A Life of Song: The Story of Ella Jenkins
A Life of Song: The Story of Ella Jenkins
A Life of Song: The Story of Ella Jenkins
A Life of Song: The Story of Ella Jenkins
A Life of Song: The Story of Ella Jenkins
A Life of Song: The Story of Ella Jenkins
A Life of Song: The Story of Ella Jenkins
A Life of Song: The Story of Ella Jenkins
A Life of Song: The Story of Ella Jenkins
A Life of Song: The Story of Ella Jenkins
A Life of Song: The Story of Ella Jenkins
A Life of Song: The Story of Ella Jenkins
A Life of Song: The Story of Ella Jenkins
A Life of Song: The Story of Ella Jenkins
A Life of Song: The Story of Ella Jenkins
A Life of Song: The Story of Ella Jenkins

A Life of Song: The Story of Ella Jenkins

36 Pages • Non-Fiction • 9 in x 11 in • ages 5+
$19.95
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Discover the untold story of Ella Jenkins, the First Lady of Children's Music. While many know her from Sesame Street and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, few realize that her groundbreaking career in children's music was rooted in the fight for equality.

A young girl in a segregated Chicago, Ella found her passion for music early on, believing in its potential to bring people together. This biography follows Ella’s trailblazing career from her early life influenced by jazz greats like Cab Calloway to her cross-country tours. Ella brought global sounds and stories to homes and classrooms everywhere and united people at a time of division. A Life of Song: The Story of Ella Jenkins tells the extraordinary story of a woman who has fearlessly crossed boundaries to share music and use it as a tool to fight racism. It's a story that asks readers of all ages, “will YOU sing a song together?”

Hardback ISBN: 9781737240433

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Explore photos of Ella in the back of the book!
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Explore the global rhythms and lyrics Ella sang.
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A Life of Song: The Story of Ella Jenkins

$19.95
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ELIZABETH MITCHELL
songwriter and musician

“Children of all ages have sung the songs of Ella Jenkins over and over for generations, and now they will want to read this book again and again! Ty-Juana Taylor and Jade Johnson masterfully express the warmth and joy of Ella's music and the beauty to be found in her inspiring journey.”

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DAN AND CLAUDIA ZANES
Dan Zanes, Grammy Award Winning Performer, and Claudia Zanes, Music Therapist and Jazz Vocalist

"What a beautiful way to share the story of someone who has inspired so many of us to lift our voices and sing: Ella Jenkins, The First Lady of Children’s Music. May this introduce a whole new generation to her uplifting music!"

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Why We Love This Book

“Ella Jenkins is an amazing musical figure that many may have heard about, but unfortunately know little about,” notes author Dr. Taylor. “Ms. Jenkins has used music as a tool to bridge and unite people across the world, especially in the highly divisive times of the U.S. Civil Rights era. Hopefully, readers will carry on her legacy of uniting by sharing this book with others, and in the process I hope that it makes them smile and sing.”

Meet The Creators

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Jade Johnson
Illustrator
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Ty-Juana Taylor
Author

Jade Johnson is a New Orleans based illustrator. After receiving her BFA in Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design, she taught visual arts in non-profit arts education programs until hanging up her apron in 2021. Her work has been recognized by Creative Quarterly, Applied Arts, and the Society of Illustrators.

Ty-Juana Taylor is an endless learner. Born and raised in the small town of Smiths Grove, Kentucky, Ty-Juana received her Masters Degree in Social Welfare and a PhD. in ethnomusicology from UCLA. While always hungry for knowledge, she thinks of herself as being more than just a scholar. Ty-Juana understands the value of community, the power of advocacy, and the importance of valuing the marginalized. She is  a proponent of "Because of them, we can" and that echoes in all of her work. Ty-Juana believes it is essential that she uplifts the voices and stories of people of color and the marginalized in all that she does as an educator, advocate, and therapist. 

What Readers Are Saying

Beyond the human experience

This is one of the best books I've ever read. There's not enough stars here.

Dr. Siyu Cai
Great book!

This book is so great. I am an elementary music teacher, and I am reading this book with my students. It’s an approachable and meaningful story about how Ella Jenkins became the musician she is. It has also sparked many discussions about musical influences, racial segregation, and the ability of music to connect people. I highly recommend this book.

Brenda
Everything I hoped for!

Beautifully illustrated, informative story of the life of Ella Jenkins, children’s musician extraordinaire. We love Ella’s songs at my school and we’re so glad to have this book to learn more about Ella as a person.

Rasha Hamid
Must read!

A marvelous book infused with song about a truly remarkable woman. This lovely debut from Taylor hums along through Ella’s magnificent story from first finding her voice as a child, to using that sound as a powerful tool effecting change in the civil rights movement, all the way to her ultimate work of uniting children in song. Wonderful illustrations and an important message of perseverance and dedication make this a fantastic purchase!

Andrea W
Great way to continue the legacy of Ella Jenkins

So glad to see this amazing book out to share the mission of Ella Jenkins with a new generation. Ty-Juana Taylor has brought together a lovely and engaging account of Jenkins' musical bridge-building in a world full of rupture, and Jade Johnson's illustrations help the book sing!

Eric J Schmidt

Customer Reviews

Based on 6 reviews
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R
Ron

This is a great book about the Ella Jenkins. Thank you for writing it!

R
Rasha Hamid
Everything I hoped for!

Beautifully illustrated, informative story of the life of Ella Jenkins, children’s musician extraordinaire. We love Ella’s songs at my school and we’re so glad to have this book to learn more about Ella as a person.

B
Brenda
Great book!

This book is so great. I am an elementary music teacher, and I am reading this book with my students. It’s an approachable and meaningful story about how Ella Jenkins became the musician she is. It has also sparked many discussions about musical influences, racial segregation, and the ability of music to connect people. I highly recommend this book.

M
Myrna Glikman
A Special Lady

Having taught in the “inner city” of Chicago; I actually experienced Ella Jenkins at my school through the Urban Gateways program. The book gave me new and lovely insights into this amazing woman. Her music is definitely something to be shared and treasured as is her story.

D
Dr. Siyu Cai
Beyond the human experience

This is one of the best books I've ever read. There's not enough stars here.

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