The Genie in the Jar

Rating:
Summary: Thought Provoking......For Adults That Is
Review: I found myself contemplating this book several times.....and researching author and illustrator voice and training. If Giovanni intends to be thought provoking than she has achieved her goal, but the format is one that I found depressing and racially sterotypical. The images by Raschka evoke the "pickninny" in history.....the wild romping of an African-American child could be drawn straight out of the lewd cartoons presented to us in Jim Crowe illustrations. The only vibrant part of the illustrations are the elements that are not of the central characters being the sky and the dresses. Though Giovanni presents a lyrical concept the work is destroyed by illustrations that present a negative image of the "black loom."

Rating:
Summary: Thought Provoking......For Adults That Is
Review: I found myself contemplating this book several times.....than researching both author and illustrator voice and training. If Giovanni intends to be thought provoking than she has achieved her goal, but the format is one that I found depressing and racially sterotypical. The images by Raschka evoke the "pickninny" in history.....the wild romping of an African-American child could be drawn straight out of the lewd cartoons presented to us in Jim Crowe illustrations. A barefoot "Mammy" is evoked through the use of an endowed woman serving as the matriarchial support. The only vibrant part of the illustrations are the elements that are not of the central characters being the sky and the dresses. Though Giovanni presents a lyrical concept the work is destroyed by illustrations that present a negative image of the "black loom." Instead of having the mind daydream to the concept of a veritable weaving of maternal support, one instead visualizes a trapping of freedom and bottled emotion. As an adult I may enjoy the fodder for thought that is presented, but I would never present this as a material for a child.

Rating:
Summary: I dream of
Review: 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.


Rating:
Summary: The Genie in the Jar
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Did we read the same book?
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: The Genie in the Jar
Review: 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!