Read “Ode to Grapefruit” online

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The late James Earl Jones was known for many things, especially his acting skills and this incredible voice. But according to a new book, the actor didn’t always have the strong and confident voice he became known for.

That’s the premise behind “Ode to Grapefruit,” a new children’s book that chronicles the actor’s journey to the screen, including overcoming a stutter that left him unable to speak for nearly eight years as a child. His saving grace: poetry, and in particular a self-penned poem that bears the book’s title.

The picture book was originally published in July and returned to the bestseller charts following news of Jones’ death on Monday.

The 48-page picture book is available now at Amazon and Target and is not only an “ode to the grapefruit” (the title of Jones’ poem), but also an ode to perseverance and the pursuit of dreams. As the book states, “After eight years of silence, James found his voice, deep and booming, beyond the dark side of fear. With patience and practice,” the book states, “the legendary sound of James Earl Jones would soon be known around the world.”

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

Knopf Books writes: “Lyrical text, stunning art, and a compelling background on the subject of stuttering combine to create a remarkable picture book about how a boy who refused to speak for eight years learned to manage his stuttering with poetry – and grew into an EGOT-winning artist with a voice few will forget.”

Buy James Earl Jones’ book on sale now at Amazon. Find more books about the actor here. The actor also lent his voice to an audiobook of the King James Bible of the New Testament. James Earl Jones Reads the Bible was an instant bestseller upon its release 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 score. You can also stream or download it from Audible.

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