BIG JABE

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Nolan, Jerdine, 2003. BIG JABE. Ill. by Kadir Nelson. New York: Amistad/Harpercollins. ISBN 006054061-3.

2. PLOT SUMMARY
BIG JABE is the story told from the point of view of a young slave named Addy. Addy, an avid and successful fisherman, found a young boy, Jade floating in a basket in the river. Jabe was a “special” child in most ways. He grew to be a man in six month and had the strength of 50 men. He had the “powers” to bring on storms, turn an old horse into a young one, and to protect slaves from impending harm. Although others in the “Quarters” could not explain how things were happening, Addy knew that Jabe was the reason why. There are many similarities in this story and the story of Moses.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This picture book is a tall tale about slavery in the United States. Its setting is the imaginary Plenty Plantation. Told through the eyes of Addy as imagined in the mind of Momma Mary, this story is fictionalized--possibly to make some of the suffering bearable to both the Momma Mary and Addy. Although fictionalized, the setting, history and horrors reflect some of what life may have been like during slavery.

The story matches perfectly with Kadir Nelson's colorful, detailed striking artwork. The illustrations are such that they invite the reader to spend time looking at the specifics in the drawings and imagining what is going on behind the scenes. Both Jerdine Nolen (author) and Kadir Nelson (illustrator) show the reader how cruel and difficult the lives of slaves were during this era. These full-page illustrations (painting) tell more about the activities than could easily be expressed in the space allowed. In fact, a story could be told if each of Nelson’s illustrations.

I enjoyed reading this book very much. I immediately recognized the similarity of BIG JABE to the story of Moses and the child in the basket, but I didn’t have any idea where the author was trying to take the reader. I studied each of the pictures and was impressed by the quality of the artwork and story that was imbedded within. This book will be an excellent addition to my personal and classroom library.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT
School Library Journal: “Gr 2-5-This original tall tale tells of an unusual African American who frees the slaves on Plenty Plantation. The story is framed by a contemporary boy hearing about the past from Momma Mary. She tells of the young slave, Addy, who finds a boy in a basket while she is fishing. The child can do miraculous things, like call the fish out of the water when they're not biting, or harvest the cotton fields in a night and a day when he grows older. Jabe makes sure that the slaves get their fair share of everything, too, but the overseer doesn't appreciate him, and takes out his frustrations on the other slaves. When they mysteriously disappear in the night, only Addy seems to know that Jabe is responsible, and, when she is put in chains and about to be sold, he rescues her, too. Nolen's writing draws readers into the narrative and presents the magical aspects matter-of-factly. The author uses traditional folklore motifs to good effect in creating this larger-than-life hero. Nelson's watercolor-and-gouache paintings bring the characters fully to life and provide a realistic and historically accurate setting for the fantastic events. The illustrations, particularly the cover of Jabe striding tall above the trees and the scenes around the plantation, highlight the fantasy even as they make the story real.-Ellen A. Greever, University of New Orleans, LA”

5. CONNECTIONS
This picture book could be used with students during units on slavery or African American history. It could also be used during units on tall tales. Recommended for children in grades 2-6, many, if not most, children will recognize this as a tall tale, similar in feeling and theme to others such as stories of Paul Bunyan or John Henry.

Other suggestions: After studying the harsh conditions of slavery, have kids think of ways in which Jabe could ease the pain for the slaves. Discuss the role that church, songs, dance and storytelling plays in the lives of the slaves.