1. Bibliography:
Grifalconi, Ann. 2007. Ain't Nobody a Stranger to Me. New York: Hyperion. ISBN 978-07868-1857-0.
Grifalconi, Ann. 2007. Ain't Nobody a Stranger to Me. New York: Hyperion. ISBN 978-07868-1857-0.
2. Plot Summary:
Waving hello to everyone he passes an elderly African-American man, a former slave, walks with his granddaughter to the apple orchard he planted himself; from seeds he saved as a young man, " to keep myself believing that when the great day of freedom came, I could plant 'em in my own soil, on my own farm." Wondering aloud how her grandpa can know so many people he replies that he "don't know 'em by name-just by heart" and explains that he came by his philosophy of knowing no strangers when he, his wife, and baby daughter, on the run from slavery, were fed, sheltered and directed to the route of the Underground Railroad by a white man who saw, not color, but people with a hungry baby who needed help.
Waving hello to everyone he passes an elderly African-American man, a former slave, walks with his granddaughter to the apple orchard he planted himself; from seeds he saved as a young man, " to keep myself believing that when the great day of freedom came, I could plant 'em in my own soil, on my own farm." Wondering aloud how her grandpa can know so many people he replies that he "don't know 'em by name-just by heart" and explains that he came by his philosophy of knowing no strangers when he, his wife, and baby daughter, on the run from slavery, were fed, sheltered and directed to the route of the Underground Railroad by a white man who saw, not color, but people with a hungry baby who needed help.
3. Critical analysis:
Based on a true story, author Ann Grifalconi's narrative presents a story of desperation, fear, and the kindness of strangers. Brought to life by Jerry Pinkney's beautiful, full-page water color illustrations; the brown, gray, and dirty-yellow depictions from the past of the man, his wife, their baby, and the stranger who helped them, their faces etched with fear and desperation as they travel by night through unknown territory, alternate with the joyous ganddaughter and her smiling grandfather as they stroll down country lanes lined with green meadows and dotted with fat, black-and-white spotted cows, yellow and orange wild flowers and, upon reaching their destination, a riotous profusion of pink, rose, and white apple blossoms.
Pinkney's illustration incorporate many cultural markers. In the escape flashbacks the brown skin and broad noses show clearly the African lineage of the runaway slaves. The distrust and worry in the eyes of the man and woman indicate how very hard it is for them to believe any white person would help them even as the Quaker man, his beard and flat-brimmed hat delineating his culture too, helps to paddle the boat across "the river to freedom". The man and woman's patched and shabby clothing indicate their poverty; in sharp contrast to the future when the elderly man, clearly the same man from before only older and carefree, dressed in a tie, sweater vest, and suit walks contendly with his granddaughter; his long slender brown fingers gesturing to the peaceful, prosperity around him. And, as visual proof that running away was the right thing to do, his granddaughter; her hair in neat, multiple, black braids, her face a younger, mirror image of her grandmother, walks beside him, gazing at him with admiration as he tells his story.
4. Review excerpts:
School Library Journal: "Kindergarten-Grade 3–In this story set in the early 20th century, a young African-American narrator recalls a special moment shared with her grandfather. As the two walk together, Gran'pa greets passersby with warmth and friendliness. The source of his joy, of course, is freedom; that longing and fulfillment are made tangible through his explanation of the apple seeds he carried in his pocket while still a slave–and the orchard he owns now. He relates the story of his escape, with his wife and infant daughter, describing the kindness and safe passage shown to them by a white farmer, a member of the Underground Railroad. Later, as Gran'pa planted each seed in his own soil, he thought of someone who'd helped us on our way. Pinkney's signature pencil-and-watercolor earth tones serve well for the escape scenes; his palette lightens with an infusion of pink, and his style becomes looser and more impressionistic as the pair peer into the blossoms at the conclusion."
Based on a true story, author Ann Grifalconi's narrative presents a story of desperation, fear, and the kindness of strangers. Brought to life by Jerry Pinkney's beautiful, full-page water color illustrations; the brown, gray, and dirty-yellow depictions from the past of the man, his wife, their baby, and the stranger who helped them, their faces etched with fear and desperation as they travel by night through unknown territory, alternate with the joyous ganddaughter and her smiling grandfather as they stroll down country lanes lined with green meadows and dotted with fat, black-and-white spotted cows, yellow and orange wild flowers and, upon reaching their destination, a riotous profusion of pink, rose, and white apple blossoms.
Pinkney's illustration incorporate many cultural markers. In the escape flashbacks the brown skin and broad noses show clearly the African lineage of the runaway slaves. The distrust and worry in the eyes of the man and woman indicate how very hard it is for them to believe any white person would help them even as the Quaker man, his beard and flat-brimmed hat delineating his culture too, helps to paddle the boat across "the river to freedom". The man and woman's patched and shabby clothing indicate their poverty; in sharp contrast to the future when the elderly man, clearly the same man from before only older and carefree, dressed in a tie, sweater vest, and suit walks contendly with his granddaughter; his long slender brown fingers gesturing to the peaceful, prosperity around him. And, as visual proof that running away was the right thing to do, his granddaughter; her hair in neat, multiple, black braids, her face a younger, mirror image of her grandmother, walks beside him, gazing at him with admiration as he tells his story.
4. Review excerpts:
School Library Journal: "Kindergarten-Grade 3–In this story set in the early 20th century, a young African-American narrator recalls a special moment shared with her grandfather. As the two walk together, Gran'pa greets passersby with warmth and friendliness. The source of his joy, of course, is freedom; that longing and fulfillment are made tangible through his explanation of the apple seeds he carried in his pocket while still a slave–and the orchard he owns now. He relates the story of his escape, with his wife and infant daughter, describing the kindness and safe passage shown to them by a white farmer, a member of the Underground Railroad. Later, as Gran'pa planted each seed in his own soil, he thought of someone who'd helped us on our way. Pinkney's signature pencil-and-watercolor earth tones serve well for the escape scenes; his palette lightens with an infusion of pink, and his style becomes looser and more impressionistic as the pair peer into the blossoms at the conclusion."
Booklist: "An exciting Underground Railroad escape is detailed in this handsome picture book, framed by the title's message of community and connection. A former slave takes his small granddaughter to his apple orchard, and when she asks how come he waves "hello" to everyone, he answers that he knows them not by name, but by heart. He talks to her of slavery times, when he carried apple seeds in his pocket and dreamed of planting them in his own soil. Then he escaped with his wife and baby (the grandchild's mama), and he describes how a brave white man, Quaker James Stanton, helped them cross the Ohio River to freedom. Pinkney's watercolor double-paged spreads contrast the sepia-toned gloom of slavery and hiding with the abundant light-filled apple orchard today."
5. Connections:
Good books to include in storytime with Ain't Nobody a Stranger to Me:
The Other Side of the Fence by Jacqueline Woodson
Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine
Goin' Someplace Special by Patricia McKissack
Good books to include in storytime with Ain't Nobody a Stranger to Me:
The Other Side of the Fence by Jacqueline Woodson
Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine
Goin' Someplace Special by Patricia McKissack
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