Picture Book 5: John Henry

Author: Julius Lester

Illustrator: Jerry Pinkney

Genre: Traditional Literature

Subgenre: Tall Tales

Themes: strength of the human spirit, doing the best work, determination and perseverance

Characters:

~Primary: John Henry

~Secondary: sun, moon, Ferret-faced Freddie, Henry’s parents, boss

Awards: 

~Caldecott Honor Book

~Boston Globe- Horn Book Award

~American Library Associaton Notable Book

~NCSS-CBC Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies

~Parent’s Magazine Children’s Book of the Year

~BCCB Blue Ribbon Book

~Aesop Prize Winner

~Society of Illustrators Gold Medal

Pubication Date: 1994

Publishing Company: Penguin Group

Summary: This book is a retelling of a popular African American folk ballad about John Henry’s race against the steam drill.  Set in the American west during the age of the railroad, this folksy tale expresses the indomitable spirit of the American people as they tamed the west, told with warmth, humor, and rich illustrations.

Recommendations: Teachers can use this book as part of a unit on folklore.  In addition, children might enjoy comparing different versions of this story in print and in song and discussing the reasons for the differences.