Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story From the Underground Railroad

By Ellen Levine and Illustrated by Kadir Nelson
Published by Scholastic Press 2007
40 Pages
Genre: Picture Book/Non Fiction
Caldecott Honor Book

Summary:

Henry Brown, was a slave we begin. In dark, rich, browns and blues we learn about his life as a slave. As he is sold to his masters son, his life changes. He meets the woman of his dreams. She seems to glow on the page. In the dark street she shines like a star in a dark sky. He sees her as a light in his life, who brings their beautiful 3 beautiful children into the world. I love this page because it shows Henry sitting and playing the banjo for his family. All three children sit on their mothers lap and it is the soft warm glow of the fire light that shows the love the family shares for each other. One day while Henry is at work, his family is sold and he never sees them again. He decided he must do something, he does not want to live the rest of his life this way. So he gets his good friend, a white man, who does not believe in slavery, and a friend from work to put him in a crate and send him to some friends in the north. The put him inside and ask them post me to handle it with car and keep the right side up. However Henry is not kept right side up. He gets turned upside down for a long time and is very uncomfortable. He then is pushed onto his side and then right side up, the illustration shows each turn and his position inside the box with such amazing contrast to the outside world. When he is finally sitting right side up, he falls asleep. When he wakes up he finds himself in the home of their friends and he gets out of the box a free man.

My Reaction:

I really loved this book. It was amazing to watch the colors of the book. They went from very dark pages to the light white pages as he made is way to freedom. I really loved hearing the story this way. Especially when it showed us his positions in the box. How creative!

Potential Problem:

It is a book about slavery, but I think it teaches that it is wrong, and really doesn't every make it sound okay. So perhaps it shouldn't be a problem. It's part of our past.

Recommendations:

I think this is a fantastic book for young children. It help them understand that though we may be different no one is higher or lower than the other. People should not have to live in fear. I love the lessons it can teach.