  | Railway Jack : the true story of an amazing baboon Author: Johnston, KT | |
| Price: $23.26 | ||
Summary:
Jim was a South African railway inspector in the late 1800s who lost his legs in an accident while at work. Unable to perform all his tasks with his disability but desperate to keep his job, Jim discovered a brilliant solution, a baboon named Jack. Jim trained Jack to help him both at home and at the depot. But Jack and Jim had to work together to convince everyone that they made a great team. This inspiring true story celebrates the history of service animals and a devoted friendship.
| Illustrator: | Samaniego, Cesar |
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: LG Reading Level: 4.00 Points: .5 Quiz: 507068 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (12/01/19)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 11/15/2019 In the annals of service animals, there can be but few to equal Jack, a chacma baboon who operated switches, fetched keys, and performed other complex tasks at South Africa’s Uitenhage train station in the 1880s for Jim, a station attendant who had lost both legs in an accident. Along with presenting a narrative account of the pair’s close and enduring relationship, Johnston appends several actual photos, an account of Jack’s death, notes on the history of service animals and about primates in general, discussion questions, and relevant print and web resources. Samaniego’s painted illustrations, plainly based on the photos, place man and baboon in accurately reconstructed surroundings, wowing passengers in period dress, and impressing even railroad officials, who granted Jack paid (in food) employee status. Though the story itself is a sunny one, portraying a loving two-way relationship, the discussion questions add necessary balance by bringing up issues of exploitation, keeping wild animals in captivity, and the perils of anthropomorphism. - Copyright 2019 Booklist.
School Library Journal - 01/01/2020 Gr 3–5—Debut author Johnston focuses on the relationship between Jim Wide, a railway guard and train inspector in Uitenhage, South Africa, in the late 1800s, and his service animal Jack, a chacma baboon. Wide made himself a pair of wooden legs after a work accident left him without the lower portions of his legs. He displayed continuous ingenuity when creating tools to improve his mobility and the capacity to do his job. One day, Wide saw Jack assisting a man with his oxen. Wide purchased Jack and trained the animal to pitch in with the many tasks around his home, help him get around, and ultimately provide aid in some of his rail work duties. Johnston is thorough in explaining the railway process that Jim was required to do. Spanish illustrator Samaniego's digitally rendered images support the text in depicting the mechanics of the train system and portraying details specific to the historical era. Both the art and the narrative steer clear of any anthropomorphization of Jack. Back matter includes photos of Jack and Wide at work, an author's note, information on primates, the history of service animals, discussion questions, and a glossary. Though the book successfully shows people's relationships with service animals and offers a positive portrayal of disability, readers have to get to the end of the book to obtain context about the time period's lack of services for people with disabilities. It also only shows a white population of South Africa. VERDICT A good conversation starter that will need some unpacking.—Danielle Jones, Multnomah County Library, OR - Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
