Jamaica's Blue Marker

by Juanita Havill, Anne Sibley O'Brien (Illustrator)

Overview

Jamaica was friends with everyone in school - except for Russell. No wonder: Russell was a mean brat. When they had art class, Russell borrowed her markers and spoiled her picture. At recess, he threw sand and chased little kids. Jamaica certainly wasn't sorry to learn that Russell was going to move away. She didn't even want to make a card for him, the way the others in her class were doing. But then something happened to change her mind . . .

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780547562452
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	09/25/1995
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	687,518
Lexile:	500L (what's this?)
File size:	19 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

JUANITA HAVILL is an American children's picture book author best known for the Jamaica books. She has also written a young adult novel, Eyes Like Willy's. She lives in Arizona.
ANNE SIBLEY O'BRIEN has illustrated more than thirty-three books for children, including the Jamaica stories. She lives on an island in Maine with her husband.

Editorial Reviews

PreS-Gr 2-Jamaica is not thrilled about having to share her blue marker with Russell. He never has the supplies he needs, and this time he takes the marker and draws all over her picture. The next day, she discovers that he is moving. With the help of her father, she begins to understand that her classmate is mean because he is unhappy about leaving and gives him her blue marker to remember her by. Havill once again captures important events in the lives of young children through the kind and thoughtful Jamaica. Through an everyday occurrence, she learns a strong lesson about feelings-her own as well as others'. O'Brien's full-page watercolor illustrations feature a multiethnic classroom and beautifully reflect the expressions and moods of the main characters.-Helen Rosenberg, Chicago Public Library, IL

School Library Journal

In the latest picture book about Jamaica and her friends, Jamaica thinks her classmate Russell is a mean brat, especially when he scribbles all over her special drawing; but when she learns that he's moving away, she imagines how sad he must be and reaches out to him. The sensitive story and realistic watercolor pictures show Jamaica's strong feelings and how they change. We see her at home with her warm African American family and in her classroom with her teacher and the other kids. Then in a climactic double-page spread, Jamaica and Russell look at each other and talk and say good-bye. Use this with John Steptoe's classic "Stevie" (1969) and with other books about how enemies can become friends.

Hazel Rochman

"Havill here gives children insight into the phenomenon of acting out, where a child's distress about one aspect of life comes out in an unexpected way; Jamaica behaves realistically throughout, expressing her anger, but finding a way to reconcile with Russell before he leaves." —The Bulletin Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books —

From the Publisher