A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 20

Picture Book: Big Jabe

Author: Jerdine Nolen

Illustrator: Kadir Nelson

Summary: Addy, a young slave, discovers baby Jabe while fishing. Soon Big Jabe is huge & seems responsible for extraordinary, even magical feats. When the overseer blames other slaves for the changes, those slaves disappear, including Addy. Big Jabe moves on to other plantations continuing his work of lifting burdens in miraculous ways.

Hanna’s Comments: This story is a tall tale with an American slave context. There are at least 3 obvious connections with Bible stories and I'm not even counting the theme of slavery. It's an amazing but complicated and somewhat dark story that your children will love. There's a lot here to talk about, much of it biblical in nature.  

Publisher & Date of Publication: Amistad, 2005

Age and Grade Appropriateness: 5 and up, K and up

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: None at present

PBT Category: Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abundance/bounty, action, America, beach/ocean/pond/river/sea/shore, blessing, bullying/martyrs/persecution/oppression, chosen, difficulties, eggs/seeds, feasting/food/hunger/nutrition, fish/fishing, flowers/leaves/trees, found, freedom, gardening/planting/pruning/sowing, generosity/giving/offering/stewardship, God’s care/providence, goodness, harvest, helping, heritage, heroes, injustice, Jesus, justice, labor/work, land/mountains, legends/myths, manna, miracles, mission, mystery, parables/stories, power, rescue, safe place/sanctuary, savior/saving, servanthood/service/serving, slavery/slaves, surprise, at table, transformation, victims, wonder

Scripture Connections: Moses in the basket (Exodus 2:1-10); slaves escaping (Exodus); loads of fish in the net (Luke 5:4-7); Peter & Silas have their chains loosened while in prison (Acts 12:6-11)

Idea(s) for Application: Besides a lesson at your church for elementary-aged children, this would be a fabulous homeschool or private school lesson on tall tales that would encourage some great Bible stories.