Grannie and the Jumbie by Margaret M. Hurst

 

Grannie and the Jumbie endpapers | Photo by Caribbean Children Books

Grannie and the Jumbie cover | photo by Caribbean Children’s Books

Grannie and the Jumbie pages | Photo by Caribbean Children’s Books

Do you believe in jumbies? Emanuel has heard all Grannie’s stories, but he doesn’t think jumbies are real.

He make fun of Grannie: “Jumbie dis an’ Jumbie dat, an t’row de salt over you left shoulder so, to keep away de spirits, you know!”

But as the patois story continues, Emanuel’s bold disregard causes a jumbie to try to get him from his bed! Luckily, Mistah Mocko Jumbie* arrives to protect Emanuel, who learns his lesson.

It’s a good spooky story, but the swirling illustrations are the real showstopper. Made from cloth, including pieces from the author’s childhood on St. Thomas, the award-winning illustrations are full of startling shapes and rich textures.

This book is an #OwnVoices title, written by someone born and raised in the Caribbean.

*Moko Jumbies are guardian figures embodied by dancing men on stilts in many parts of the Caribbean. More on Moko Jumbies (also spelled mocko jumbies): Video of Moko Jumbies in Trinidad (NYT) | Information, Video & Images on Moko Jumbies’ Role in Carnival | Interview with St. Croix, Virgin Islands Master Moko Jumbie |The Caribbean dictionary entry includes a picture, and different spellings and phrases

The details for this Caribbean children’s book:

• Island: Not specified, but the author refers in her notes to St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
• Author/illustrator: Margaret M. Hurst grew up on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
• Language: English, narrated in Caribbean dialect
• Recommended for: older children
• Links to more information and purchasing: Author’s website. Find in the library.