Oct 01, 1994 john henry is a mythical american perhaps loosely based on a real person more children should learn about, so im pleased to see a few of his stories being retold in this volume. He died on may 14, 1934 in kensington, london, england. The tale of john henry has been used as a symbol in many cultural movements, including labor movements and the civil rights movement john henry is a symbol of physical strength and endurance, of exploited labor, of the dignity of a human being against the degradations of the machine age, and of racial pride and solidarity. Tall tale fiction, 725 words, level m grade 2, lexile 530l. John henry days is funny and wise and sumptuously writtencompelling. He had thick arms, wide shoulders and strong muscles. The folk legend of john henry, and his contest with a steam engine to cut a railroad tunnel through a mountain, is told in song by roberta flack. The scholar loves a grand story and at times gets lost in the drama, but the book is well researched, and ambrose knows how to tell a tale. John henrys legend grew, in fact, during the early years of the american labor movement, and some of the most violent labor battles during those years occurred on the railroads. The moral of the story is to look around you and for everyday heroes and appreciate them. An animated musical based on the life of john henry. John henry is one of the most famous american tall tales. A veteran of the korean war whose family was burned to death by the ku klux klan.
There is some research that shows john henry could have been a former emancipated slave born between the 1850s and 1860s. John henry won, the legend says, driving 14 feet to the drills nine. Jun 22, 2001 john henry days colson whitehead 389pp, 4th estate. A special that shows john henry vs the steam drill sung by roberta flack edit 6819 omg 1,227 views and 20 comments some of which are mine and 27. John henry is not only an excellent anchor text for teaching comprehension strategies, it also pairs well with a phonics lesson about rules of adding ed and ing to a word. He was a true rail nomad, but more n that, he was the strongest, tmost powerful man to ever work the rails. Either download the john henry super pack or this individual word work package to access lesson plans, interactive games and fun worksheets that directly tie word study to your classroom reading. The workers made good progress on the project until they started working near big bend mountain in west virginia. Various locations, including big bend tunnel in west virginia, lewis tunnel in virginia, and coosa mountain tunnel in alabama, have been suggested as the site of the contest. The company asked him to lead workers on a project to extend the railroad into the allegheny mountains.
Readers will be introduced to john henry, who grew up as a slave and went on to be known as the fastest and strongest steel driver on the railroad. The legend of john henry has been celebrated in song and story for generations, but my favorite version is the childrens picture book john henry by julius lester, with illustrations by jerry pinkney. Nov 20, 20 john henry won, the legend says, driving 14 feet to the drills nine. The story of john henry, told mostly through ballads and work songs, traveled from coast to coast as the railroads drove west during the 19th century. John henry, an american legend, by ezra jack keats. With the exception of a few early episodes, the comic strip character communicates only through pantomime, a situation which changed when henry moved into comic books the saturday evening post was the first publication to feature henry, a. The story of the legendary african american folk hero, who pitted his strength against that of a machine and won the contest. If youre interested in the larger story of the railroad lying behind the john henry legend, you might like ambroses popular history.
John henry, written and illustrated by ezra jack keats, tells the story of a fictitious american legend. And yet, bacon never made one major scientific discovery. John henry character john henry appears in 15 issues. In 1974, nick bosustow and david adams co produced an 11minute animated short, the legend of john henry, for paramount pictures. The 2003 film the gospel of john, was directed by philip saville, narrated by christopher plummer, with henry ian cusick as jesus. Read the the book of henry movie synopsis, view the movie trailer, get cast and crew information, see movie photos, and more on. The legend of john henry level m 11 12 john henry knew he had to beat the machine. Each doublepage spread seems to radiate the vital force that led john henry to challenge a steam drill to a rockdrilling contestand win. He continued growing until he was the strongest man who ever lived. John henry is a fantastic song of a great africanamerican hero. An animated short film that tells the life story of the famous lumberjack john henry who raced against a steam powered machine that chopped wood. Challenging the dark and dated portrait of the king as brutal, greedy, and repressive, it argues instead that.
All the magic of a winter day, in this version of the keats classic. Published december 1st 1999 by puffin books first published october 1st 1994. The legend of john henry the legend of john henry the legend of john henry the legend of john henry the legend of john henry. Oct 17, 2007 an animated version of the john henry folk story by abe twist. Dvd, which features animated adaptations of childrens storybooks with celebrity. The big, polyphonic novel that strives to capture the spirit of a nation or an age can be a hazardous enterprise. When john henry was born the birds, bears, rabbits, and even a unicorn came to see him. John henry, an american legend is a 1965 childrens picture book by american author and illustrator ezra jack keats in this book, it shows that john henry. With regard to julius lesters 1994 john henry, it is in particular illustrator jerry pinkneys 1995 caldecott honour winning accompanying illustrations which i have always found and ever since first reading the book as a library copy a couple of years ago very much personally and visually impressive expressive. John henry was the most powerful looking baby people had ever seen. An animated version of the john henry folk story by abe twist.
Readers will be introduced to john henry, who grew up as a slave and went on to be known as the. The book of henry was a disaster and a bomb to be sure, but it will remain great fodder for bmovie showings and film school discussions on how not to make a movie. John henry, the untold story of an american legend, historian scott reynolds nelson detailed his discovering documentation of a 19yearold africanamerican man alternately referred to as john henry, john w. And in time, it has become timeless, spanning a century of generations with versions ranging from prisoners recorded at mississippis parchman farm in the late 1940s to presentday folk heroes.
Francis bacon is one of the leading figures in the history of science ranking alongside even isaac newton. This is john henry animated readaloud by ezra jack keats foundation on vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them. John henry books list of books by author john henry. The complete guide to selecting beautiful flowers for your wedding, and flowers by design vol. Julius lesters john henry is based on the african american folk ballad john henry, the tale of john henry, the steeldriving man who was bigger and stronger than anyone and the competition. Describes the life of the legendary steeldriving man who was born with and who died with a hammer in his hand. The story is told from the point of view of johns wife, polly. Without john henry, there would be no rails, no sir, no trains, no rail nomads, no topekans, no atchinsons, nor even santa fes. The most recent such portrayal is the 2014 film the gospel of john, directed by david batty and narrated by david harewood and brian cox, with selva rasalingam as jesus.
John henry grew up in a world that did not let children stay children for long. Known from a tall tale, dating back to the early 19th century. This is john henry animated readaloud by ezra jack keats foundation on vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love. John henry was a former slave whos mighty strength made him one of the earliest africanamerican role models. An american legend is a childrens picture book written and illustrated by ezra jack keats, which tells a story about john henry, who was born with a hammer in his hand and was inspired by the american folk hero of the same name. Commentary on the book of gospel of john by matthew henry. Home trending history get youtube premium get youtube tv best of youtube music. John henry w as indeed a mighty man, as it states in the story. Booklist wrote like lesters great collections of the uncle remus tales.
Learned and recorded as part of tell me another one an artssmarts project under the direction of storyteller dale gilbert jarvis. This longawaited biography, written by one of the most distinguished medievalists of his generation, offers a major reassessment of henrys character and reign. The story is told from the point of view of john s wife, polly. John henry by julius lester, jerry pinkney, paperback. With his two sledgehammers pulverizing boulders, john henry races a ste. The story can serve as an engaging introduction to the classic man vs. John henry and the inkypoo, the secondto last puppetoon ever made, is rumored to be a sort of goodwilled attempt to make up for the racist stereotypes displayed in the the jasper series. Have children think about the ways the music makes them feel. Henry was a comic strip created in 1932 by carl thomas anderson. A version of the john henry legend, told by jesse williams, a grade five student at holy cross elementary, st. John henry was born on september 3, 1879 in wakefield, west yorkshire, england as norman clapham. John henry went to work as a steeldriver for the chesapeake and ohio railroad, or cando. Mar 18, 2017 julius lesters john henry is based on the african american folk ballad john henry, the tale of john henry, the steeldriving man who was bigger and stronger than anyone and the competition between him and the steampowered drill in digging a railroad tunnel through a mountain.
Showcasing past work in animation and storyboards, as well as drawings and sketches. He died shortly after, some say from exhaustion, some say from a stroke. Wielding a sledge hammer forged from the chains that bound him in servitude, he was a oneman railroad crew who could move mountains. Teach children the lyrics to the song and have them accompany themselves on rhythm band instruments. His claim to fame rests on his status as the man to define scientific method.
Through the powerful illustrations, keats portrays john henry as a heroic man with much importance in society. After reading several books this animated story was the icing on the cake. The title character is a young bald boy who is mute and sometimes drawn minus a mouth. He grew so fast, he burst right through the porch roof, and laughed so loud, he scared the. The book went through two to three stages, or editions, before reaching its current form, at the latest, around ad 80100. John henry started growing when he was one day old. Hear the story of this amazing man in this short readaloud. Just watching the trailer is a roller coaster ride in that the film first appears to be a lighthearted drama about a genius young boy. See all books authored by john henry, including romantic wedding flowers.
It is written anonymously, although it identifies an unnamed disciple whom jesus loved as the source of its. He is a subject of legend and song, who was most likely born in alabama or west virginia. Pal had a great deal of respect for africanamerican folklore, feeling that it. Scott reynolds nelson argues that the john henry story was no tall tale, and. John henry and the double jointed steamdrill, by irwin shapiro, drawings by james daugherty new york. Henry, or john william henry in previouslyunexplored prison records of the virginia penitentiary. Pal had a great deal of respect for africanamerican folklore, feeling that it was one of the richest. Henry i, son of william the conqueror, ruled from 1100 to 15, a time of fundamental change in the anglonorman world. With the exception of a few early episodes, the comic strip character communicates only through pantomime, a situation which changed when henry moved into comic books. That steeldriving man who was bornand diedwith a hammer in his hand comes vividly to life in a picture book so colorful and dramatic that surely it is the best yet by ezra jack keats, a caldecott medal winner. He was an actor and writer, known for oscillation 1936, home construction 1926 and broadcasting 1927.
But if john henry won, the boss wouldnt want the machine. Explain to children that john henry was a very physically strong character. The book of henry may be the hardest 2017 film to categorize. While the prose of julius lester sings, it isnt the lyrics to the song, so it didnt really meet my needs. John henry was a steeldriver, swinging his mighty hammer, to clear the way for rails, levelling the ground, striking holes for explosions, and hammering in the spikes to lay the rails surely. For although pinkneys pictorial renderings are at times perhaps almost a. Julius lester and jerry pinkneys warm, humorous retelling of a popular africanamerican folk ballad. John henry, the untold story of an american legend.