The Genie in the Jar (Paperback)

by Nikki Giovanni (Author), Chris Raschka (Illustrator) "take a note and spin it around spin it around don't prick your finger..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Despite Raschka's (Charlie Parker Played Bebop) compelling art-a series of sprightly yet soulful sketches that dance, skip and twirl across the pages-Giovanni's brief, abstract poem fails to take flight. Reading the text aloud helps, as the cadence of the words emerges, but younger readers especially may puzzle over the meaning: "Make the sky sing a Black song/ sing a blue song/ sing my song make the sky/ sing a Black song/ from the Black loom from the Black loom." The abrupt ending, which acts like an unresolved chord, is unsettling at best as it reprises a refrain: "Careful baby/ don't prick your finger." Played out against warm, solid backdrops, Raschka's illustrations assist in deciphering the verses. With the most fluid of lines, he reduces his compositions to an essence of motion: he envisions a circle game played by children of color, with the activity revolving around a girl (the "genie" of the title) and her mother (who becomes the "jar" when her loving arms encircle the girl). Even with Raschka's bright interpretation, it's questionable whether this well-intentioned effort will connect with its targeted audience. Ages 4-up.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal
PreS Up?This profound book is as lyrical as poetry and as patterned as a lullaby, both simple and complex, concrete and elusive. In it, a black woman repeatedly admonishes her daughter, "Careful baby, don't prick your finger," but also encourages her to "take a note and spin it around," and "to take the air and weave the sky around the Black loom." Finally, the child is enfolded in her mother's arms and encircled by the women of the "Black loom" before she soars in independence. Demonstrating prototypical interdependence of words and pictures, Raschka's illustrations and Giovanni's words are inseparable in reading and understanding the whole. The artist's bold lines are few, but not a single one is wasted or out of place. The girl is so full of life that she fairly floats on backgrounds ranging from warm brown, to glowing gold, to richest black. Turning convention on its ear, the safe circle of black women is placed on a black background, while the warnings appear on white. The child is seen dancing, singing, and waving strands of sky in and out of the circle of women as her dress turns tender sky blue; she has internalized the freedom of the sky. In a ritual of sanctuary and protection, she is released, genie-like, from her mother's arms within the embracing circle of community into joyous, sunny gold possibilities. Symbolic on many levels, this poem is addressed to a black audience, but its message is undeniably universal. It is as cautionary and as reassuring as a creative life, lived with both risk and self-fulfillment.?Kate McClelland, Perrot Memorial Library, Greenwich, CT
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (December 16, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805060766
• ISBN-13: 978-0805060768
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,371,352 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I dream of, October 11, 2004

By	E. R. Bird "Ramseelbird" (Manhattan, NY) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I have an enormous respect for the singer Nina Simone. Therefore, I think it's safe to say that were Ms. Simone living today, she would probably eschew the joys of placing her songs in a picture book format. That doesn't mean, however, that she can't still inspire others to create original picture book works on their own. "The Genie In the Jar" is not your typical children's book outing. It does not contain cute furry animals or adorable humdrum situations like losing a tooth or the first day of kindergarten. It doesn't have a linear plot or even name its characters. This is one of those picture books that has decided not to bother with pandering to the standard rules. As a result, it may well be more appealing to adults than kids. Or maybe not. To find out, you need only open its pages and scan it for a little while.

The words in this book are like the lyrics of a song that repeat, pause, repeat, leap, and repeat again. Eschewing punctuation, the book reads, "take a note/ and spin it around/ spit it around/ don't/ prick your finger". On the pages, a small black girl spins herself around, running to the safety of her mother when she pricks her finger. She is surrounded by other members of her family, who form a loose loving circle around her. Grabbing portions of the sky, she weaves it in this "Black loom". And when the words say, "take a genie/ and put her in a jar/ put her in a jar/ wrap the sky around her", the little girl is enclosed in the loving arms of her mother and surrounded by the circle of her family/community. She is set free to fly by her parent, but with the final admonishment once more to not prick her finger.

No, I don't really understand it very well either. I've explained it in as clear a manner as I can, but this book takes several readings to completely comprehend. Both the writer and the illustrator were influenced by the singer Nina Simone, and this is well reflected in the text. Just the same, it's heavy stuff. Possibly too heavy for some little ones to understand intrinsically (let alone their parents). For other children (those of a dreamy otherworldly disposition), it may become their favorite book. It does have a lovely message, though (a message I had to gather through the bookflap). The words are simple but layered with different meanings. The illustrations by Chris Raschka are drawn on thick brown paper. Sometimes this paper is painted white, or yellow, or black. The misleadingly messy people pop out at the viewer while melding with their background. Raschka certainly had his work cut out for him when he decided to illustrate this puppy. To my mind he's done an admirable job, considering he didn't even have a plot to work from. My personal favorite moment in this book is when the little girl character suddenly appears on a page wearing a dress the color of the blue sky she was previously weaving in and over her relatives. From there, it's just a short jump to flight.

This is not a book for everyone. There are people who will pick up this book after reading the title, "The Genie In the Jar" and expect some kind of fantasy involving... um... genies and jars, I guess. Let me be clear then when I state that no genies or jars are forthcoming. This is a complex moral picture book about the role of the individual in relation to the community that has raised them. It's about the love of families and the strength we gather from those who love us. Like I said before, I don't know if kids will be able to get the message in this multi-layered format. Maybe they won't. But I like this book, and I think you will too.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Genie in the Jar, January 23, 2001

By A Customer

I totally agree with the review of "redtwister" in June 2000. One of the reviewers in April 2000 is throwing an airball in criticizing the graphic art in this book. This book is wonderful! And what first attracted me to it were in the fact the colors of the art on the cover-- the cover has wonderful shades of brown and other earthy colors. It was only afterwards that I noticed is was a children's book by Nikki Giovanni-- that sealed the deal for me since she's one of my favorite poets (along with Sonia Sanchez, Jane Cortez, Ntozake Shange, etc.) and I was single-minded in knowing that I had to get this book for my 4 year old nephew, a child with a Puerto-Rican mom and an African-American dad. Buy this book for any child you know-- white, black, Puerto Rican, Asian, 1 years old, 5 years old, son, daughter, nephew, a friend's kid-- just buy it and put it in their hands!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Did we read the same book?, June 15, 2000

By	Christopher D. Wright "redtwister" (Baltimore) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I read this to my son all the time. As a father trying to raise a young boy with positive Black and female images, I love this book. I think the other reviewer misses the color usage totally, the invocation of the serenity and strength of dark colors. It is against them that the see dark colors as negative, as if lighter (maybe whiter?) colors would cheer it up. The lyrical and jazzy movement of the poem works wonderfully. And the women NEVER come off as Aunt Jemimas. Please, like Nicki Giovanni would ever support an illustrator pushing those images on her work. Buy this wonderful little book. Also, though it says for ages 4-8, I have read it to my son since he was 1 1/2, and he has always loved it.