Review of John Henry

A book illustrated by Jerry Pinkney

A. Book Information

Lester, Julius. Illus. by Pinkney, Jerry. 1994. New York, NY: Dial Books. ISBN 0-8037-1607-9.

B. Plot Summary

The story of John Henry begins with his birth, which all the animals from the forest come to witness. Immediately, Henry grows to a size too large to be accommodated by the family’s home in West Virginia. The tale continues with John Henry growing increasingly bigger and stronger until his achievement and death, resulting from a competition between him with his hammers and his railroad boss with his steam drill burrowing through a mountain. In the end, Henry dies, and the lesson that’s conveyed is “Dying ain’t important. Everybody does that. What matters is how well you do your living.”

C. Critical Analysis

The folk tale of John Henry embodies the unbreakable human spirit of the African American, courageous and resilient.

The language is a southern black dialect, strong yet flowing like a brook. The use of the dialectical English resounds through the story, making it feel as if you are in a cozy kitchen listening to animated storytelling as the warm smell of grits and ham dance around your nose. While the suggestion of a black dialect can bring harsh criticism and controversy, one only has to visit the south to understand that there is something beautiful about the cultural authenticity of the southern black dialect. In order for this book to be accurate to its time period, a dialect must be used, as this is an interpretation of an African-American folk ballad.

Jerry Pinkney, in this Caldecott Honor book, has made the character of John Henry come to life in this beautifully illustrated book. Jerry Pinkney used his pencil, colored pencils, and watercolors to make the African American folk character John Henry come alive on the pages. Everything from the clothing on the characters to the shading of the characters is culturally accurate. The shading is ethereal, and included among many of the pictures is a rainbow, almost as if it is there to remind us that the story of John Henry has a broader meaning than just a strong, hard-working man, that he represents something much bigger.

D. Review Excerpts

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, RI
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Reviews accessed at:

http://www.amazon.com/John-Henry-Caldecott-Honor-Book/dp/0803716060

E. Connections

Other books for young people by Julius Lester and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney include the following:

· THE TALES OF UNCLE REMUS: THE ADVENTURES OF BRER RABBIT. ISBN 0141303476 5

· MORE TALES OF UNCLE REMUS: FURTHER ADVENTURES OF BRER RABBIT, HIS FRIENDS, ENEMIES, AND OTHERS. ISBN 0803704194

· UNCLE REMUS: THE COMPLETE TALES WITH A NEW INTRODUCTION. ISBN 0803724519