John Henry

Lester, Julius. 1994. JOHN HENRY. Ill. by Jerry Pinkney. New York, NY: Dial Books.
ISBN 0803716060

*Plot Summary

In this classic tale John Henry, who astounds his family and friends with his size and strength, gives his best to beat the steam drill.

*Critical Analysis

Lester and Pinkney work together to show John Henry as a likeable character who represents courage, strength, and perseverance. He is a good guy who does his best to reach victory, including in his bet against “the meanest man in the state, Ferret-Faced Freddy.” John Henry helps this one-time bad guy transform into Frederick the Friendly.

The plot is action-packed with one miracle of strength after another. There is a clear climax and a satisfying (if not completely happy) resolution. The setting is an unstated time in the past in West Virginia. John Henry grows up quickly and time passes fast in this traditional tale. The creatures, the sun and moon, and the rainbow also add to the setting of the book.

Themes of the book include sacrifice, strength, and living well. Lester’s style portrays an authentic voice. The story lends itself to being read aloud as it seems as if someone is orally reciting or telling the story. Figurative language also adds to the style of the tale. The sun “scurried from behind the moon’s skirts and went to bed,” Freddy’s voice “sounded like bat wings on tombstones,” and a boulder is “as hard as anger.” Onomatopoeia is also used throughout the book.

Pinkney’s illustrations, which earned a Caldecott Honor, add interest and detail to the book. The colorful pictures combine pencil, colored pencils, and watercolor. The illustrations also combine elements of realism (the people, the boulder, and the town) with elements of magic (the rainbow, the unicorn, and a smiling face on the sun). On the double-page spreads the illustrations use most of the page space and compliment the text. Pinkney uses color to draw readers’ attention to certain aspects of his illustrations. For example, earth tones are used throughout the book with splashes of bright primary colors used sparingly. The pictures also effectively convey movement and action which is important to the fast-paced story. Although Pinkney’s illustrations are outstanding, they do not distract from the story; instead the pictures make the story come to life.

Culture and cultural markers are well-represented in this traditional tale. The foreword gives a brief history of the tale of John Henry, and it explains how Lester constructed his story – what sources he used. The foreword, the illustrations, the story itself, and even the dedications represent elements of African American culture. In the pictures, the skin color, clothes, and hair styles and textures are authentic representations of the culture. In the text, the language pattern is a cultural marker.

*Response

This book would be a great one to read aloud, especially with the wonderful illustrations. I think students will enjoy learning about the history of this traditional tale and reading different variations of the story. I think they will also love the illustrations and finding elements (like rainbows) throughout the book.

*Review Excerpts

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.
BookList *Starred Review*

The original legend of John Henry and how he beat the steam drill with his sledgehammer has been enhanced and enriched, in Lester's retelling, with wonderful contemporary details and poetic similes that add humor, beauty, and strength. Pinkney's evocative illustrations -- especially the landscapes, splotchy and impressionistic, yet very solid and vigorous -- are little short of magnificent.
Horn Book *Starred Review*

*Connections

-Read other versions of John Henry. How do the tales differ? How are they the same?
-Conduct research about the origin of the tale of John Henry.
-Discuss how Pinkney’s illustrations affect the story.
-Read other traditional tales.
-Read other books by Jerry Pinkney and Julius Lester.
-Discuss why this traditional tale is an important part of African American history/culture.