"Ellray Jakes is Magic" is a children's book written by Sally Warner. The story revolves around the adventures of a young African-American boy named Ellray Jakes. Ellray is known to be mischievous and always up to something. In this book, he takes on the challenge of becoming a magician. He is inspired by a famous magician he sees on television and is determined to perform his own magic tricks. Throughout the story, Ellray faces various obstacles and setbacks in his journey to becoming a magician.
“Warner is a dead-on observer of playground politics, and has a great ear for dialogue.”
—School Library Journal
Ellie and the Bunheads comes directly from my younger son s experience as a serious dance student he is a professional now, currently with the Pittsburgh Ballet. Honors for the EllRay Jakes series EllRay Jakes is Not a Chicken Junior Library Guild selection, Scholastic Book Club selection, Texas Bluebonnet Award 2012-13, 2013 California Collections selection, BPL s 2012 Summer Reading List; EllRay Jakes is a Rock Star Junior Library Guild selection, Scholastic Book Club selection; EllRay Jakes Walks the Plank Junior Library Guild selection.
Throughout the story, Ellray faces various obstacles and setbacks in his journey to becoming a magician. He struggles with performing tricks, often resulting in hilarious mishaps. However, he remains resilient and determined to succeed.
EllRay Jakes Is Magic - by Sally Warner (Paperback)
Third-grader EllRay, a "shrimpy, goof-up kid," discovers magic all around him when he and his schoolmates participate in the Oak Glen Primary School talent show and work together on a wedding shower gift for their teacher.
Book Synopsis
Small kid. Big Stage.
Does EllRay have a talent to put on show for the entire school?
When EllRay and his friends hear about the school talent show, they're not impressed. They're too old for that stuff. But their teacher, Mrs. Sanchez, isn't so quick to let her students off the hook. Five students absolutely must try-out, and EllRay somehow ends up being one of them. Now he has to figure out something he's talented at. like, maybe magic?
But now the pressure's on. It's up to EllRay to take the stage and show his classmates and the whole school that he's not only talented but magic.
Review Quotes
Praise for the EllRay Jakes series:
"Warner is a dead-on observer of playground politics, and has a great ear for dialogue."
--School Library Journal
". ideal for reluctant readers."
--Booklist
"Young readers can identify with EllRay, who is neither a bad seed nor a goody-two-shoes; he and his sense of humor are just right."
--Kirkus Reviews
Honors for the EllRay Jakes series: EllRay Jakes is Not a Chicken Junior Library Guild selection, Scholastic Book Club selection, Texas Bluebonnet Award 2012-13, 2013 California Collections selection, BPL's 2012 Summer Reading List; EllRay Jakes is a Rock Star Junior Library Guild selection, Scholastic Book Club selection; EllRay Jakes Walks the Plank Junior Library Guild selection.
About the Author
Sally Warner grew up in Connecticut and California. She then received her B.A. degree from Scripps College, and her B.F.A. and M.F.A. degrees in fine arts from Otis Art Institute. She worked as an artist (primarily charcoal drawings) for many years, exhibiting her work at galleries, small museums, colleges, and universities across the country. In 1995 she published her first book for young readers, and since then she has published more than 20 novels.
Visit Sally Warner at Sally Warner www.sallywarner.com.
Brian Biggs was born in Arkansas in 1968, moved to Texas in 1979, fled to New York City in 1987 to attend Parsons School of Design, lived in Paris France for a few years, ran away to San Francisco in 1993, and since 1999 he has lived in Philadelphia. Brian illustrated the covers for the first three EllRay Jakes books and also illustrates the Roscoe Riley series for HarperCollins.
Along the way, Ellray learns valuable lessons about the importance of practice, patience, and perseverance. He discovers that magic is not merely about tricks and illusions but also about self-belief and the power of imagination. The book also explores themes of friendship and acceptance. Ellray's best friend, Kevin, supports him throughout his magical endeavors, even when things don't go as planned. Their friendship provides a source of encouragement and motivation for Ellray. Overall, "Ellray Jakes is Magic" is a heartwarming and relatable story that teaches young readers about the importance of chasing their dreams, embracing their inner creativity, and never giving up. It highlights the power of imagination and the joy of discovering one's own unique talents..
Reviews for "Creating Magic at Home: Crafts and Activities Inspired by Ellray Jakes"
1. Martha - 2 stars - I found "Ellray Jakes Is Magic" to be a disappointment. The story felt cliché and predictable, with no surprises or originality. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it difficult to connect with them. The plotline felt rushed, leaving little room for character development or emotional engagement. Overall, I was unimpressed with this book and would not recommend it.
2. John - 1 star - "Ellray Jakes Is Magic" was a complete letdown for me. The writing style was subpar, with poor sentence structure and a lack of descriptive language. The storyline had potential but was poorly executed, with choppy transitions and a lack of cohesive storytelling. Additionally, the dialogues felt forced and unrealistic, making it difficult to engage with the characters. Overall, I found this book to be a waste of time and would not recommend it to others.
3. Emma - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Ellray Jakes Is Magic", but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The pacing of the story was off, with significant gaps in time that left me feeling disconnected from the plot. The plot itself felt shallow and lacked depth, leaving me wanting more substance. The characters were also underdeveloped, making it difficult to relate to or care about their fates. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others.
4. Matthew - 1 star - "Ellray Jakes Is Magic" did not live up to the hype for me. The writing style was underwhelming and lacked finesse, making it difficult to immerse myself in the story. The characters were uninteresting and lacked complexity, making it hard to form any emotional connection with them. The plotline felt contrived and lacked originality, leading to a predictable and unsatisfying ending. Overall, I found this book to be a tedious read and would not recommend it to others.
5. Sarah - 2 stars - "Ellray Jakes Is Magic" didn't captivate my attention as I had hoped. The storytelling felt repetitive, with little variation in the narrative style. The characters seemed to lack depth and growth throughout the book, making it hard to truly invest in their journey. The plotline lacked excitement and failed to keep me engaged, and the resolution felt rushed and unsatisfying. Overall, I found this book to be underwhelming and would not recommend it to fellow readers.