Jones Family Express

There aren't many picture books out there that contain illustrations where the main character and his brother are seen protecting their delicious pancake breakfasts from a voracious hungry uncle. "The Jones Family Express" is one of the few. Which is to say, it's the rare book that shows family relations in a realistic, yet affectionate, way. Javaka Steptoe has a style and voice that is uniquely his own. In this particular book, he creates a living breathing urban family environment, the like of which has not been seen since the heyday of those marvelous Ezra Jack Keats stories. Here we have a great story, in an innovative package. Steven awaits, with baited breath, the postcards his world traveling aunt sends him whenever she goes away. For years he's lived through Aunt Carolyn's adventures second-hand, and at long long last she's coming to visit her favorite nephew and his family. That means it's time to party. While the rest of his family prepares for a delicious street barbecue, Steven frets over finding his aunt the perfect welcome-home gift. When at last he enlists the help of his money-happy Uncle Charles ("he wouldn't do anything unless you paid him") he finds a present that his aunt can truly love for all time. And in the end, Aunt Carolyn gives Steven the one thing he's always wanted. I was pleased with the arc of the story, especially the wide range of characters brought to vivid life through Steptoe's descriptions. There's Steven's little cousin Sean who keeps him awake at night with questions like, "Why do dogs like dog biscuits?". There's Mr. Perkins, owner of Perkins Drugstore, with a voice like nails scratching on a chalkboard. And unlike some other kid-tries-to-find-the-perfect-present-for-their-beloved-relative/friend/idol, the gift that Steven actually comes up with is truly something that any adult belonging to a large family would love to own. Steptoe's cut paper and mixed-media collage is the real star of this show, though. Cut paper, when done well, takes disparate elements and forces them to be complimentary to one another. In this particular case, Steptoe knows how to throw real photographs in with his drawn faces and cut out people, and meld them together with apparent ease. The people in this book grimace, smile, scowl, and sigh with delightful results. The whole reason to read the book, though, is centered on a magnificent two-page spread of Aunt Carolyn's hands holding her newly unwrapped present. If you read nothing else in this book, find that spread and tell me if it isn't fabulous (her hands are actual size, which makes the image particularly stunning). Is it great? Yep. Should you give it to your children? Yep. Can I come up with a single reason why anyone wouldn't like it? I dunno. It's a little wordy for younger children. But for those kids who can sit through a well-told story and enjoy what it has to say, few things could go down sweeter than the pleasant, "Jones Family Exp

Steven Jones loves his Aunt Carolyn. She travels all around the world and always send him postcards from the places that dhe travels. His aunt promises Steven that when he is old enough he can go on a trip with her. He can't wait for that day! His aunt is coming home for a visit and he wants to give her the perfect gift. He only has $10.00 and can't find anything good enough for her. He decides to redo an old toy train with pictures of his family as his gift. His aunt and the rest of the family love the "Jones Family Express"! At the end of her visit Aunt Carolyn gives Steven a postcard. The postacard is inviting him on a trip with her! The illustrations are done is collage style. They are fun to look at and keep the reader interested in the story. The book would make a great read aloud to children during a unit on trains, travel and family.

The Jones Family Express is a warm-hearted picture book written by Javaka Steptoe. His engaging text is uniquely brought to life with full-color illustrations of paper collages. In The Jones Family Express, Steven is a young African-American boy who is stumped trying to think of the perfect gift for his beloved, globe-traveling Aunt Carolyn during the annual block party. Steven learns that the best gifts of all come from the heart, in this emotional and highly recommended picture book story for young readers ages 4 to 9.