Big Jabe
Young Addy, a house slave on Mr. Plenty's plantation, is fishing  (unsuccessfully) for Mr. Plenty's supper one day when she notices a wicker  basket bobbing in the water. Inside this basket is a smiling young boy who  offers Addy "a plump round pear, as golden as the noonday sun," and then  proceeds to amaze her with wondrous feats. First he calls up a wagon-full of  fish from the river. Then he plants the seeds from the pear, which grow into a  tree almost overnight. The boy himself, named Jabe, grows up quickly as well,  and within months is working on the plantation, a giant man with the strength of  fifty. Mysterious events take place around Jabe. Each time the plantation  overseer punishes one of the slaves, a huge storm comes up in the night, and the  following day the punished slave has vanished. Only Addy suspects the truth:  that Jabe, with his mythic powers, is spiriting the slaves away to freedom.This marvelous tall tale celebrates the dream of freedom and the strength of  community among slaves in America. Jerdine Nolen's folksy style and light touch  on a heavy subject give this original yarn a genuine feel for its setting and  era, and the story matches perfectly with Kadir Nelson's stunning artwork in  earthy tones and vivid textures. Both author and illustrator capture the  harshness of a slave's daily life without resorting to explicit depictions of  cruelty. The very talented Kadir Nelson also illustratedSalt in His Shoes: Michael Jordan in  Pursuit of a Dream, and Jerdine Nolen is the author of the award-winningHarvey Potter's Balloon  Farm. (Ages 5 to 8)--Emilie Coulter--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.