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The Jones Family Express
By Javaka Steptoe
Award-Winning Children's Book
Illustrator debuts as both author and illustrator in new book
New York, NY--In his debut as both author and
illustrator, Javaka Steptoe combines humor and warmth in
The Jones Family Express
(Lee & Low), the story of an
African-American boy who wants to make a special gift for his
aunt when she comes to visit. The book is a warm and joyous
celebration of one boy's love for his family. Javaka Steptoe's
inventive collage illustrations, bursting with color and energy,
bring his story to life for families everywhere.
For as long as Steven can remember, Aunt
Carolyn has traveled around the world, and she always sends him
postcards from the places she visits. those postcards make
Steven feel special. This summer Aunt Carolyn is coming to the
annual block party and Steven wants to do something to make his
aunt feel special too. He is determined to give her the perfect
gift, but with little time and money, he worries that he won't
be able to find the right thing. Just when Steven begins to lose
hope, he discovers a surprising inspiration--and learns that the
best gifts of all come straight from the heart.
Critics have hailed
The Jones Family Express
as "engaging" and a "promising new
direction" for Steptoe, who has won countless awards for
his imaginative and original illustrations. the Book is
available for purchase from the publisher Lee & Low (www.leeandlow.com),
Amazon.com, and traditional bookstores. "Steptoe tells a warm story about a
realistic African-American family that bickers and loves even as
it is selfish and generous. the mix of materials is inventive,
and the skillful compositions are filled with action, palpable
affection, and the pride Steven finds in his own
creativity" -- BookList
More Praises for The
Jones Family Express
In this down-to-earth Brooklyn tale, young
Steven awaits a visit from his world-traveling Aunt Carolyn.
"Once, when I was three, I hid in her suitcase so she would
take me with her," the middle-school boy explains. "She
was so tickled she promised to send me a postcard from every place
she went until I was old enough to travel with her." Aunt
Carolyn has kept her word, and Steven wants to thank her with a
truly original gift. When he cannot find a suitable present at a
drugstore or a Jamaican culture shop on Nostrand Avenue, a
secondhand toy train inspires him: "The paint was peeling off
and some of the windows were broken, but I could see it had
potential." Like the snapshots Steven glues onto the toy
locomotive's windows to transform it into "The Jones Family Express," the elements of Steptoe's artwork combine into
layered compositions: his rough-hewn collages of an
African-American family appear against a background of scattered
postcards with exotic stamps and jokey cursive messages. . .The
hero's, labor intensive expression of love is the heart of this
book."
--Publishers Weekly
Steptoe makes his authorial debut in this
engaging story about a boy's special relationship with his aunt.
Every summer, Aunt Carolyn goes traveling. Now she's returning for
the family's annual block party and Steven searches for a gift to
welcome her home. Throughout, he frames text as if in a postcard
or letter and set against a backdrop of his signature cut-paper
and mixed media collage. In the opening spread, photographs and
postcards are scattered about on the left, the boy sits with
snapshots pulled from the box beside him, all from his aunt's
travels. As the tale unfolds, family members and neighborhood
folks are introduced, including Steven's grandmother, with whom he
lives and Jamaican-born shopkeeper Ruby, whose store comes alive
with colorful fabric accents and cut-out photos of beaded
necklaces, amber stones, and African art. His characters' faces
infuse the compositions with an unexpected realism. in the end,
Steven surprises Aunt Carolyn with a gift that comes straight from
the heart. And she, in turn, surprises Steven with a gift of her
own. A promising new direction for Steptoe.
--Kirkus Reviews
The family closeness and comaraderie are
lovingly communicated, as are the family foibles (Uncle Charlie
eats off other people's plates, Grandad has a secret barbecue
recipe everyone knows, etc.). . . . The art is emotionally vibrant
and energetically rendered.
--Bulletin of the Center for
Children's Books
Contact: Feleicia Pride / Literary Pride /
443-415-5600 / literarypride@hotmail.com |
