The Genie in the Jar

by Nikki Giovanni

Book Overview

Nikki Giovanni spins her words into beautiful images of black songs and black looms, and inspires us all to trust our own hearts. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805060766
• ISBN13: 9780805060768
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 1.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 8.0" x 10.0"
• Age Range: 5 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Kindergarten to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

I dream of

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

The Genie in the Jar

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!

Did we read the same book?

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.