Davis County Clipper
'Thunder Cave' delivers fun tales
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Thunder Cave in the News . . .
'Thunder Cave' delivers fun tales
BYLINE: Jan Hopkins, Staff Writer 19.APR.05
Article printed in the April 19, 2005 issue of the Davis County Clipper
Used by permission.
Note: This story was reworked from the article in the
Utah Spirit magazine, 1 June 2005 issue.
CENTERVILLE —
It takes a lot of courage to take a beloved children’s classic and rework it for new release while maintaining the integrity of the original author’s “voice.” More than courage, it takes someone with an insatiable passion for words and language; someone like Denise G. Jones, who took on the daunting project of fine tuning “Thunder Cave.”
The book originally began as a series of little pamphlets in the 1920s, written by Draper resident, Jeremiah Stokes. He enlisted the help of national magazine cartoonist Jack Sears for illustrations.
In 1932 they compiled the pamphlets into a 21 chapter book, then revised it in 1945 to 18 chapters.
“It was great as a series of individually published stories, but as a book it lacked continuity,” said Jones of the original “Thunder Cave.”
It also lacked any verbal description of Sears’ delightful illustrations; a necessary bridge to more firmly connect word and picture.
Jones worked tirelessly to clarify plot elements, bridge gaps in the storyline and “introduce” Stokes’ characters rather than have them “just show up” in the text.
“I got so stuck in his (Stokes’) writing style, that for a year after I couldn’t get out of his ‘voice,’” said Jones.
To prepare for the task, Jones studied other books by Stokes including “Modern Miracles,” “The Soul’s Desire,” and the lengthy obituaries of both Stokes and Sears. Her introduction at the front of the book clearly details her reverence for the men and their work.
The revised edition of “Thunder Cave” has met with great reviews in spite of some nuances from the period that offer a slightly altered political picture from today’s enlightened minds. More than three generations of fans are snatching up the book which has been out of print for more than 50 years.
“It’s the people whose mothers read it to them as children and [who] wanted their mother’s copy, that first bought the revised edition,” said Jones in an interview from her home in Centerville. “It has such a good feeling from their childhoods, that they want it back.
“For me, it was my first introduction to the Black culture as a child. I liked them (Jasper and Zebbie). It set me up to accept and appreciate different cultures.”
The tale is a series of adventures involving two little boys, Jasper and Zebbie, whose mother and father are missing. The boys remain at home waiting for their parents until the food runs out. Then they decide to go out looking for their parents and begin their great adventure.
In African-American dialects similar to those of Mark Twain’s “Huckleberry Finn,” Jasper and Zebbie’s culture comes to life. These are stories that must be read aloud to be truly appreciated. The feel of the words in the mouth as well as to the ear, are an all encompassing delight.
The boys meet the good Giant Wigwah, and together they encounter a variety of people and creatures including the beloved Santa Claus.
The book is perfect for summer afternoon readings under a tree, at bedtime, or winter nights by a fire. Each character has its own voice and culture – real or fantasy – “shades in the rainbow of humanity” as Jones calls them.
Though some political thought may be “behind the times” Jones felt it crucial not to “sterilize” the dialogue. The result is a book rich in the very real differences of individuals and cultures. It makes the book “sing” on many levels.
“One prays, one tries and then…hopes,” Jones says of the delicate work of recreation. “I’m glad I got to do what I did with it.”
It’s rare to find a children’s book that opens doors of imagination while at the same time offering opportunity for important dialogue between parent and child, reader and listener. “Thunder Cave” is just such a book.
“Thunder Cave” is available at http://www.kitkooh.com/tc.html.
— Jan Hopkins, April 19, 2005, Davis County Clipper
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