My Friend Jacob

Clifton, Lucille. My Friend Jacob. New York: E.P. Dutton, 1980.

My Friend Jacob is a story about an African American boy, whose best friend is cognitively impaired. The two boys are very best friends, where they do everything together including grocery shopping. The boy, the narrator, helps Jacob remember things such as cars and finally helps him learn how to knock on the door before entering.

Clifton includes two cultures, which are African American and people with disabilities, in her picture book. Although the reader would be unaware of the young boy’s race without illustrations, the story shows acceptance of all kinds. Since the book was written in 1980, I was surprised at how well Clifton addresses the issue of someone being cognitively impaired as well as a biracial friendship. I preferred how Clifton chose race not to be a major factor, but an enhancement to the story. The summary states Jacob is “mentally slower”. However, his disability is never identified in the story, only that Jacob has trouble learning. Although the boy’s mother is skeptical of Jacob, the boy shows acceptance of all types of people.