“If you can’t join this great Newfoundland yarnspinner in the cabin of a schooner, listening to stories and songs by lantern light, then reading his hilarious Jack tales runs a pretty strong second. Andy Jones rolls his newest Jack tale along with cinematic energy, reveling in the choice sounds of Newfoundland English as Jack leaves his coal box behind en route to finding a kingdom of his own. I loved Jack’s canine sidekick Kevin-Phonse (Kevin-Phonse?!!!), part Sancho Panza and part Greek Chorus, who speaks ESL as he comments on Jack’s misadventures.” (Dan Yashinsky, founder of the Toronto Storytelling Festival, and author of Suddenly They Heard Footsteps: Storytelling for the Twenty-first Century, and Swimming with Chaucer: A Storyteller’s Logbook)

“What’s a Jack tale? Take folk tales, fairy tales, poetry, epic adventure and add magic, comedy, tragedy, mythology, ‘boo-hooin and hulaballoin’. A Jack tale is a multi-layered yarn starring the inimitable, incorrigible Jack, a character you’ll “fall deeper and deeper and deeper in love with as time whittles away” because Andy Jones is a storytelling genius and the caretaker of a vibrant oral tradition. Jones translates authentic speakin’ words onto the page with a meticulous, joyful use of language in every Jack tale. Readers from two to one hundred and two will be captivated.... Jack is a piece of work all right - and every Jack tale by Andy Jones is a work of art.” (Sheree Fitch, author of There Were Monkeys in My Kitchen, Sleeping Dragons All Around, If You Could Wear My Sneakers, Mabel Murple, and many more)

“Jack, the King of Ashes is an epic adventure, full to the gills with whizgiggin and puppeteers, shadow shows, and evil sous-chefs, kindly ghosts, a magical rope with knots to untie and a dashing young hero looking to tie the knot. Prose full of humour and wisdom, so fast-paced its feet don’t touch the ground.... Jack is a robber, and he’s about to make away with your heart!” (Lisa Moore, author of Caught and February)