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Covering the Newbery (#56): Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

May 14, 2012 by

Jerry Pinkney, everyone. That’s who created the original illustration for today’s cover redo candidate. Can I throw in the towel now? No? Well, here we go…

1977: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor

Original:

My Redo:

Side by Side:

Verdict: I’m never a big fan of swapping a photo for an illustration, but when the original is by Mr. Pinkney, maybe it’s a good idea to go in a different direction.

Up next week: Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

(Source image: “Locs Lines and a Light” http://flic.kr/p/5AUaKF)

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About Travis Jonker

Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian in Michigan. He writes reviews (and the occasional article or two) for School Library Journal and is a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. You can email Travis at scopenotes@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter: @100scopenotes.

Comments

  1. christina says:
    May 14, 2012 at 11:18 am

    I would love to see the cover of this book updated. It’s hard to sell to my middle schoolers.

  2. Ed says:
    May 15, 2012 at 11:07 pm

    I know it is blasphemy but I do not like the Pinkney cover for this book–totally misses the tone in my mind. I like your cover much better even though it is the wrong hair for the time. It is the right tone and that, for me, makes it better. LOVE THIS BOOK for so many reasons–both personal and professional–regardless of the cover. Even seeing the Pinkney cover makes me want to read it again. This could be my very favorite Newbery book.