John Henry
- Book Review,
by Julius Lester
From Publishers Weekly
A great American hero comes fully to life in this epic retelling filled with glorious, detailed watercolors. From his momentous birth, when all the animals come to see him and the sun won't go to bed, John Henry works wonders. As a child he helps his father by adding "a wing onto the house with an indoor swimming pool and one of them jacutzis"-and that's just before lunch. Other episodes trace the growth of his generous spirit. His greatest feat is, of course, in his battle against the steam drill, as he races the machine to cut through "a mountain as big as hurt feelings." He dies ("he had hammered so hard and so fast and so long that his big heart had burst"), but the onlookers understand that "dying ain't important.... What matters is how well you do your living." This carefully crafted updating begs to be read aloud for its rich, rhythmic storytelling flow, and the suitably oversize illustrations amplify the text. As only one example, the animal witnesses of his birth reappear throughout, most notably to watch John Henry's funeral train pass by. This may not supplant more traditional retellings, such as Terry Small's The Legend of John Henry, but it is a triumph of collaboration from the creators of the noted Uncle Remus retellings. All ages. Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 5-Another winning collaboration from the master storyteller and gifted artist of Tales of Uncle Remus (Dial, 1987) fame. Based on several well-known versions of an African American folk ballad, Lester's tale is true to the essence of the steel-driving man; yet, it allows room for touches of whimsy and even includes some contemporary references that tie the hero to our own times. Told with just a trace of dialect, the story moves along briskly toward the climax. Its moral message of the importance of a well-lived life is clearly stated, and the ending is uplifting. Pinkney's marvelous watercolors, abundantly rich in detail, convey both the superior strength and the warm sense of humanity that make John Henry perhaps a more down-to-earth character than some other tall-tale figures. The paintings' muted earth tones add a realistic touch to the text, bringing this John Henry alive. When viewed from a distance, however, figures and details sometimes blend together, making the book better suited to independent reading that group sharing. It will appeal to an older audience than Ezra Jack Keats's John Henry (Knopf, 1987) and is a fine addition to any folklore collection.Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan, Wheeler School, Providence, RICopyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From AudioFile
With talented readers, original musical and realistic sound effects, Weston Woods Studios elevates the read-along to a new height. This studio production of a celebrated and award-winning children's favorite, packaged with a hardcover book, will enchant listeners and create new audiences. Samuel L. Jackson's down-home reading of Julius Lester's 1995 Caldecott Honor Book, JOHN HENRY, is energetic and inviting. String-plucked blues accompany the tall tale of the African-American hero who proved his worth against a machine. Jackson's vigorous narration, including the booming voice of the Almighty Himself, combines with plentiful, authentic sound effects to introduce a celebrated American hero. T.B. (c) AudioFile, Portland, Maine
From Booklist
Ages 4 and up. Based on the popular black folk ballad about the contest between John Henry and the steam drill, this picture-book version is a tall tale and a heroic myth, a celebration of the human spirit. Like Lester's great collections of the Uncle Remus tales, also illustrated by Pinkney, the story is told with rhythm and wit, humor and exaggeration, and with a heart-catching immediacy that connects the human and the natural world. ("This was no ordinary boulder. It was as hard as anger . . . a mountain as big as hurt feelings"). The dramatic climax of the story is set at the time of the building of the railroad through the Allegheny Mountains in West Virginia, but Lester begins with the hero's birth, when all the birds and animals come to see the baby and the sun is so excited it forgets to go to bed. Pinkney's dappled pencil-and-watercolor illustrations capture the individuality of the great working man, who is part of the human community and who has the strength of rock and wind. John Henry swings his hammer so fast, he makes a rainbow around his shoulders, and the pictures show that light everywhere, "shining and shimmering in the dust and grit like hope that never dies." Hazel Rochman
Book Description
The stunning 1995 Caldecott Honor Book
John Henry is stronger than ten men, and can dig through a mountain faster than a steam drill. Julius Lester's folksy retelling of a popular African-American folk ballad has warmth, tall tale humor, and boundless energy. Jerry Pinkney illustrates the story with "rich colors borrowed from the rocks and the earth, so beautiful that they summon their own share of smiles and tears" (Booklist).
"A tall tale and heroic myth, a celebration of the human spirit....The story is told with rhythm and wit, humor and exaggeration, and with a heart-catching immediacy that connects the human and the natural world." --Booklist, starred review
* A Caldecott Honor Book
* Winner of the Society of Illustrators' Gold Medal
* An ALA Notable Book
* An NCSS-CBC Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies
* Winner of the Boston Globe/Horn Book Award
* The Horn Book Fanfare List
* A Parents Magazine Best Children's Book of the Year
* A BCCB Blue Ribbon Book
* Winner of the Aesop Prize
* A Picture Puffin
* Full-color illustrations
* 40 pages
* Ages 4 up
Card catalog description
Retells the life of the legendary African American hero who raced against a steam drill to cut through a mountain.
About the Author
Julius Lester won a Newbery Honor for his groundbreaking book, To Be a Slave. He is also the author of The Tales of Uncle Remus: The Adventures of Brer Rabbit and Long Journey Home: Stories from Black History, a National Book Award finalist. He lives in Amherst, Massachusetts. Jerry Pinkney received his third Caldecott Honor Award for John Henry. His artwork has been exhibited in museums across the country. He lives in Croton-on-Hudson, New York.
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