Black Jack: The Ballad of Jack Johnson

Black Jack: The Ballad of Jack Johnson
by Charles R. Smith, illustrated by Shane W. Evans, 2010, New York: Roaring Brook Press. (9781596434738).

Author Website: http://www.charlesrsmithjr.com/

Illustrator Website: http://www.shaneevans.com/

Media: pen and ink, oil paint and collage

Awards and Honors: IRA Notable Books for a Global Society; Chicago Public Library Best of the Best; Booklist, Starred Review; Publishers Weekly, Starred Review; School Library Journal, Starred Review

Annotation:

A biography, in rhyming verse, of Arthur John "Jack" Johnson, the world's first black heavyweight champion.

Personal Reaction:
     With rhyming verse and bold illustrations Charles R. Smith and Shane W. Evans tell the story of Jack Johnson, the world's first black heavyweight champion. A "brave, strong, fightin' man", Jack was determined to become a "great man"- a dream he accomplished when he defeated Jim Jeffries on the Fourth of July in 1910. Smith does a masterful job at writing Johnson's story- he's able to balance historical detail with really entralling storytelling. A non-fiction book told in rhyming verse and shining with personality is a rarity. Evans' illustrations, rendered in big blocks or deep color, are bold and dynamic. He includes historic newspaper clippings and photos of Johnson as subtle collage details that lend to the story. Black Jack: The Ballad of Jack Johnson is a great example of a how a non-fiction story can be told creatively and compellingly.