John Henry

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

2. PLOT SUMMARY
John Henry is based on several versions of an African American folk tale. The story begins with John Henry’s birth in which all the animals from the forest come to observe. As a child he helps his dad build “a wing onto the house with an indoor swimming pool and one of them jacutizis”-and that’s before lunch. As John Henry gets older he grows to such an enormous size that his family’s home can no longer accommodate him. He sets out to meet other challenges that will allow him to use his strength and determination like, removing huge boulders without using dynamite and swinging his hammer so hard that he makes a rainbow around his shoulders. In his final competition, John Henry battles against a steam drill to cut through a mountain when he hammered so hard and so fast that his heart burst. Those who watched understood that “dying ain’t important… What matters is how well you do your living.”

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
John Henry was written by Julius Lester and illustrated by Jerry Pikney and was awarded the Caldecott Honor Book in 1990. The story begins with John Henry’s birth and continues as he becomes strong, fast, and fearless and eventually so enormous that he can no longer live in his family’s house. John Henry sets out to find his own destiny by working different jobs such as moving large boulders, and hammering through mountains. Lester uses imagery and personification to describe John Henry’s laugh, “ the sun got scared. It scurried from behind the moon’s skirts and went to bed, which is where it should’ve been anyways.” The language that is used is southern black dialect which is heard throughout which helps to bring accuracy to the time period that is presented. Jerry Pinkney enhances the text by using pencil, colored pencils and watercolors to illustrate John Henry’s character. Pinkney depicts the time period with accuracy through the clothing and hairstyles that are presented. He also uses different shades of light and dark colors to reflect the different skin tones. Though the underlying theme of magic is present in parts of the story, like most tall tales, the reader stays grounded in a setting that is of the “real world.” Even though no one really knows if John Henry was real or not, through Julius Lester and Jerry Pikney’s text and illustrations, readers will understand that he symbolizes the working man and his determination to do his best and that he is “larger than life.”

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Horn Book Guide: “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.

School Library Journal: “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.”


5. CONNECTION
Other Tall Tale Characters:

Kellog, Steven. PAUL BUNYAN. ISBN 9780688058005.
Gleeson, Brian. PECOS BILL. ISBN 9780887080814.
Lindbergh, Reeve. JOHNNY APPLESEED. ISBN 9780316526340.