Just Call Me Joe Joe

The sweet, tender illustrations of this heart breaking--then heart healing--story make it really come alive for children and adults alike.Nicole Tadgell's characters arouse a tender affinity for the lovable protagonist Joe Joe as well as the assumptive shopkeeper: we see anger, regret, conciliation clear as the written text. The story is a fine lesson in courage and character for all races.And children interested in baseball will be intrigued by the vintage photography of past baseball heroes, learning a great deal of the history of the game in tandem with the history of African Americans in the 20th century.

Just Call Me Joe Joe begins the biblical passage John 10:3, "...and the sheep shall hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name." Written especially for African-American children ages 6-10 by Jean Alicia Elster and nicely illustrated in color by Nicole Tadgell, Just Call Me Joe Joe is the story of a 10-year-old African-American boy who must deal with a shop owner who mistakenly assumes that Joe Joe was part of the gang who just trashed the store. Joe Joe must find the courage and spirit to return and convince the shop owner of the truth. Just Call Me Joe Joe is a highly recommended and strong story of moral conviction and justice for young readers.