Jack, the King of Ashes

Award-winning storyteller Andy Jones and illustrator Darka Erdelji are back, with Jack, the King of Ashes, another riotously funny Jack tale. This time Jack spends all his time hove off in the coal box. Then one day he shakes off those ashes and sets out on an adventure that includes sneaky robbers, a “famous missing princess with reward attached”, an always-surprising canine sidekick, a royal wedding, a lovelorn rooster-puppet, a conniving ship’s captain, corpses, curses, kisses, coats and a whole lot more! Steeped in Newfoundland folk tradition, Jack, the King of Ashes shows CODCO alumnus Andy Jones at the top of his form. His quirky and delightful humour is unstoppable. Darka Erdelji’s illustrations offer a wonderful, witty counterpoint to the story, enriching and embellishing it. Jones and Erdelji’s last collaboration, Jack and Mary in the Land of Thieves won the 2012 BMO Winterset Award honouring excellence in Newfoundland and Labrador literature in any genre.

Praise for Jones and Erdelji’s previous collaborations:

“This irreverent, buoyant version of the nativity story, as experienced by the legendary, down-to-earth figure of Jack, has all the charm of a good tale told by a master storyteller…. Captivating and hilarious, with a transcendent story at its centre, Jack and the Manger is an outstanding children’s book.”?2012 Bruneau Family Children’s/Young Adult Literature Award Jury

“Jones’s retelling effectively captures the rhythms of oral storytelling and the cadences of Newfoundland dialect. Illustrator Darka Erdelji’s illustrations are a fine match. Enchanting, magical, and very skillful, they blend rich, evocative blues, greens, and reds, delicate line drawings in black and white, and rough, folk-art representations of the characters. All in all, a wonderful, rollicking tale.” ?Quill & Quire (starred review) for The Queen of Paradise’s Garden

AUTHOR

Andy Jones

An actor, writer, storyteller, and director, Andy Jones lives in St. John’s, NL. Once a member of the acclaimed comedy troupe CODCO, he has had a long and accomplished career in theatre, film, and television. He is the co-adaptor of award-winning folktale Peg Bearskin, and author of an acclaimed series of Jack tales. In 2019 he was named to the Order of Canada in recognition of his contributions to the culture of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Reviews

Praise for Jones and Erdelji’s previous collaborations:

“This irreverent, buoyant version of the nativity story, as experienced by the legendary, down-to-earth figure of Jack, has all the charm of a good tale told by a master storyteller…. Captivating and hilarious, with a transcendent story at its centre, Jack and the Manger is an outstanding children’s book.”
?2012 Bruneau Family Children’s/Young Adult Literature Award Jury

“Jones’s retelling effectively captures the rhythms of oral storytelling and the cadences of Newfoundland dialect. Illustrator Darka Erdelji’s illustrations are a fine match. Enchanting, magical, and very skillful, they blend rich, evocative blues, greens, and reds, delicate line drawings in black and white, and rough, folk-art representations of the characters. All in all, a wonderful, rollicking tale.”
?Quill & Quire (starred review) for The Queen of Paradise’s Garden