Jerry Pinkney

Levitin, S. (1991). The man who kept his heart in a bucket. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.

The Man Who Kept His Heart in a Bucket was illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. The illustrations were detailed and added to the overall appeal of the story. The story is about a man, who evidently, had his heart broken and therefore carries his heart everywhere he goes, in a bucket. He makes his way through the town and encounters different villagers. With each person he met, it was clear that he did not see beauty in anything around him. In his shop, he worked with metal and made many beautiful items. One day he meets a lovely, magical maiden that took his heart and promised to give it back when he solves a riddle. She then turns into a fish and swims away with his heart. He made his way from villager to villager as before, but without his heart in a bucket he was able to laugh and dance. On his last stop, a fisherman has a sparkling fish in his net. The man figures out the riddle and the fish immediately turns into the beautiful maiden. He gets his heart back and the hand of the maiden.

Jerry Pinkney illustrated many other books, such as The Sunday Outing, The Patchwork Quilt and The Talking Eggs. Each of these books illustrations are similar to the illustrations found in The Man Who Kept His Heart in a Bucket. His work positively reflects the African-American culture.