Journalists' Juniors: Introducing Ellen Elizabeth Davis

Journalists' Juniors: Introducing Ellen Elizabeth Davis

Meet the exceptional Ellen Elizabeth Davis, daughter of Reid Davis, Paste Magazine editor extraordinaire and Kim, also a writer. Here's a shot of Ellen atop Stone Mountain with Dad's SXSW souvenir:



We interviewed the proudest pop in the world about his “verbal, energetic, and cute” 4 year old and here’s what he said:

Q: Ellen's favorite bands/musicians/albums?

A: As befits a child of the digital age, Ellen's more of a songs girl -- whenever we hit something she really likes we add it to a playlist on my iPod. That said, she loves Queen ("We Are The Champions," "Bicycle Race"), The Polyphonic Spree ("It's The Sun" among others), the Flaming Lips ("Buggin'," "The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song,") Sufjan Stevens ("Chicago"), Softlightes ("The Microwave Song") and James Brown (story below.) She adores Dan Zanes and Ralph's World. (At one point she had a hard time separating the two -- when we met Ralph Covert, she shyly looked up at him and said "Not Dan Zanes?") And what would parenthood be without a kid loving some stuff you can't stand? While Rascal Flatts and Sheryl Crow don't do a lot for me, to put it charitably, Ellen loves their contributions to the "Cars" soundtrack.

Q: What does Ellen like to dance to?

A: Ellen's taking ballet and tumbling, and will dance to pretty much anything, particularly anything rhythmic — James Brown, Verve Remixed, Röyksopp. That said, she loves to dance while "Dancing With The Stars" is on. (I'm just gonna embarrass myself real good here.)

Q: Ellen's favorite foods? Sugar or Salt? Books?

A: Ellen loves pizza, chicken nuggets, and fries, but she doesn't like things she considers "spicy." She definitely loves all things sugary, so we have to watch that stuff -- on the other hand, the promise of ice cream will definitely help her polish off a plate of broccoli. She has a massive amount of books (since both parents are writers, after all) but lately she really loves books by Park Slope author/illustrator (as well as past Sesame Street contributor, and—I'm assuming—proud member of the Prospect Park stroller set) Mo Willems. His books Knuffle Bunny, Don't Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus, and Leonardo The Terrible Monster are big hits.

Q: Favorite weekend activities?

A: We love going swimming at the Y (ely.ymcaatlanta.org), climbing Stone Mountain, watching Pixar movies, riding bicycles on Atlanta's "Path" trail system, hitting playgrounds, going to Braves games (every Sunday afternoon they're at home) and attending our wonderful church All Souls Fellowship (www.allsoulsfellowship.org) which features great music, to the point that Ellen calls the sanctuary the "singing room."

Q: Other cute stories /tidbits about Ellen?

A: This one is courtesy of my wife, Kim. Because (fellow Augusta native) James Brown had a song on the "Robots" soundtrack "Get Up Offa That Thing," I saw an opening and started playing that song and other JB classics on our car rides— and that led to the following story from Kim:

Ellen was eating dinner and was excited because I had made her some tofu—so excited she was having a hard time staying in her chair. The tenth time I told her to sit down I had to pick her up and put her in the seat.

"Get up on to that seat!" I said, playfully.

Ellen replied in a low, growling but not angry voice, "Get up off of that thing!"

"What, Ellen? Are you saying that like somebody?"

Without missing a beat, and without further elaboration she said, "James Brown."

Obviously, at least in one way, we are raising her well. :-)

Here's Ellen playing her First Act guitar:
And relaxin' at home w/ dad: