The Old African Explained

The Old African
Author:Julius Lester
Illustrator:Jerry Pinkney
Country:United States
Language:English
Published:2005 (Dial Press)
Media Type:Print (hardback)
Pages:79
Isbn:9780803725645
Oclc:53375920

The Old African is a 2005 book by Julius Lester and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. It is based on an incident at Igbo Landing and is about Jaja, a slave who leads a group of plantation slaves back to Africa by walking into the ocean.

Reception

The Horn Book Magazine, in a review of The Old African, wrote "This is an eloquent visual expression of the heroism of the suffering Africans who were ensnared onto those vicious ships." and Booklist, in a starred review, wrote "Complemented by Pinkney's powerful illustrations, this picture book presents an unflinching account of the brutal history and of personal courage, told with a lyrical magic realism that draws on slave legend and the dream of freedom."[1]

The Old African has also been reviewed by Publishers Weekly,[2] School Library Journal,[3] Voice of Youth Advocates,[4] Kirkus Reviews,[5] Africa Access Review,[6] and The New York Times.[7]

Awards

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Old African: Reviews . catalog.wccls.org . January 20, 2017.
  2. Web site: The Old African (starred review). Based on legend, this story by frequent collaborators Lester and Pinkney moves gracefully and affectingly from darkness into light.. October 24, 2006 . Publishers Weekly . PWxyz LLC. January 20, 2017.
  3. Web site: The Old African . Lester and Pinkney combine their talents here to create an unusual, complex, and thought-provoking offering in which the Old African is the keeper of a power that brings comfort and, ultimately, salvation to his people. . Buffalo and Erie County Public Library . January 20, 2017 . February 2, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170202021539/https://www.buffalolib.org/vufind/Record/1632346/Reviews#tabnav . dead .
  4. Book: The Old African . A flawless marriage of Lester's poetic words and Pinkney's breathtaking artwork . kcls.bibliocommons.com . 2005 . 9780803725645 . January 20, 2017 . Lester . Julius . Dial Books .
  5. Web site: The Old African (starred review) . August 1, 2005 . Lester’s prose is powerful and poetic, and Pinkney outdoes himself in hauntingly expressive, often wordless double-page paintings that masterfully capture the strength and suffering of the African people. . Kirkus Reviews . Kirkus Media LLC . January 20, 2017.
  6. Web site: The Old African . Laura Murphy . Lester's lyrical language is matched with Pinkney's vivid paintings . africaaccessreview.org . Africa Access . January 20, 2017.
  7. News: Rodberg . Simon . August 12, 2006 . Sunday Book Review: Children's Books . Jerry Pinkney’s emotion-filled illustrations match the honesty of Julius Lester’s text . New York Times . January 20, 2017.
  8. Web site: Past Honor Books for Older Readers . africaaccessreview.org . Africa Access . January 20, 2017.
  9. Web site: Massachusetts Book Award Winners Announced . mblc.state.ma.us . Africa Access . January 20, 2017.
  10. Web site: Past and Present NBGS Books: 2006 Notable Books for a Global Society . clrsig.org . International Reading Association . January 20, 2017 . December 1, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161201235034/http://clrsig.org/nbgs_books.php . dead .

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