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Item Description

Age level: 3–8+ | Grade Level: 4 | Lexile Level: 800L | F&P Level: R

Little John Crow is a young vulture growing up in Bull Bay on the edge of the Blue Mountains in Jamaica, where he lives with his loving parents Sharil and Rusil Crow. He spends his days playing with his friends, a motley group that includes a snake, George; Missy, the French pigeon; Chiqueen, a chicken hawk; Hummy, the hummingbird; and the Three Little Birds.

One morning while the group of friends is relaxing by a cool river, they start chatting about life, their parents’ jobs, and what they want to be when they grow up. As the conversation continues, Little John Crow realizes he has no idea what his parents do for work.

Little John Crow and his friends set out to solve this mystery, but what they discover shocks them—Little John Crow and his vulture parents are scary scavengers! Most of his friends are disgusted when they learn this, and before Little John Crow can even adjust to this news, a terrible tragedy strikes. Feeling lonely and isolated from his friends, the young vulture flees Bull Bay.

After traveling for days, a tired and hungry Little John Crow is fortunate to be found by a group of vultures. With their support and encouragement, the young vulture learns to embrace his future, and after months away, he returns to Bull Bay just in the nick of time to save his home from ruin.

Filled with humor and memorable characters, Little John Crow reminds us of the importance of accepting our differences and remembering that life offers a place and purpose for all of us.

Reviews
“Little John Crow is full of energy and color. Co-written by Marley and his wife Orly, the story follows a young vulture named Little John Crow who is abandoned by his animal friends after they realize he is a natural-born scavenger. Eventually, both the vulture and his community come to realize the value he brings to Bull Bay. He arrives back home just in time to save it.”
—People Magazine

 
Special Notes:About The Authors

ZIGGY MARLEY is an eight-time GRAMMY Award winner, Emmy Award winner, author, philanthropist, and reggae icon. He has released thirteen albums to much critical acclaim, and is the author of the children’s books I Love You Too, My Dog Romeo, Music Is in Everything, and Little John Crow (with his wife, Orly Marley); as well as the Ziggy Marley and Family Cookbook. His early immersion in music came at age ten when he sat in on recording sessions with his father, Bob Marley. Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers released eight best-selling albums that garnered three GRAMMYs. Ziggy’s second solo release, Love Is My Religion, won a GRAMMY in 2006 for Best Reggae Album. His third solo studio album, Family Time, scored a fifth GRAMMY award for Best Children’s Album. 2016 marked the release of Marley’s self-titled album, which earned his eighth GRAMMY. Marley’s new children’s album, More Family Time, was released in September 2020 via Tuff Gong Worldwide.

ORLY MARLEY is an Israeli-born entrepreneur and music manager. Starting her professional career as an assistant at the William Morris Agency, she quickly ascended to director of talent sponsorships, closing a number of worldwide endorsement and sponsorship deals for Enrique Iglesias, Black Eyed Peas, Salma Hayek, Ray Charles, Queen Latifah, Willie Nelson, Aretha Franklin, and many others. In 2004 and 2006, alongside the Marley family, Orly conceptualized and produced the Bob Marley Roots Rock Reggae Tour across the US. After thirteen years at William Morris, she took over the management of her husband Ziggy Marley as well as his record label, Tuff Gong Worldwide, and established his own publishing company, Ishti Music—where she would regain all of Marley’s musical compositions. Orly has also worked with Walt Disney Records to produce The Disney Reggae Club album and was instrumental in the promotional campaign for the critically praised Bob Marley documentary film Marley. Together with her husband, Orly heads Unlimited Resources Giving Enlightenment (U.R.G.E.), a nonprofit organization that seeks to make enduring contributions to the lives of children in Jamaica, Africa, and throughout the world. In addition to her professional and philanthropic activities, Orly has recently completed her second term on the Board of Governors for the LA chapter of the Recording Academy; she remains active with them on many creative endeavors. Little John Crow is her latest work.

About the Illustrator

GORDON ROWE is a Toronto-born illustrator and designer. Inspired by the cartoons and movies of his childhood, he spent his early years making comics and drawings for friends. Since then he has broadened his artistic range to digital painting, acrylic painting, gouache painting, and portraiture. These days he illustrates and art directs for album artwork and editorials, and has worked with several high-profile clients in the music industry. Little John Crow is his latest work.

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About Akashic Books
Akashic Books is a Brooklyn-based independent company dedicated to publishing urban literary fiction and political nonfiction by authors who are either ignored by the mainstream, or who have no interest in working within the ever-consolidating ranks of the major corporate publishers.

Praise for Akashic Books
“As many in publishing struggle to find ways to improve on an increasingly outdated business model, independents such as Akashic—which are more nimble and less risk-averse than major publishing houses—are innovators to watch.”
—LOS ANGELES TIMES

“It’s heartening that even as the dinosaurs of publishing are lurching toward extinction, nimble independent publishers like Akashic are producing high-quality, innovative content.”
—PORTLAND MERCURY

“Akashic fits in that very slight category of publishers, growing slimmer every day, whose colophon is a recommendation on its own.”
—TORONTO STAR

“Akashic is one of the most impressive of the newer small presses, in part because of editing and production values that rival and perhaps surpass the big houses. We’re grateful to them . . .”
—DENVER POST

“Akashic serves as a prime example of the diversity that marks the small press movement.”
—MYSTERY SCENE

“What’s great about Akashic is its sense of adventure and its smart eclecticism . . . Anything carrying the logo comes with the guarantee that it’s worth checking out.”
—HARTFORD COURANT

“An excellent small press.”
—IN THESE TIMES

“[Akashic] fully conveys the charms and possibilities of small press publishing . . . placing a priority on the quality of the books, rather than the possible marketing opportunities they offer.”
—POETS & WRITERS

“Akashic is the brainchild of the charismatic Johnny Temple, the bassist of the rock group Girls Against Boys. Temple set up Akashic to give attention to literary works that are ignored, as well as to prove that publishers don’t have to exploit their writers.”
—IUNIVERSE.COM
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Item Special Note

Includes bookplate autographed by Ziggy Marley