Picture Book # 11

Title:  Ella Sets the Stage

Author:  Carmela & Steven D'Amico

Illustrator:  Carmela & Steven D'Amico

Genre:  Children's Fiction 

Subgenre:  Early Reader Animal Fantasy

Themes:  elephants, school classroom, school talent show, interaction with your classmates, talents, acting

Primary and Secondary Characters:  Ella, Miss Bell, Tiki (a monkey), Lola, Belinda, Ella's mother, Daisy, Mrs. Sowenso, Frankie, Ada & Ida (twins), Victor, and Theodore

Awards:  2006 National Parenting Publications Gold Award

Date of Publication:  2006

Publishing Company:  Arthur A. Levine Books

Summary:

Ella is getting excited about the upcoming talent show that was just announced!  She is eager to get ready but cannot seem to think of a talent that she could perform.  Her friends have already found what their talents are that include magic, ballet, singing and jump roping.  However, Ella is determined to find a talent of her own.  She searches for a talent and finds herself banging on pots and pans and realizes that's not a talent, but instead a "racket," as her mother put it.  She gives up and her mother describes many things that she's good at - baking, and making people happy.  But that doesn't satisfy Ella.  So, instead of performing, Ella decides to join the talent show committee.  Ella is such a help within the committee and even helps put together the talent show program and the winning medals.  Once the talent show starts, catastrophes occur and it's Ella to the rescue!  After the show, the winners are revealed and but there is also another award...and it goes to Ella!  Ella received an award for all her hard work within making the talent show happen!  Ella found out then soon, that she had a talent after all!

How it will be used in the classroom:
What a fun book this would be for students with an upcoming talent show!  This would be a fun book to read and then soon after have a miniature talent show within the classroom!  Students would love to be able to show off their talents, and for those who are having trouble will also have a job, just the same as Ella had!  This would be great for students grades 1-3.