Title: Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground RailroadAuthor: Ellen Levine
Illustrator: Kadir Nelson
Awards: Caldecott Honor
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: 2007
Genre: History, Picture Book
Audience: Gr. K-2
Overview: This book tells a true story about a slave's escape to freedom from the South. After being separated from his mother as a child and later from his wife and children as they are sold away, Henry is fed-up and wants to find his freedom. He develops a plan to mail himself to friends in Philadelphia and with the help of a friendly white Southern man is successful in sending himself off. He has a long and painful trip, but fortunately survives and makes it to the free state of Pennsylvania. An Author's Note in the back of the book provides many more specific details about the escape and Henry's life.
Activity: An activity to go along with this book would be a cross-over with a history lesson of the Underground Railroad. Other stories of escape, including the lives of Harriet Tubman and other famous slaves might help the students gain more perspective into what the life was like. It also might be beneficial for students to see a box similar in size to imagine fitting themselves in and being mailed somewhere else in the country.
Reviewer's Name: Meghan O'Leary
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