Just Only John

by Jack Kent

All pages have separated from the cover but are intact as one unit. Could be repaired with clear tape. Otherwise the book is in overall good condition. 1968 only date. No number line or printing history. Parent's Magazine Press. Lightly bumped corners. Light wear to edges. Small mark on front cover. Pages are clean and bright. This is a used book.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Magic, Humor

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1968

About the author

John Wellington "Jack" Kent (1920 – 1985) was an American cartoonist and prolific author-illustrator of children's books. He is perhaps best known as the creator of the comic strip King Aroo. In addition to his own books, he illustrated more than twenty books by other authors.

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd never had the pleasure of reading a Jack Kent book until I started working in the children's section of my local library, but, oh, what I have been missing! (And, maybe what you've been missing, too.) Though he wrote and/or illustrated over 60 children's books, he doesn't seem very well known. Thus, I'm proclaiming Kent one of the MOST UNDERRATED authors EVER.

Perhaps because Kent is most famous for a comic strip - King Aroo - which ran for 15 years, his children's books are packed with humor and silliness. His art style is also very comic-like: simple pen & ink with watercolor washes. But, sometimes simple is exactly all that's needed.

Take this book, Just Only John. The concept is simple: a little boy named John has been himself for over four years and he was getting tired of it.



He imagines what it would be like to be an elephant . . . or a giraffe . . . or a kangaroo. But, he discovers "You can't find out what it's like to be something by pretending." And so he pays a visit to Mrs. Walpurgis, a lady in a pointed hat known for witchcraft and hemstitching.



Things begin to happen after that little social call. I'm not going to give anything else away other than to say that John gets his wish in many, many unexpected ways.

You'll want to look at this one again, and again. It wasn't until my second trip through that I noticed that John's daddy, a very important man with his own office and his name on the door indeed does have DADDY stenciled on his door. The ending, like the entire book, is sweet, and funny.

I highly recommend this one, and ALL of Kent's books. Now, I'm just only off to look for more of them.

[Alicia Wikstrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every once in a while, it's a delight to step into picture books from the past. So cute! Here's hoping some little comes and checks it out from the library!

[caysie · Rating 5 out of 5]

when I was little, my favorite part was when he turned into a “little man” with the long white beard. the illustrations are wonderful - I still remember thinking that candy shop seemed so great! I am the lucky owner of the copy we had as kids, so glad it is still in tact after all these years.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am embarrased to say that I loved this book so much that I "borrowed" it from a friend in elementary school and never gave it back. I still have it to this day!

[Sylvester (Taking a break in 2023) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4* art
5* story

There's something about Jack Kent. He's so endearing and funny. He knows how to say the old cliches in a fresh and memorable way. Be happy you're you! Simple but awesome.

[Capn · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's embarrassing to turn into a pig at the corner of Main and Elm at 3:30 in the afternoon with everybody looking.

I've been waiting all evening to borrow this from OpenLibrary, but their only copy was taken out. And so I got twitchy, went to the parallel site, InternetArchive, tried to take it out from there - but no, they really play by the rules. It was still on loan on that end. Luckily, they have two copies (another edition - cover slightly different), so I was finally able to borrow it. It takes like 3 minutes to read... be kind, return your books promptly!

I liked Mrs. Walpurgis, the resident witch. Career amibitions..!

I'm sure this has sufficient reviews already, but of the two, I preferred The Wizard of Wallaby Wallow for a similar epiphany by the same author.

Moral - be yourself, because somebody has to, and you're the closest.

[Baraka · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic, simple idea, masterfully illustrated and communicated to children, as well as adults needing the reminder. The beauty of being yourself!

[Kristin Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had to get this from inter-library loan so I could read it again! I loved the effects of the penny magic spell when I was a kid and still do. And the moral is humorous, yet true.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Just Only John" is the sweet tale of a child who wants to experience being something different than a four year old boy. In this magical journey, John discovers it is better to be yourself.

As a child, I frequently borrowed this book from my older brother John. I rediscovered this beloved childhood gem years later at an antique fair in southern California. It was a joy to share this story with my own children and elementary school students.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A favorite of mine when I was a child, and a favorite of my children too. I love to give this book as a baby shower gift, but it's getting hard to find books in good condition, and I'm of course, unwilling to part with my own original. =)

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Handed down from Dad - boys love it!

[Gerri · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book about just being yourself. I spent many hours reading and re-reading this to my brother John.

[John Cavanaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book as a kid. I still have it. It has an important life lesson to it, magic, and my name is John! Seems made for me. I got it in the bookmobile at school! haha

[Little Champs]

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