The Old African

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.

The Old African
First edition cover of The Old African
AuthorJulius Lester
IllustratorJerry Pinkney
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
GenreChildren's literature, picture book, US folklore
Published2005 (Dial Press)
Media typePrint (hardback)
Pages79
ISBN9780803725645
OCLC53375920

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."[1] 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
  • 2006 Children's Africana Older Children Book Award - Honor[8]
  • 2006 Massachusetts Book Award for Children's / Young Adult Literature - Honor[9]
  • 2006 Notable Book for a Global Society[10]
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References
  1. "The Old African: Reviews". catalog.wccls.org. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
  2. "The Old African (starred review)". Publishers Weekly. PWxyz LLC. October 24, 2006. Retrieved January 20, 2017. Based on legend, this story by frequent collaborators Lester and Pinkney moves gracefully and affectingly from darkness into light.
  3. "The Old African". Buffalo and Erie County Public Library. Retrieved January 20, 2017. 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.
  4. "The Old African". kcls.bibliocommons.com. Retrieved January 20, 2017. A flawless marriage of Lester's poetic words and Pinkney's breathtaking artwork
  5. "The Old African (starred review)". Kirkus Reviews. Kirkus Media LLC. August 1, 2005. Retrieved January 20, 2017. 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.
  6. Laura Murphy. "The Old African". africaaccessreview.org. Africa Access. Retrieved January 20, 2017. Lester's lyrical language is matched with Pinkney's vivid paintings
  7. Rodberg, Simon (August 12, 2006). "Sunday Book Review: Children's Books". New York Times. Retrieved January 20, 2017. Jerry Pinkney’s emotion-filled illustrations match the honesty of Julius Lester’s text
  8. "Past Honor Books for Older Readers". africaaccessreview.org. Africa Access. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
  9. "Massachusetts Book Award Winners Announced". mblc.state.ma.us. Africa Access. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
  10. "Past and Present NBGS Books: 2006 Notable Books for a Global Society". clrsig.org. International Reading Association. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
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