Sunday, January 20, 2008

Henry's Freedom Box : A True Story from the Underground Railroad by Ellen Levine

Illus. by Kadir Nelson.

This is a simple telling of the story of Henry "Box" Brown, a slave who mailed himself to freedom in a wooden box. Rich, colorful, cross-hatched paintings complement the text. Henry had ample reasons to want to escape slavery. The story follows him from childhood up to the point that he emerges from his box. Any study of American history or Black history could include this title. It will work as a read-aloud.
Grades 3 and up

2 comments:

Kimmels said...

Second. Nelson's illustrations give this true story strong emotional pull. It is a remarkable story of escape and daring. Follett's cataloging put this in Easy but the author's note and source notes suggest historical fact.

Karen Gavigan said...

I agree on the second. The illustrations and Author's Notes enhance the story. Simple enough plot for younger children to follow yet it would also be a good read aloud in SS class for older students.