Jump Back, Honey: The Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar (Jump at the Sun) [Hardcover]

Paul Laurence Dunbar (Author)

Book Description

Series: Jump at the Sun

An illustrated collection of poems by Paul Laurence Dunbar, including "A Boy's Summer Song," "The Sparrow," and "Little Brown Baby."

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This affectionate celebration of Paul Laurence Dunbar's (1872-1906) work features uniformly excellent illustrationsAan engaging and coherent pastiche of various mediums and palettes that delight the eye. From Bryan's dazzling tempera and gouache painting of the dawn to Jerry Pinkney's enticing dust jacket illustrating a courting poem, the visual images beckon the reader to sample the energy and vitality of the poems. In a touching afterword, each illustrator discusses the value of Dunbar's poetry, both personally and in terms of African-American culture. However, despite these tributes to the ongoing influence of Dunbar's work and the editors' attempts to select verse that will translate well to contemporary children, the language of some poems may pose difficulties. Reading certain poems requires a willingness to leap across the barriers of dialect ("But be hea't goes into bus'ness fu' to he'p erlong de eah") or of the conventions of turn-of-the-century poetry ("Ah, Douglass, we have fall'n on evil days,/ Such days as thou, not even thou didst know"). Happily, one of Dunbar's gifts was his range of poetic styles; works such as the eloquent "Dawn" ("An angel, robed in spotless white,/ Bent down and kissed the sleeping Night./ Night woke to blush; the sprite was gone./ Men saw the blush and called it Dawn") will more easily introduce a new generation to Dunbar's legacy. Ages 5-up. (Sept.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6-A celebrity cast of illustrators enlivens 14 of Dunbar's poems. Opening with the bright colors of Ashley Bryan and the poem "Dawn," the carefully selected verses depict the full range of Dunbar's craft. There are poems in standard English, and some in dialect. The latter, placed in the middle of the book, include "A Negro Love Song," "Little Brown Baby," and others. The signature art by Carole Byard, Jan Spivey Gilchrist, Brian Pinkney, Jerry Pinkney, and Faith Ringgold also grace these pages. The pictures are bright and happy, then somber and prideful. There is joy and a sense of deep appreciation in the paintings that match the verses perfectly. The book closes with soft paintings and three quiet selections, "Good-Night," "The Sand-Man," and "Rain-Songs." From the introduction that provides readers with some background on Dunbar's life to the afterword that includes quotes from the artists about the poet's influence, this is a package that belongs in every collection serving this audience.
Angela J. Reynolds, West Slope Community Library, Portland, OR
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion; 1st edition (September 16, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786824069
• ISBN-13: 978-0786824069
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 10.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,109,411 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful tribute to a great American poet, November 17, 2001

By 

Michael J. Mazza - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jump Back, Honey: The Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar (Jump at the Sun) (Hardcover)

"Jump Back, Honey: The Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar" combines several poems from this beloved African-American poet with illustrations from several different artists: Ashley Bryan, Faith Ringgold, and more. Dunbar (1872-1906) was an expert at writing poems in both a formal "literary" English and in a style that evoked African-American vernacular speech (this second type of poem was known as a "dialect" poem). This book includes excellent examples of both modes. A sample from a "dialect" poem: "Fiddlin' man jes' stop his fiddlin', / Lay his fiddle on de she'f."

I liked how several different visual artists contributed to this book; this gives the book a nice sense of variety. My favorite illustrations include Jerry Pinkney's pictures, which are vibrant with color and energy, and Carole Byard's delicate picture that accompanies "The Sparrow."

These are poems about nature, African-American culture, and the joys of love and family life. This book is an excellent choice for a multicultural children's book collection.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jump back, honey, March 25, 2000

By 

Shelia A. Brown - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jump Back, Honey: The Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar (Jump at the Sun) (Hardcover)

A versatile group of illustrators add flair to Paul Laurence Dunbar's poetry. Faith Ringgold's portrait of Frederick Douglass gives additional power to "Douglass". Jerry Pinkney's illustrations capture the playfulness and sass of "A Negro Love Song"; and "The Colored Band". Both Carole Byard's and Jan Spivey Gilchrist's illustrations add contemporary color and meaning to this anthology. The notes list brief biographical information on Dunbar and some background data on the title of this book. Some facts about the illustrators are also included in this collection of poems. This book can be used for school and church performances and plays.