Nothing can stop John Henry-no boulder no mountain and definitely no steam drill. Newbery Honor winner Julius Lester writes with such power that this African-American folk hero becomes as awesome as a natural phenomenon. Jerry Pinkney received a Caldecott Honor for his exuberant glowing watercolor paintings of the hero. The book celebrating its tenth year in print was also a Boston Globe-Horn Book Award winner a Parents magazine Best Book and an ALA Notable Book among other honors.