Books Early Readers Genre Lifespan of a Reader Middle Grade Nonfiction Picture Books Picture Books that Sing Reading Themes

A-tisket A-tasket by Ella Fitzgerald and Van Alexander as Illustrated by Ora Eitan

“It isn't where you came from; it's where you're going that counts.”

If you wish to find a book that’s dancing and leaping off the page in brightly-colored, unapologetically-flat-and-two-dimensional, seemingly-paper-cut-out illustrations – this musical picture book is for you.

The pages are overflowing with vivid sharply-edged illustrations of a boy who has lost his “yellow basket.”

“Was it red? Was it blue?” – the fashionably dressed ladies with their dark sunglasses and looped earrings ask the little boy.

This is truly a beautiful tribute to “The First Lady of Song” herself, Ella Fitzgerald whose legendary voice and talents have earned her 13 Grammy Awards and over 40 million albums in her lifetime. Click here to be taken to her official website and here to see her complete biography.

The illustrator, Ora Eitan (unfortunately I cannot find a photo of her on google) is well-known in Israel and has been nominated for the Hans Christian Andersen Award. Enjoy the video, everyone. “A-tisket A-tasket. A green and yellow basket.”

Sources
Ella Fitzgerald Photo – http://www.brunijazzart.com/library/artists/Fitzgerald,%20Ella315.htm
 
Book Cover
http://www.powells.com/biblio/61-9780399232060-0
 
Youtube link of A Tisket A Tasket: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUYpUogn91U
 
Source of Biography of Ora Eitan
http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/HarperChildrens/Kids/AuthorsAndIllustrators/ContributorDetail.aspx?CId=12057

A-tisket A-tasket by Ella Fitzgerald

Amazon | Book Depository

Myra is a Teacher Educator and a registered clinical psychologist based in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. Prior to moving to the Middle East, she lived for eleven years in Singapore serving as a teacher educator. She has edited five books on rediscovering children’s literature in Asia (with a focus on the Philippines, Malaysia, India, China, Japan) as part of the proceedings for the Asian Festival of Children’s Content where she served as the Chair of the Programme Committee for the Asian Children’s Writers and Illustrators Conference from 2011 until 2019. While she is an academic by day, she is a closet poet and a book hunter at heart. When she is not reading or writing about books or planning her next reads, she is hoping desperately to smash that shuttlecock to smithereens because Badminton Is Life (still looking for badminton courts here at UAE - suggestions are most welcome).

4 comments on “A-tisket A-tasket by Ella Fitzgerald and Van Alexander as Illustrated by Ora Eitan

  1. Wonderful. I have long been a fan of Ora Eitan’s illustrations.

    George Shannon

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    • myragarcesbacsal

      Hello George! Thank you for visiting our page. Yes, there’s a charming quality to the illustrations that complement the light-hearted feel of the song. Have you read this book as well?

      We have visited your page and saw that you are a prolific writer yourself. Always great to meet children’s book authors. Truly a pleasure. =)

      Myra

      Like

  2. Pingback: Nonfiction Monday: Skit-Scat Raggedy Cat Ella Fitzgerald «

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