Julius Lester

John Henry’s talent was evident at an early age when he helped his daddy, but was cemented in American folklore when he took on the steam drill. His place among American tall tale heroes is chronicled in richly detailed watercolors and language.

Before Malcolm Daniel can help three moaning ghosts, he needs to know why they make such spooky noises. Told with rich language and evocative nighttime colors, this upbeat, not-too-scary, and satisfying tale is sure to become a favorite year round.

One of the most well known of African American folktales are the Uncle Remus tales, originally written down by Joel Chandler Harris over a hundred years ago. This four-book series drops the heavy and difficult dialect of the original tales and adds contemporary language and references to Brer Rabbit’s fun.