Looking for a Jumbie: A Funny Creepy Picture Book About Caribbean Monsters for Kids

by Tracey Baptiste, Amber Ren (Illustrator)

A romp through a forest filled with creatures from Caribbean folklore.

I'm looking for a jumbie, I'm going to find a scary one.

But Mama says jumbies exist only in stories. So Naya sets out on a nighttime adventure to find out for herself.

No such thing, say the friends she makes along the way.

But Naya is sure that jumbies are real. Some have big mouths. Or thick fur. Or glowing skin. Or sharp teeth. Kind of like her new friends....

Genres: Picture Books, Fantasy, Childrens, Adventure, Monsters, Fiction, Storytime

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 21, 2021

About the author

From Thompson-Gale: "Something About the Author"
I have always loved books. My favorite, was an oversized complete Grimm's Fairy Tales with beautiful illustrations, which I lost when my family moved to the United States. I was fascinated by the stories of the tailor who went up against a giant, and clever Hans, who wasn't so clever as well as the more traditional princess stories. When I was about thirteen, after spending a summer in the library reading Paul Zindel and Judy Blume among other authors, I announced to my best friend that I was going to be a writer. I didn't decide what I wanted to write until I read "The Friends" by Rosa Guy. I had recently moved to Brooklyn, NY, and the book spoke to my situation precisely. It remains one of my favorite books. I started writing for children then, and never stopped. I had early interest from publishers from the moment I began submitting stories at the age of 21, but I didn't put in the work necessary to become published until my late twenties. "Angel's Grace" was largely written while I was on maternity leave with my first child. It was inspired by my mother (the redhead) and my husband. Because I have very young children, I work when they sleep, which, sadly, is very little.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trinidadian-American author Tracey Baptiste, whose middle-grade fantasy trilogy, The Jumbies , explored the world of these folkloric creatures of the Caribbean, returns to that theme in this charming picture-book. Despite being assured by her mother that jumbies are only to be found in stories, Naya sets out one night to find some, meeting a douen, a lagahoo, a soucouyant, Papa Boi and Mama D'Leau in the process. Each creature challenges her, before joining the hunt, and eventually the group find themselves back at Naya's home...

Having read and enjoyed Baptiste's fantasy novels about the jumbies, I was quite excited to discover that she had also written a picture-book on the subject, and lost no time in tracking it down. Looking for a Jumbie did not disappoint, pairing an engaging adventure story with a repetitive sing-song structure, and just the right blend of spooky and sweet appeal, with cute artwork from illustrator Amber Ren. I would love to read a more extensive collection of traditional tales featuring these and other kinds of jumbies, but Baptiste's book is a nice introduction to them, for younger audiences. Recommended to picture-book readers looking for stories about less well-known fantastical creatures, and to anyone seeking children's books with a Caribbean cultural background.

[SamSamSam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so fun!! Could be used as a modified version of going on a bear hunt. PLAY

[Celia Buell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review 3/8/23
Before, I'd thought that the book doesn't do a good enough job of describing what a jumbie is, but now I think differently. I like the short descriptions Naya provides coupled with the illustrations. I also enjoy the dreamlike quality in this one. I'm not sure whether this is intended to be fantasy or a dream, and enjoy that it leaves the reader to speculate in that regard. It shows that the term "jumbie" are kind of like how we use the (primarily Celtic or Anglo, I believe) term "faeries" or "fae" to describe a variety of mythical creatures (which may be different than the Tinkerbell-type "fairies"). It's interesting to see this from a culture that isn't widely talked about, at least in my area in the Midwest.

I do wish there were more of a cultural element to this one. The author is from the Dominican Republic, but are jumbies primarily Dominican/Hispanolian in nature? Caribbean in general? Is there a particular culture or island that uses them in stories? What roles do they play as tricksters or helpers; as good or evil?

I still really want a copy of this one. I might share this library copy with my kids this month as well.

*Read for Children's Book Group (Miscellaneous Club) - March 2023 Caribbean Islands - Dominican Republic"
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Review 10/23/22
Naya is a young girl (probably 4-6) who is fascinated by stories of jumbies, various fairylike creatures from her family's Caribbean folklore (on the first few pages, she is pictured reading a book about them). Mama says jumbies are only in stories, but the full moon is the perfect time for Naya to go out and find one in the forest that seems to be attached to her yard. So after going to bed, she sneaks out to find one. She chants,

"I'm looking for a jumbie. I'm gonna find a scary one."

I think this is to the tune of "We're going on a bear hunt" but I'm not sure.

One by one, different voices ask what she's doing into the darkness. She gives a description of the jumbie she's looking for, and as each of the creatures comes into focus, she realizes that the one she's looking for is "...like you!" to the creature in front of her.

I like the predictable text here. Looking for a Jumbie can be helpful in getting students to predict and to choral read the familiar parts,

I really like that the story depicts monsters from a part of the world we don't know much about or often consider. I do wish there were more information on what a jumbie is, although there is an author's note at the beginning of the book that compares them to fairies and trolls.

I also love the illustrations. Although they're simple, there's a lot going on, and some fun animals along the way.

I wouldn't have thought of this one myself for Halloween books but I did find it on a list of diverse Halloween picture books, and it makes sense to feature it.

I would definitely like to have a copy of this at some point. I think it would be great for students K-2, or even preschool. It's a lot of fun.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Naya's wonderful nighttime adventure filled with a wonderful cast of Caribbean characters.

[Lanie Pietramala Dabbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a colorful and exciting book. I felt like I was on an adventure while reading it. It was thrilling to learn about mythical creatures from the Caribbean. This book provides a great way to make connections in our multicultural world. Readers can mirror or reflect on similar stories from their own heritage. I see this book as being a great conversation starter for students and a way to promote cultural appreciation.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so much fun to read out loud--has a fantastic narrative tone. The search for Jumbies is both entertaining and educational as they highlight Carribean folklore about these creatures (essentially, they are similar to trolls or fairies! and often are quite a bit of trouble, though luckily, in this book they're quite nice!). the author, Tracey Baptiste, website has a great overview of the types and pronunciation guides, which makes a storytime with this book very easy to do :)

https://traceybaptiste.com/downloads-...

(read for Emporia's LI829: Resources and Services for Early Learners)

Also: there's a very good chance I'll be looking into Baptiste's JF series featuring jumbies, as I truly loved this book and would love more!

[Renn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be a Halloween picture book staple. Perfect for kids who like their monsters a little more on the friendlier side.

I read this after reading Tracey Baptiste’s middle grade novel The Jumbies and it was fun to see Amber Ren’s interpretations of what the creatures look like.

I hope to see more picture books from this author. She has the talent and the structure.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

George and I really enjoyed this book about Caribbean culture!

Lately he has been into *very* mildly scary content. We’re maxing out at Coraline, for example. So when I saw this book as a recommended Halloween book, I put a hold on it! It was a little introduction to jumbies - Caribbean spirits that can be evil or playful I guess? The main character goes out one night to find them in a similar feel to We’re Going on a Bear Hunt.

It was really cute, the illustrations were great, and we’ve reread it multiple times since we’ve had it at home! Very readable and engaging for kindergarten.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is definitely the first time I have read about Caribbean anything. I liked the adventure that was taken and all the participants that joined the search. The story has me interested in reading more about Caribbean Folklore.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learned about Carribean mythological creatures with a cute story and lovely illustration.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve read The Jumbies chapter book so I thought it was cute to see a picture book by the same author addressing the same creatures. I got confused as to whether jumbies were a particular creature or a group of creatures and I would have liked a little glossary or something at the end explaining more of the folklore behind each character we met in the text.

But overall cool to see something so new in picture books representing a culture and folklore not normally seen.

[Pamela Murrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute story about finding a mystical being called a Jumbie, along the way the young girl met many different characters.

[Raina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Used this as my read-aloud for elementary school visits in May/June 2024.
Led the groups in learning the repeated phrases ("We're looking for a jumbie, we're going to find a scary one." and "They come out at night when the moon is bright. It's the perfect time to find one.").

Love how Baptiste translated some of the creatures featured in The Jumbies into a Picture Book format. I'm always a fan of learning about new (to me) legendary creatures.

The "scary" element (not actually scary, but it's kind of a spoiler to say so) makes it better for Preschool and up.

[Vernon Area Public Library KIDS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Identity: Caribbean (author is Trinidadian American)

Little Naya sneaks out of her house at night to prove her mom wrong, that jumbies do exist--she just needs to find one first. Naya finds creatures in the forest that match her exact description of various jumbies, but they convince her otherwise and join her, one-by-one, on her quest to find a jumbie. Repetition, a fun quest, and the variety of monsters are extremely appealing to children.

Reviewed by: Miss Kelsey, Youth and School Services, Vernon Area Public Library

[Celeste · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally fun not-really-spooky picture book for a spooky storytime.

[Ibrahim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes, the things we fear the most are the things we come to understand best. In this book, a brave little girl named Naya decides she’s going to prove that “jumbies”, mysterious creatures from Caribbean folklore, are real. Her mother tells her that they’re just stories, but Naya sneaks out into the night, determined to find one. She ends up meeting all kinds of magical beings from Caribbean tales on her journey, creatures with glowing eyes, sharp teeth, and strange powers. However, instead of being scary, each one turns out to be kind and even a little playful. They end up joining Naya on her adventure as she continues her search. One major theme in this book is courage and curiosity. Naya steps out into the dark night by herself, determined to explore what others are too afraid to believe in. Another important theme is cultural identity. The story brings Caribbean folklore to life, which shows how powerful and magical cultural stories can be, especially when they’re shared through a child’s imagination. The main genre of this book is folklore. Two concepts that children reading this book can learn are that it’s okay to be curious and ask questions, especially about things others are scared of, and that people (or creatures!) aren’t always what they seem, and we should always take time to understand them. This book was a WOW book for me because it sparked my curiosity and now I want to go explore folklore from different cultures!

Two literary devices used in this book were repetition and personification. Repetition played a major role in adding to the quality of this book by creating a chant-like feel through the repeated line, “I’m looking for a jumbie.” This made the story more engaging, especially for young readers, and it also built anticipation as Naya met each new creature. Personification added depth by giving the mythical creatures human-like qualities, such as speaking, showing emotions, and interacting with Naya in playful and thoughtful ways. This helps make the folklore characters feel more relatable and allows readers to connect with them on a personal level, rather than seeing them as scary or unfamiliar. The author portrayed anti-bias perspectives by challenging the common stereotype that mythical creatures, or things we don’t understand, are inherently dangerous. The jumbies were shown in a kind and playful manner, which I believe can encourage readers to look beyond surface-level judgments.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

When night comes, Naya doesn’t want to go to bed, she wants to find a jumbie. A jumbie is a creature from Caribbean tales rather like fairies or trolls. After being tucked into bed, Naya heads outside to find a jumbie. A voice in the woods asks her what a jumbie looks like, so Naya explains that a Douen has a big mouth and backward feet. The creature who had asked her the question looks a lot like a douen, but the two continue on together in search of jumbies. The next creature Naya meets looks like a lagahoo with thick fur, sharp teeth and chains. The three then venture on, meeting a fiery soucouyant, the goat-like huge Papa Bois, and the watery snakelike Mama D’Leau. All of them bring Naya back home, but what will her mother think?

This playful picture book has the structure and rhythm of traditional and beloved stories which will make it familiar to many children. The Caribbean creatures described will be new to many readers as will the idea of a jumbie in general. Readers will love the jaunt across the fields, woods and rivers to discover a variety of jumbies who are tricksters but also kind to Naya.

Ren’s illustrations take the bright tropical colors and pair that with the dark of night to create illustrations that stand out. The creatures themselves are a wide range of colors and types, each so different from the others that they are surprising and delightful when the pages turn.

Adventure into the land of Caribbean stories with this picture book. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Naya's mother tells her that it's getting dark and it's time for bed, but Naya insists that she wants to stay out and find a jumbie. Jumbies are night creatures that come in a variety of types and wait to scare little boys and girls who don't go to bed as they should. But Naya still wants to find one and sneaks out of her window to go looking for a jumbie. She finds creatures in her journey and as each one matches a description of a particular type of jumbie, they explain their differences to Naya.

"Everyone's mouth is big when they yawn."

"...it's just good sense to wear something shiny when it's dark out" (says a creature wrapped in chains)

So Naya keeps searching for a scary one, but soon her search takes her back home where she belongs.

A lovely little picture book that uses Caribbean folklore to teach children that just because someone is different doesn't mean they're necessarily scary. Maybe what seems different isn't as different as you think (everyone's mouth is big when they yawn) or maybe there's a practical reason for the difference like wearing something shiny in the dark. But once you know them, they're not really scary after all.

[McKenzie Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

For more reviews, check out my blog: Craft-Cycle

An impressive picture book debut from Tracey Baptiste, author of The Jumbies series, this gorgeous book weaves an enchanting tale of a moonlit stroll to find some jumbies. Great for those already familiar with jumbies as well as those experiencing them for the first time. Featuring a Douen, a Lagahoo, Mama D'Leau, and many more, this book works well as an introduction to Caribbean folklore for young readers.

The narration has a soothing rhythm to it, with a wonderful balance of repetition and variation. Perfect for reading aloud.

The artwork is stunning, perfectly capturing the mystical jumbies in a way that is more cute than scary. A story of new friends, nighttime adventure, and the power of stories, this is an instant new favorite.

When you go looking for magic in the dark, you just might find a jumbie.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tracey Baptiste delights in her debut picture book telling of young Naya who goes looking for a Jumbie, even though her mother says there's no such thing. It is explained, that like in other cultures, Jumbies are known to be used to keep children inside after dark, saying a Jumbie will get them if they stay out. She also explained that there are many kinds of Jumbies and some, certainly, are helpful. Naya goes looking. You'll see what amazing creatures she discovers when turning the beautiful 'night' pages illustrated by Amber Ren. There are friendly monsters from Caribbean folklore and other 'expected' creatures from the night. For example, from the book: "Lagahoo" have thick fur and sharp teeth and chains around their necks. . . You can find more here! It was lots of fun reading this with my young granddaughter who's ten. Some may say it's for younger children but she enjoyed it very much.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Naya's mother tells her jumbies are only. In stories, but Naya goes looking herself and collects different jumbies along the way. The book has a nice repetition and it's fun to collect the jumbies along the way. It definitely encourages curiousity about the stories associated with each type of jumbie (some of which I am familiar with, some of which I was not). I did feel like the shift between the first and second page was a bit abrupt, to the point where on my first read, I thought I had missed a page. I think the art is fine, although it's not my favorite style. My four year old loves the book and how the jumbies speak before they are depicted (so he can remind me what they'll look like).

[Nicollette Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a folklore picture book recommended for grades K-2. This book is inspired by traditional Caribbean tales and would make a great read aloud for students. This book is most suitable as a read aloud due to the complex names of the Caribbean folklore, such as Douen, Lagahoo, and Mama D'Leau. It is gentle and fun as Naya, a human, sets out to search for scary jumbies. As she is searching, she comes across a diverse array of creatures that could be jumbies, but she doesn’t think they’re scary enough, so she befriends them one by one instead. In the end, the question still remains, “Are jumbies real?”

[Raquel Pilar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Naya decides to go looking for a jumbie in a bright moon night, the perfect situation to find one! Jumbies are mythological creatures from Caribbean countries and according to her mom, they are only found in stories.
Naya is determined though, and ends up finding Doeun, Lagahoo, Soucouyant, Papa Bois, and Mama D'Leau, all mythological beings, all jumbies! At the end, they are back to the girl's house where they are welcome by Naya to take a nap, as the group kept looking for jumbies all night long!
What an adorable story with sweet illustrations! :D Great to introduce and spark kids curiosity on mythological creatures from different places!

[Jared White · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute picture book that incorporates creatures from Caribbean folktales and myths. As I said, this book is far more cute than scary, but don't take that as a cue to read The Jumbies aloud to your little ones, I put that one on my "spooky" shelf because it is definitely creepy. This particular book is a fun way to introduce kids to "fairies" from another culture and it's a nice little adventure told in a similar style to Going on a Bear Hunt.

[Ellon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars (I really liked it)

This book has such cute illustrations! I love the repetitive phrases that will make the book more engaging for young children. I love that it is incorporating traditional Caribbean creatures. I think it's great that Baptiste takes creatures that are supposed to be scary (jumbies) and lets the reader see them from a different view.
I would be a little bit wary of reading this book to my youngest students though. I wouldn't want to scare them and have them worry about the scary version of jumbies (that we don't see in the book but they are talked about) coming to get them.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking for a Jumbie is currently on our top 10 reading list at my house. I read to my grand children as a rule when they are with me. "No screens?" "Nope, no screens. Books!" My grand children ages 3-13 have been captivated by this wonderfully engaging tale! Okay, the 13 year old walks past slowly. peering over the back of the couch and pretending he's not interested. (wink). We highly recommend this book to everyone of every age! We are all just children when we pull away the layers of the onion, right? I'm thrilled to see that Tracey has written more books about Jumbies. What!? Yay! Can't wait to read them.

[Sydney Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story 'Looking for a Jumbie', written by Tracey Baptiste, is a story about a girl named Naya who learns about myths and legends of jumbies. It is said that the story was about the jumbies used to scare people to not go outside during the night. Once Naya’s mother puts her to bed, she sneaks outside to search for jumbies and she runs into four that take her back home. The pictures in the book are colorful and take up the whole page. Due to the creative plot and illustrations it was listed in Colorin Colorado.

[Devin Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very beautiful picture book that allows children to use their imagination in many ways. This book does an excellent job relating to kids and how they use their imagination. The story is about a Young girl who has heard myths from her mother about jumbies. the myths are meant to keep children from getting out of bed at night. Naya in the story has too big of an imagination for these myths to scare her so she decides to go outside in search for a Jumbie. The illustrations do a great job at setting a mood for the readers and expressing an imagination for young children.

[Sydney Norris · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book I read for shelf ten is called Looking for a Jumbie by Tracey Baptiste, illustrated by Amber Ren. It was published in 2021 and was on the Colorin Colorado list. This book is about a little girl who goes on an adventure to find her mother’s prized necklace. The illustrations in this story show what creatures this little girl sees. They are made-up creatures. This book would be beneficial for teachers because it shows creatures that are not real. Children can use their imaginations to make up their own creatures and share their ideas with the class.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

With rhythmic elements similar to We're Going on a Bear Hunt, and a can-do heroine at ease with unusual creatures in the vein of Julia's House of Lost Creatures, this book is delightful with just a hint of spooky.

Naya wants to find a jumbie, just like the ones in the stories. She's not picky: she'll take any kind of jumbie, from the furry to the flaming, from small to large, as long as it's a scary one. The only trouble is, none of the creatures she's finding seem all that terrifying.

Just right for a not-so-spooky scary tale.