Making Their Voices Heard: The Inspiring Friendship of Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe
- A Librarian for Littles
- Jan 26, 2021
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 26, 2022
Multicultural Children's Book Day 2021
Disclaimer: I was sent a copy of this book from the author as part of Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2021.
“Marilyn empathized with Ella. Although she didn't know what it was like to be singled out because of her race, she did know how it felt to be held back because she was a woman.
In this narrative nonfiction picture book, Vivian Kirkfield brings to life the friendship between Marilyn Monroe and Ella Fitzgerald. The reader is given a brief glimpse into the early life of each woman, the obstacles they overcame, and the barriers that they faced in taking control of their careers and achieving success. In preparation for a movie role, in which she would have to sing, Marilyn Monroe listened to the records of Ella Fitzgerald. In studying Ella's music, Marilyn recognized that just as she put a part of herself into each role, Ella put a part of herself into each song. That iconic role in Gentleman Prefer Blondes shot Marilyn into stardom, and she was soon in charge of her career. Afterward, Marilyn wanted to meet Ella to thank her for being an inspiration. As the women talked after Ella's performance, Marilyn understood and empathized with the obstacles that Ella faced as a woman in show business. In order to get Ella the recognition that she deserved, Marilyn used her newfound star-power to convince the manager of Hollywood's top club to hire Ella, promising that she, and the press, would be there on opening night. The club owner agreed and Marilyn kept her promise sitting in the front row to support her friend.
It was refreshing to see Kirkfield highlight Marilyn Monroe seeking Ella Fitzgerald out to thank her and acknowledge her talent, and Ella's influence and importance in her preparation for her iconic role in the movie, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Marilyn's desire to personally express her gratitude to Ella led to a lifelong friendship. The illustrations by Alleanna Harris, are rich in color and highlight important parts of the story without distracting from the text.
Book Details
Title: Making Their Voices Heard: The Inspiring Friendship of Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe
Publisher: Little Bee Books © 2020
Format: Hardcover
Pages: unpaged
Recommended Grade Level: K - 3
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