Big Jabe

By Jerdine Nolen

Book Overview

Multiple starred reviews greeted this beautiful picture book with art from Caldecott Medalist Kadir Nelson. This tall tale about a boy who grows to become a hero during slavery times can be shared at home or in the classroom.

When a young slave named Addy goes fishing one spring day, she doesn't catch any fish. Instead, she finds a little boy in a basket floating in the river.

Jabe is no ordinary boy: in a few short months, he grows to be a big, strong man with the strength of fifty. He can pick an entire field of cotton by himself in just one night and day. When slaves begin to miraculously disappear from the Plenty Plantation, Addy knows in her heart that Jabe is the reason why...

Big Jabe allows readers to "confront an unbearable history and come away with hope." (Publishers Weekly starred review)

"Folklore and history give an uncommonly rich patina to this freshly inspiring tale set in slavery times." (School Library Journal starred review)

"Part magical savior, part tall-tale hero, Big Jabe personifies the tri-umph of African Americans who (miraculously it must sometimes have seemed) escaped from slavery." (Horn Book starred review)

Kadir Nelson's acclaimed books include The Undefeated, winner of the Caldecott Medal as the most distinguished picture book of the year, Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans, and Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060540613
• ISBN13: 9780060540616
• Release Date: December 2003
• Publisher: Amistad Books for Young Readers
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 9.2" x 10.9"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Kindergarten to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

Uncle Remus it isn't

Kadir Nelson's beautiful, realistic, vivid human illustrations capture the period, the setting, the wonder and the magic of Big Jabe. With his feats, Big Jabe also reminds one of Krishna as a boy. The powerful antislavery message could not have a better children's fiction spokesman than the giant-of-heart Big Jabe. Fiction, with its hyperboles and suspension of disbelief, often is truer than truth, and Big Jabe. rings with sincerity.

A Great Tall Tale

This story is a rather original tall tale that revolves around the lives of slaves who live on a plantation. You will never look at another pear tree the same way after your read this story! It will remind you, somewhat, of the tale of Paul Bunyan.

NOLEN SCORES BIG WITH BIG JABE

Big Jabe is the story of how a child found floating down the river becomes a hero and savior of his people during the time of slavery. Jabe is found by Addy as she is out fishing at the river for her master. When Addy shows kindness to him, he rewards her by giving her the biggest catch of fish she has ever had. Not only does Jabe help Addy, but within a season's time, the boy Jabe grows to be a full gtown man who can do the work of twenty. He assists all the slaves in doing their tasks and before long, the master's slaves suddenly begin to disappear. In this tall tale Nolen has weaved examples from Biblical stories and other legendary tall tales like Johnny Appleseed and John Henry. The bright watercolor paintings done by the illustrator enhance the story's beauty and brings all of the characters in Nolen's Big Jabe to life. Once again, Nolen has a winner on her hands!