccan and Indian records spun in a local record shop, the bluesy notes her uncle teased from his harmonica. She listened to music from around the world, and no matter what language it was in, she could feel what it meant--the bridge in understanding and feeling that music offers from one heart to another.
When she began working with children, she knew just what to do. She knew music would offer children a kinetic learning experience that engaged them physically, verbally, and empathetically, creating community out of song. Soon, she was recording her own albums and became an international star.
In these beautifully illustrated pages, Ella's journey--from the gritty streets of Chicago to the classrooms where she found her calling to an opportunity to raise her voice for freedom alongside Martin Luther King, Jr., to the spotlight of the world's stage--is rhythmically, joyfully, brilliantly illuminated. For readers familiar with Ella Jenkins or new to her work, this nonfiction picture book offers a treasury of inspiration that touches on American history, civil rights, cultural awareness, and the incredible power of music.
A LIVING LEGEND: Drawing on personal interviews the author conducted with Ella and her manager, this is Ella's story told in her own words. For all who have felt the impact of her work in children's programming, in classrooms, and in their homes, this is a wonderful opportunity to explore the legacy of an artist who offers children the gift of music and the gift of knowing that another human heart reaches out to theirs.
LYRICAL TEXT AND ART: Rhythmic text and colorful illustrations celebrate the musicality of Ella's life and convey the singular joy that is found in the sharing of music!
BEAUTIFUL GIFT BOOK: With extraordinary writing and beautiful art, this book makes a perfect present for any young reader who loves music, biographies, or both.
Perfect for:
Ella Jenkins is an American folk singer and living legend dubbed "The First Lady of Children's Music." For nearly 70 years, she has been writing and performing music that has entertained and engaged generations of young listeners. In Make a Pretty Sound, Ella's life and legacy are captured in vibrant sights, sounds, and stories that leap right off the page.
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, and raised in Chicago, Ella grew up loving music of all kinds--the call-and-response of Cab Calloway, the exciting rhythms of Moroccan and Indian records spun in a local record shop, the bluesy notes her uncle teased from his harmonica. She listened to music from around the world, and no matter what language it was in, she could feel what it meant--the bridge in understanding and feeling that music offers from one heart to another.
When she began working with children, she knew just what to do. She knew music would offer children a kinetic learning experience that engaged them physically, verbally, and empathetically, creating community out of song. Soon, she was recording her own albums and became an international star.
In these beautifully illustrated pages, Ella's journey--from the gritty streets of Chicago to the classrooms where she found her calling to an opportunity to raise her voice for freedom alongside Martin Luther King, Jr., to the spotlight of the world's stage--is rhythmically, joyfully, brilliantly illuminated. For readers familiar with Ella Jenkins or new to her work, this nonfiction picture book offers a treasury of inspiration that touches on American history, civil rights, cultural awareness, and the incredible power of music.
A LIVING LEGEND: Drawing on personal interviews the author conducted with Ella and her manager, this is Ella's story told in her own words. For all who have felt the impact of her work in children's programming, in classrooms, and in their homes, this is a wonderful opportunity to explore the legacy of an artist who offers children the gift of music and the gift of knowing that another human heart reaches out to theirs.
LYRICAL TEXT AND ART: Rhythmic text and colorful illustrations celebrate the musicality of Ella's life and convey the singular joy that is found in the sharing of music!
BEAUTIFUL GIFT BOOK: With extraordinary writing and beautiful art, this book makes a perfect present for any young reader who loves music, biographies, or both.
Perfect for:
- Fans of Ella Jenkins
- Parents, teachers, and caregivers of children who love music
- Teachers and librarians looking for a great picture book biography
- Anyone interested in multicultural music for kids
- Readers who enjoy the Little People, BIG DREAMS and Who Is/Who Was biography series
- Gift givers looking for a children's music book for birthday, holiday, or any celebratory occasion
Publisher description retrieved from Google Books.
