Skit-Scat Raggedy Cat - (Candlewick Biographies) by Roxane Orgill (Paperback)

About the Book

Originally published: Somerville, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press, 2010.

Book Synopsis

A swinging bio of young Ella Fitzgerald, who pushed through the toughest of times to become one of America's most beloved jazz singers.

When Ella Fitzgerald danced the Lindy Hop on the streets of 1930s Yonkers, passersby said good-bye to their loose change. But for a girl who was orphaned and hungry, with raggedy clothes and often no place to spend the night, small change was not enough. One amateur night at Harlem's Apollo Theater, Ella made a discovery: the dancing beat in her feet could travel up and out of her mouth in a powerful song -- and the feeling of being listened to was like a salve to her heart. With lively prose, Roxane Orgill follows the gutsy Ella from school-girl days to a featured spot with Chick Webb's band and all the way to her number-one radio hit "A-Tisket, A-Tasket." Jazzy mixed-media art by illustrator Sean Qualls brings the singer's indomitable spirit to life.
Back matter includes resources for further information, and an index.

Review Quotes

Orgill clearly shows that Fitzgerald's career and success were built on the winning combination of superb talent and sheer determination.
--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

It's always a gamble how kids will respond to the allure of jazz, but there's no question that Orgill and Qualls know what makes it so catchy: it's slinky, rhythmic, and joyful, and on full display in both the lively text and swinging artwork.
--Booklist

The prose account of Fitzgerald's life often includes sound effects that recall her unique vocal style. For instance, she does not run away from the orphanage, she dashes off in a "skit-scat skedaddle." Snatches of her famous songs are woven throughout the narrative. Meanwhile, Qualls firmly establishes himself as a leading illustrator of jazz biographies for children.
--School Library Journal

Orgill's fine biography of the singer crackles with tension and verve...An unforgettable portrait of an artist whose faith in herself carried her when little else did.
--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

The book's text has a rhythmical cadence and mimics her singing style. The text flows smoothly from one section to the next; the soulful illustrations complement the text nicely and add a rich dimension to the book. Reading this book, a treasure in its own right, is an enjoyable experience
--Library Media Connection

The book's prose captures the energy and creativity of jazz music, and the book's title is an allusion to the scatting style of singing that Fitzgerald helped to popularize.
--South Bend Tribune (Indiana)

Sad but inspiring, this picture book with artwork that feeds the story's atmosphere relates the tale of Ella Fitzgerald, whose great musical talent took her from being a raggedy street comer kid in Yonkers who sang and danced for coins to one of the greatest musical artists in history
--Journal Inquirer

About the Author

Roxane Orgill is an award-winning writer on music and the author of several biographies for young readers, including Mahalia: A Life in Gospel Music and Footwork: The Story of Fred and Adele Astaire. She is also the author of Dream Lucky, a book for adults about big-band jazz, race, and politics in the 1930s. She lives in New York City.

Sean Qualls is the illustrator of many books for children, including Dizzy; Before John Was a Jazz Giant: A Song of John Coltrane; The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Monzano; and Phillis's Big Test. He lives in Brooklyn.