Sing-Along and Book Talk Celebrating Ella Jenkins, the First Lady of Children’s Music
Schedule
Sat Jun 06 2026 at 04:30 pm to 06:00 pm
UTC-04:00Location
925 13th St NW, Washington D.C., DC, United States, Washington, District of Columbia 20005 | Washington, DC
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Join Planet Word to celebrate the legacy of children’s music pioneer Ella Jenkins and her lasting impact on language, learning, and connection through music. Jenkins’s timeless classics continue to stand the test of time. Her 1966 album, You’ll Sing a Song and I’ll Sing a Song, was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame this year.The evening will begin with an interactive musical sing-along led by Grammy-nominated percussionist and music educator Dante’ Pope, celebrating Jenkins’s signature call-and-response style through rhythm, participation, and joyful learning. Following the performance, audiences will hear from Professor Gayle Wald of George Washington University, author of This Is Rhythm: Ella Jenkins, Children’s Music, and the Long Civil Rights Movement, in a moderated conversation with international recording artist and teaching artist Debórah Bond, current President of the DC Recording Academy Chapter Board. Together, they will explore Jenkins’s groundbreaking influence on children’s music and how her love of music cemented her as an innovative figure in children’s education.
4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.— Book Talk and Sing-Along (Friedman Family Auditorium)
6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. — Book-Signing & Reception (Welcome Lobby)
This event is the second of a 2-part program celebrating Ella Jenkins. Consider also the family-friendly sing-along celebrating Ella Jenkins’s music and style at 12 p.m. Separate registration required.
For questions or concerns regarding accessibility needs, please contact [email protected].
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Where is it happening?
925 13th St NW, Washington D.C., DC, United States, Washington, District of Columbia 20005Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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