From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3--Emanuel's Grannie has warned him about ghosts, spirits, and the bogeyman Jumbie. One day, feeling especially bold, the boy tempts fortune by playing with his shadow and walking on graves. Jumbie sees this and comes to snatch Emanuel away, but Mista Mocko Jumbie, the village's spiritual protector, saves him. Appliqu‚d collage scenes extend the story. Most of the figures are formed from several pieces of material of differing colors, shapes, and sizes, pieced and sewn together, often onto patterned silk-screened fabrics. The large-print text in a relaxed script is frequently seen against lightly patterned backgrounds. The components of these fabric pieces are as fascinating as the finished products. These scenes and the lilting dialect sprinkled throughout written phonetically (chile, keepin', etc.) will give readers a feel for the Caribbean setting. An author's note tells about the annual Carnival parades on St. Thomas (where Mocko Jumbie makes an appearance) while the glossary explains a few terms. A slightly spooky, but fun and satisfying look at another culture.
Kathleen Simonetta, Indian Trails Public Library District, Wheeling, IL
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
About the Author
Margaret M. Hurst grew up on St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. She is a teacher at the Pratt Institute and Parsons School of Design as well as a head of the Passalacqua School for professional artists.
Grannie and the Jumbie is her first picture book.
