Jump on Over!: The Adventures of Brer Rabbit and His Family

by Joel Chandler Harris

Five illustrated tales show the famous trickster, Brer Rabbit, his wife, and their seven little rabbits as they outwit Brer Fox, Brer Wolf, and Brer Bear to survive a period of drought. Full color.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction

48 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Joel Chandler Harris was an American journalist born in Eatonton, Georgia who wrote the Uncle Remus stories, including Uncle Remus; His Songs and His Sayings, The Folk-Lore of the Old Plantation, (1880), Nights with Uncle Remus (1881 & 1882), Uncle Remus and His Friends (1892), and Uncle Remus and the Little Boy (1905).

The stories, based on the African-American oral storytelling tradition, were revolutionary in their use of dialect and in featuring a trickster hero called Br'er ("Brother") Rabbit, who uses his wits against adversity, though his efforts do not always succeed. The frog is the trickster character in traditional tales in Central and Southern Africa. The stories, which began appearing in the Atlanta Constitution in 1879, were popular among both Black and White readers in the North and South, not least because they presented an idealized view of race relations soon after the Civil War. The first published Brer Rabbit stories were written by President Theodore Roosevelt's uncle, Robert Roosevelt.

Reviews

[EJ Daniels]

Although this version excises the frame stories of Uncle Remus and the Boy, Van Dyke Parks and Malcolm Jones have nevertheless managed to capture the original feel of the Uncle Remus stories in a framing which will not upset the delicate sensibilities of many modern readers.

The crowning achievement of the Jump series, however, is the incredible artwork done by Barry Moser. It is deeply evocative, marvelously detailed, and a true feast for the eyes.

[emyrose8]

Traditional-ish dialect (has the old time feel, but is easy to understand), some illustrations, good to read aloud if you can do the voices!

[Mouse]

Funny & delightful, so old school!

[An]

Gorgeous illustrations by Barry Moser.