Big Jabe: A Folktale About a Plantation Hero and the Underground Railroad for Children

by Jerdine Nolen, Kadir Nelson (Illustrator)

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 tri­umph 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 .

Genres: Picture Books, Historical Fiction, Childrens, Fantasy

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admire this tremendously. We absolutely need a tall-tale folk hero for African-Americans besides John Henry, and Nolen created one that feels as if it's existed all along, only just now brought to light. And brought to life by Nelson's amazing art.

I kept remembering the classic The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales by one of the founding queens of modern literature for African-American children, Virginia Hamilton.

This is formatted like a picture-book, and of course illustrated as completely as one, but it's not for the littlest children. I'm not sure, but I don't think a child under age 8 or so would be ready for it. That age or older, though, yes, it certainly does raise topics for conversation. Ask your child why good things would happen on the plantation, things that would help the master, and then bad things, over and over? And ask them what they thought happened on Plenty Plantation after Jabe moved on....

[Amy Layton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big Jabe is larger than life--he's almost a mythical creature, having been found in a river and causing all the fish to land in Addy's basket.  As he grows older, he gains the strength of many men, can complete day-long tasks in just one morning, and begins to create an unrest for the plantation owners--and when the plantation owners begin to get angry, Jabe creates a solution that is as believable as it is not.  Nolan's narrative is folkloric, and Nelson's illustrations are realistic, creating a jarring blend between what might be real and what might not be.  It's a beautiful book filled with power, community, and salvation.  I think this is an oft-overlooked book, and it needs to be brought closer to the forefront.

Review cross-listed here!

[Jordan Pierre · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book for many reasons. One reason I enjoyed it is because it pushes readers to think about tough issues. For example, Addy was caught helping Jabe, so she was chained up. Although this is a fictional book, these kinds of situations happened all the time. Jabe helped Addy escape, which also heightens the importance of heroes in the slavery period. Secondly, the illustrations enhanced the story very well. One example is when the book says, “…a twister blew in bad. It lifted the full-grown trees out of the ground and tossed them around like they were no more than dry leaves.” The illustration on that page shows animals and trees in the sky being blown away and the trees are slanted, making it actually look like the wind is very strong. Finally, I enjoyed this book because the descriptive language made it easier to visualize what was being told, even if there was an illustration alongside. One example would be, “Cornstalks looked to scrape the sky, yielding foot-long ears of sweet, sweet corn.” I can visualize long, long stalks that are in very good condition. The main message of this book is the importance of helping people in need as well as the importance of heroes. 

  

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this tall tale set in the South on a plantation. When Addy is sent to catch fish for her master's supper, she finds a boy floating in a basket. Jabe is his name and he calls to the fish and they jump out of the river and into Addy's wagon. As time goes on, Jabe grows tall and can finish work faster than the whole plantation slaves combined. He can weed a field of soybeans before sunup and is as strong as fifty men. But his most amazing feat is he can make slaves vanish to freedom.

I enjoy tall tales and this original tall tale is no exception. I did wish it contained an author's note to give further information about slavery, if this tall tale is based on any folklore from that era/region or is completely original, etc.

And, of course, the illustrations by Kadir Nelson are just as wonderful as I have come to expect from his work.

[Darlena Glenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although published in 2000, this book is a great example of storytelling on the slave plantation. In recent years I have broadened my view of slavery, especially after visiting the Charleston Museum in Charleston, South Carolina. The opulence and wealth of the plantation owners on the backs of slaves is clearly documented in the Charleston Museum. It overwhelmed me so much, I walked out the museum and screamed. I came back the next day, but I decided to look differently at the history and begin to take in the ingenuity, strength, perseverance, creativity, and mercy that the enslaved embodied. BIG JABE highlights those exemplary qualities of a humble people who submitted themselves to evil overseers and greedy masters. I was at a Kwanzaa celebration yesterday, and I saw this book on a bookseller's table. I am so glad I bought it!

[Kristen Quinlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big Jabe is a folk tale created by the author Jerdine Nolan. In this book, it is clear that the story is set in the time of slave trade and plantation South. This book covers a heavy subject of slavery in the South, but the unique approach to write in a different history for these beloved characters is brilliant. The author approaches the subject of slave just disappearing, but also gives the reader a chance to comprehend what is happening, and create a different ending to what mostly we know is tragic or harsh. I loved the illustrations in this one, as it is different than what I am used to with Kadir Nelson's magic hand. I think it is an ok book, but I am not left with much "oh-aaahhh".

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful story and fabulously illustrated. A boy was found by a slave girl, and that boy quickly grew into a mighty man. From the time he arrived amazing and prosperous things happened on the plantation.

[Ellice · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard to write a book about slavery that feels triumphant. The author here achieves that goal by discussing a mythical hero, Jabe, who relieves some of the burdens of the enslaved people on Plenty Plantation. The detailed illustrations add to the mythos.

[JASMINE]

H

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about times of slavery and a boy named Jabe who grew into a man and brought many blessings to the slaves on his plantation. One day as one of the slaves named Addy is looking for fish without any luck she finds a boy that comes bobbing up the river in a basket. First he plants a pear seed and then he offers to help Addy catch fish by chanting “Fish, fish, where is you fish? Jump to the wagon like Miss Addy Wish!” Suddenly tons of fish begin hooping into Addy’s wagon and she realizes that Jabe will be a blessing to the plantation. She takes him and the fish home where all the other slaves enjoy the feast. While Jabe is on the plantation, all of the crops grow faster and more plentiful, the animals multiply more rapidly and are trained faster, and the pear seed Jabe has planted blossoms into a huge tree rapidly. Furthermore, Jabe does all of the work on the plantation while the slaves are asleep so that they can lessen their work load. One by one the slaves begin to disappear from the plantation and rumor has it that they disappear shortly after Jabe takes them to the pear tree. Eventually Jabe leaves the plantation as well, but he continued to stop at different plantations in the south, lifting burdens wherever he went. This book illustrates a different culture from a different time period, giving children insight into some important American history while also showing them a completely different way of life; one that has luckily changed much since then. I would do a lesson on slavery to accompany this book. I would recommend this book for children from 2nd to 6th grade.

[Meghan Porter]

Big Jabe is a wonderfully imaginative story about slavery and freedom. Jabe is a slave who comes to Plenty Plantation in a wicker basket. When he is pulled out of the river he plants some pear seeds in the ground and almost overnight they grow into a big and beautiful pear tree. He helps the slaves of the Plantation by making their work easier for them. When Mr. Sorenson, the overseer of the plantation, gets angry and he can not punish Jabe, he punishes the other slaves on the plantation. After he beats them, the mysteriously go missing. "Jabe has taken them to the pear tree," Addy, the slave who found Jabe, says to the other slaves. Jabe eventually disappears too.

This story was well written and beautiful illustrated. When I was reading about the book I realized that the same man who illustrated Henry's Freedom Box also did the paintings for this book. After I realized this I found that they are very similar feel and artistic style. When you look at the pictures you can see the same crosshatching and watercolor overlay as in Henry's Freedom Box .

The only problem that I had with this story was the historical aspect. I enjoyed the books story and the mysterious tone to it, but part of me wishes that it had a little more historical views.

[J-Lynn Van Pelt · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author dedicates this book, "For all those, long gone, who gave help, tried to help, or wanted to help, and made some lives roll easier." The lives she is talking about are the American slaves and this folk tale introduces a somewhat magical character, Big Jabe, who made the lives of one group of slaves better. And, when the mean White overseer beat the slaves, Jabe would take them away to the pear tree to live a free life.

I like this story because the book is fashioned as an American tall tale. Jabe is a bigger than life leader who can pick a field of cotton single-handedly in one night, talk river fish into a wagon, and grow a pear tree from seed to sprouting fruit in only a few months. All of these things make the lives of the plantation slaves more tolerable. When Jabe is around, the slaves never have to work until night or go hungry during the day. The fact that Jabe is also African American makes the story more powerful

Kadir Nelson's illustrations takes a strong tall tale and makes it legendary.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story matched with Kadir Nelson's strong illustrations - these are different from everything else I've seen of Nelson's work, so this is a pleasant addition. The Moses references begin with Addy's discovery of young Jabe in a basket alongside the river, moves on to his miraculous assistance to the slaves he grew up with and lived among, to Jabe's subsequent leading individual slaves to freedom. Jabe is larger than life, but this folktale element is an easy entry to slavery, including an ambivalent plantation owner and demanding overseer. And Nelson uses all kinds of perspectives to feel ourselves in the midst of the story, looking down onto the plantation, hoping we won't be swept up in a tornado, or sitting alongside Addy as she fishes in the river. Beautiful!

[Amanda Rutledge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big Jabe is a historical tale of a larger than life boy who, during the times of slavery, seems to have a comforting glow about him. He is found floating in a basket in the river and ever since he has been different than others. I rated this book five stars for many reasons. The illustrations depict a sense of realism and historical accuracy (even though the protagonist is unrealistic). Also, the literature itself is rich and challenging for an older reader. A young student could enjoy the pictures, but I don't think they would fully grasp the themes and concepts within the text. A great read for intermediate elementary students.

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've decided to read 29 children's book during Black History month 2016. This was book #14. Big Jabe by Jerdine Nolen and illustrated by Kadir Nelson. This is a folklore narrative about a toddler found in the lake. Big Jabe grew up almost overnight and worked hard to ease the burden on the slaves and make life better. Big Jabe took care of his friends and led them out of slavery. The big pear tree was the key to everything. Big Jabe has extremely detailed illustrations that show a life well lived.

[Mara · Rating 3 out of 5]

easier reading but very helpful in bringing the subject of slavery up in a classroom. in the story Jabe brings hope and high spirits to slaves struggling during slavery. As slave owners try to punish and destroy slaves they are magically rid of their burdens and their spirits are lifted through the presence and magical ways of Jabe.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sort of tall tale about slavery, a pear tree and Jabe, a man based on John Henry. I love the mythology that the author has built here and Kadir Nelson's illustrations are lovely.

[Ngoc Dang · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book talks about slavery time. Big Jabe helps people from a plantation escape slavery. This is a good book to introduce students about slavery and freedom.

[Jennifer Gamel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a neat folk tale, I really enjoyed it.

[Brittany Gormong]

Tall Tales

[Mckinley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slaves disappear when Big Jabe is around.

[Katy]

Slavery, tall tales, American history

[Cecilia]

Awe-inspiring, Emotional, and Life-like.