Module 2. John Henry by Julius Lester, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney

A. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Lester, Julius. 1994. JOHN HENRY. New York, NY: Dial Books. ISBN 803716060.

B. PLOT SUMMARY
The story of John Henry, a legendary folk hero, is retold by Mr. Lester. John Henry is a larger-than-life man who uses a sledge hammer to drill through a mountain to lay railroad tracks.

C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS (INCLUDLING CULTURAL MARKERS)
Lester’s version of the famous African American folktale is well crafted. John Henry’s story is full of folktale fantasy, like animals that visit and care for humans and a sun and moon that cheer and cry. The use of descriptive writing is nicely done. Students will enjoy imagery like, “the boulder shivered like you do on a cold winter morning” and “the air seemed to be dancing to the rhythm of his hammers.”
Lester also uses an appropriate amount of country dialect so readers realize the setting. “I need light to do ‘em by” and “it scurried from behind the moon’s skirts” are two examples of regional dialect. The dialect is done in a positive and upbeat manner and not demeaning to the culture in any way. John Henry’s physical attributes are described as being strong and growing and being able to physically compete against modern machines. Besides John Henry’s physical attributes, his hard work and ability to get along with others are highlighted in the book. He makes compromises with others to end arguments and keep the peace. John Henry’s ability to care for others is seen as his biggest asset in the story.
Pinkney’s illustrations are helpful to the reader to visualize the action. The pictures of John Henry as a young baby, he looks like a bright eyed young African American child with tight ringlet hair and bright eyes. His parents are also pictured as two different shades of black, which is a nice feature of the artist to include. There are too many stories where all the characters the same shade of color. As John Henry grows, Pinkney’s illustrations continue to evolve too. John Henry’s facial features look like many African American men with a strong, distinctive nose and full set of lips. This is done in an appropriate manner and not in a satirical fashion. Pinkney uses muted colors and a lot of color blending. His pictures are best viewed by the reader in a close setting instead of a large read aloud.

D. REVIEW EXCERPTS“…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.” PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

“…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.” SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL

E. CONNECTIONS
Use map skills to identify the Allegheny Mountains in West Virginia, the setting of the fictional race between John Henry and the steam drill.
Listen to one of the musical ballads of John Henry and compare it to the book’s version.
Read stories about Paul Bunyan and Baby the Ox and note similarities and differences.
Read other stories written by Julius Lester and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney, like The Tales of Uncle Remus: The Adventures of Brer Rabbit and Sam and the Tigers.