A New Children’s Book Details James Earl Jones’ Journey From Stuttering to Finding His Voice

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The late James Earl Jones was known for many things, chief among them his acting prowess and that incredible voice. But according to a new book, the actor didn’t always carry the bold and confident voice that he’s become known for.

That’s the premise behind “Ode to Grapefruit,” a new children’s book that chronicles the actor’s journey to the big screen, including overcoming a stutter that led him to stop speaking for almost eight years as a child. His saving grace: poetry, and in particular, a self-penned poem that shares the title of the book.

Originally released in July, the picture book has returned to the bestsellers charts following news of Jones’ death on Monday.

Available now on sale at Amazon and Target, the 48-page picture book is not only an “Ode to Grapefruit” (the title of Jones’ poem) but also an ode to perseverance and reaching for your dreams. As the book says, “After eight years of silence, James found his voice, low and booming, beyond the dark side of fear. With patience and practice,” the book reads, “the legendary sound of James Earl Jones would soon be known around the world.”

Written by Kari Lavelle, with full-color illustrations by Bryan Collier (winner of six Coretta Scott King Awards), “Ode to Grapefruit” is a lovely tribute to an actor who became the voice of an entire franchise — and an entire generation.

As publisher Knopf Books writes, “Lyrical text, stunning art, and compelling backmatter about stuttering pair together for a remarkable picture book about how a boy who refused to speak for eight years learned to manage his stutter through poetry–and grew up to become an EGOT-winning performer with a voice few could forget.”

Purchase the James Earl Jones book on sale now at Amazon. You can see more books about the actor here. The actor also lent his voice to an audiobook of the King James Version of the New Testament. “James Earl Jones Reads the Bible” was an instant bestseller when it was released, and has returned to number one on the charts. The audiobook features more than 19 hours on 16 digitally remastered CDs accompanied by an original musical score. You can also stream or download on Audible.

Jones died Monday at his home in Duchess County, New York. He was 93.