Alfred A. Knopf | 978-0593372760

Kids who aren’t familiar with the name James Earl Jones, will definitely recognize the deep, resonant voice behind Mufasa in The Lion King and Darth Vader in the Star Wars series. But did you know that Jones kept his voice mostly to himself for eight years because he struggled with a stutter? Although he was able to communicate with family and the animals on the farm, his stutter was painfully embarrassing and, early in his life, he “gave up trying to speak properly.”

No more asking questions.

No more sharing ideas…

If he didn’t talk,

he wouldn’t stutter.

ODE to GRAPEFRUIT, beautifully written by Kari Lavelle with stunning illustrations by Bryan Collier tells the story behind the actor’s silence and his journey to finding his voice through poetry.

When Jones was fourteen, Professor Donald Crouch, a retired college professor, joined the faculty of Dickson High School. There, Professor Crouch learned that Jones shared his love of poetry. Though he knew Jones avoided reading aloud, one day in class, he challenged him to read a poem he’d written.

“The best way for you to demonstrate that

you wrote this poem yourself is for you

to say it aloud to the class.”

Though James was terrified, he was also angry. He had written Ode to Grapefruit using the same rhythm as Longfellow’s The Song of Hiawatha, and so, with that pattern in his head, he presented his poem to his classmates, reciting the words all the way through. It was teh beginning of a breakthrough.

Kids will be inspired to read and learn more about Jones and the remarkable story of the well-known voice behind so many memorable and acclaimed plays, television shows, and movies.