1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cousins, Lucy. 2009. YUMMY: EIGHT FAVORITE FAIRY TALES. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN 9780763644741
2. PLOT SUMMARY
In this collection, Cousins retells eight popular fairy tales. Included are the tales of Little Red Riding Hood, The Three Billy Goats Gruff, The Enormous Turnip, Henny Penny, Goldilocks, The Little Red Hen, the Three Little Pigs and The Musicians of Bremen. These classic tales are familiar to many and only contain slight variations from what I remember as a child. In Little Red Riding Hood, the wolf eats both her and her grandmother, but is later decapitated and the two escape. Goldilocks and Henny Penny only have slight variations with how hot the porage was, and the names of the characters respectfully. The first two pigs in The Three Little Pigs get eaten instead of running to the next pig's house. The Enormous Turnip and the Musicians of Bremen were not familiar to me. In the Enormous Turnip, many animals in the village helped pull out a giant turnip, then feasted on it. The Musicians of Bremen were a group of misfit animals who worked together to scare off some burglars. Both of these stories contained an important message; teamwork pays off.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Overall, the stories contained in this collection were blunt and rigid. They did not hold back on details, yet did not embellish on them either. I was a little disappointed with the violence in Little Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs, however, many of the stories were just like I remember.
The illustrations were simplistic, but delightful. They were on white backgrounds with crudely drawn pictures; similar to that of a child's drawings. Additionally, the titles and some of the text were handwritten, including the entire table of context. This gave the book a charming feel and showed that the target audience was aiming at children.
4. HONORS AND REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: Starred Review “Beloved classics are successfully served by these bold, striking renditions.”
5. CONNECTIONS
* Compare these retellings with other popular versions
* Have older children write their own versions of one of the stories and make their own collection.
*Additional reading:
Pinkney, Jerry. THE LION AND THE MOUSE. ISBN 0316013560
Portis, Antoinette. A PENGUIN STORY. ISBN 0061456888
Garton Scanlon, Liz. ALL THE WORLD. ISBN 1416985808
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
The Rough-Face Girl by Rafe Martin; Illustrated by David Shannon
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Martin, Rafe. 1992. THE ROUGH-FACE GIRL. New York, NY: G.P. Putnam’s Sons. ISBN 0399218599
2. PLOT SUMMARY
A poor man in the village has three daughters, the youngest of which is forced to serve her sisters. She gets injured by the fire and any resources her father has left, go to the older sisters. It was this Rough-Face Girl, however, that could see the Invisible Man in the nature around her. She borrowed what she could from her father and made the journey to his wigwam. After passing his sister’s test, she became a beautiful bride, free of scars. The outward beauty was unimportant to her new groom or his sister, as they saw her beautiful heart.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This Algonquin Indian folktale is a beautiful combination of a Cinderella story and that of The Ugly Duckling. It teaches that beauty comes from the heart, not outward appearances. Just like in many Cinderella stories, the protagonist is ruled by older siblings and is forced to cater to their needs. Eventually, she is given a chance to become something great. In this story, however, she creates her own chance, and is rewarded with freedom from those things that bound her throughout her life.
This book has beautiful illustrations with exquisite details on every page. The dark images bring out the mysterious mood of the story, yet are colorful and full of life. David Shannon appears to have connected with the story and researched the folklore in order to create such powerful images.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “the drama of these haunting illustrations--and of Martin's (Foolish Rabbit's Big Mistake) respectful retelling--produce an affecting work”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “The Rough-Faced Girl … will provide both entertainment and a cultural lesson.”
5. CONNECTIONS
* Compare and contrast this story with that of other versions of Cinderella stories.
* Have older students write about a time that they felt like the Rough-Faced Girl. How did he or she overcome the obstacles that stood in the way?
*Additional reading:
Louie, Ai-Ling. YEH-SHEN. ISBN 0698113888
Steptoe, John. MUFARO’S BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS. ISBN 0688040454
Climo, Shirley. THE EGYPTIAN CINDERELLA. ISBN 0064432793
Martin, Rafe. 1992. THE ROUGH-FACE GIRL. New York, NY: G.P. Putnam’s Sons. ISBN 0399218599
2. PLOT SUMMARY
A poor man in the village has three daughters, the youngest of which is forced to serve her sisters. She gets injured by the fire and any resources her father has left, go to the older sisters. It was this Rough-Face Girl, however, that could see the Invisible Man in the nature around her. She borrowed what she could from her father and made the journey to his wigwam. After passing his sister’s test, she became a beautiful bride, free of scars. The outward beauty was unimportant to her new groom or his sister, as they saw her beautiful heart.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This Algonquin Indian folktale is a beautiful combination of a Cinderella story and that of The Ugly Duckling. It teaches that beauty comes from the heart, not outward appearances. Just like in many Cinderella stories, the protagonist is ruled by older siblings and is forced to cater to their needs. Eventually, she is given a chance to become something great. In this story, however, she creates her own chance, and is rewarded with freedom from those things that bound her throughout her life.
This book has beautiful illustrations with exquisite details on every page. The dark images bring out the mysterious mood of the story, yet are colorful and full of life. David Shannon appears to have connected with the story and researched the folklore in order to create such powerful images.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “the drama of these haunting illustrations--and of Martin's (Foolish Rabbit's Big Mistake) respectful retelling--produce an affecting work”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “The Rough-Faced Girl … will provide both entertainment and a cultural lesson.”
5. CONNECTIONS
* Compare and contrast this story with that of other versions of Cinderella stories.
* Have older students write about a time that they felt like the Rough-Faced Girl. How did he or she overcome the obstacles that stood in the way?
*Additional reading:
Louie, Ai-Ling. YEH-SHEN. ISBN 0698113888
Steptoe, John. MUFARO’S BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS. ISBN 0688040454
Climo, Shirley. THE EGYPTIAN CINDERELLA. ISBN 0064432793
Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Young, Ed. 1992. SEVEN BLIND MICE. New York, NY: The Putnam & Grosset Group. ISBN 0399222618
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Seven Blind Mice is a tale retold and illustrated by Ed Young as an adaptation of the Blind Men and the Elephant. Seven differently colored mice venture out separately to investigate the Something they discovered. Each mouse had a different idea of what this Something was based on the part they discovered. It took the last mouse to fully investigate the situation and lead the rest to wisdom.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This book contains colorful images of mice on a black background, symbolizing their blindness. Each two-page spread contains the multi-colored mice on the left with the action on the right. When one mouse goes to investigate part of the Something on the right page, all of the mice are on the left, stacked on top of each other in eager anticipation. The next page spread shows what the little mouse thought he felt.
The words on each page are minimal and the text is fairly large. The simplistic illustrations appear to be cut-outs placed on a black background. This allows the reader to concentrate on only the part each mouse was examining at the time. At the end, the last mouse sums up the observations from the previous mice to help him decide on what the Something could be.
This story sends a very important message, “Knowing in part may make a fine tale, but wisdom comes from seeing the whole.” Each little mouse only investigated part of the elephant and came to a different conclusion as to what the Something was. It took the last mouse to realize that all the evidence must be collected to make an accurate determination.
4. HONORS AND REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
CALDECOTT HONOR BOOK
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “In a stunning celebration of color Caldecott medalist Young ( Lon Po Po ) offers a vibrant variation on the fable of the blind men trying to identify an elephant.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Young gives children a clever story, wise words, and a truly exciting visual experience.”
5. CONNECTIONS
* Discuss the days of the week with the students and find out what they do throughout the week
* Have children close their eyes. Hold an object and let them feel only part of it. See if the student can figure out what it is. Then have the student feel the whole object. Did he or she get it right this time?
*Additional reading:
Yolen, Jane. THE EMPEROR AND THE KITE. ISBN 0698116445
Young, Ed. BEYOND THE GREAT MOUNTAINS. ISBN 0811843432
Willems, Mo. DON’T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS!. ISBN 078681988X
Young, Ed. 1992. SEVEN BLIND MICE. New York, NY: The Putnam & Grosset Group. ISBN 0399222618
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Seven Blind Mice is a tale retold and illustrated by Ed Young as an adaptation of the Blind Men and the Elephant. Seven differently colored mice venture out separately to investigate the Something they discovered. Each mouse had a different idea of what this Something was based on the part they discovered. It took the last mouse to fully investigate the situation and lead the rest to wisdom.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This book contains colorful images of mice on a black background, symbolizing their blindness. Each two-page spread contains the multi-colored mice on the left with the action on the right. When one mouse goes to investigate part of the Something on the right page, all of the mice are on the left, stacked on top of each other in eager anticipation. The next page spread shows what the little mouse thought he felt.
The words on each page are minimal and the text is fairly large. The simplistic illustrations appear to be cut-outs placed on a black background. This allows the reader to concentrate on only the part each mouse was examining at the time. At the end, the last mouse sums up the observations from the previous mice to help him decide on what the Something could be.
This story sends a very important message, “Knowing in part may make a fine tale, but wisdom comes from seeing the whole.” Each little mouse only investigated part of the elephant and came to a different conclusion as to what the Something was. It took the last mouse to realize that all the evidence must be collected to make an accurate determination.
4. HONORS AND REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
CALDECOTT HONOR BOOK
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “In a stunning celebration of color Caldecott medalist Young ( Lon Po Po ) offers a vibrant variation on the fable of the blind men trying to identify an elephant.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Young gives children a clever story, wise words, and a truly exciting visual experience.”
5. CONNECTIONS
* Discuss the days of the week with the students and find out what they do throughout the week
* Have children close their eyes. Hold an object and let them feel only part of it. See if the student can figure out what it is. Then have the student feel the whole object. Did he or she get it right this time?
*Additional reading:
Yolen, Jane. THE EMPEROR AND THE KITE. ISBN 0698116445
Young, Ed. BEYOND THE GREAT MOUNTAINS. ISBN 0811843432
Willems, Mo. DON’T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS!. ISBN 078681988X
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Taback, Simms. JOSEPH HAD A LITTLE OVERCOAT. New York, NY: Viking. ISBN 0670878553
PLOT SUMMARY
Joseph started with an overcoat, and as it got warn, he repurposed it as another garment. Eventually, the overcoat turned into a button that got lost. He may have nothing left of his overcoat, but Joseph wasn’t empty-handed.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Simms Taback writes a charming story based on a Yiddish folk song that he enjoyed as a child. The story is written for young readers and contains a moral at the end. The main character continues to repurpose his overcoat into other garments, until he is left with nothing at all. He, then, writes a story about it, showing that he made something from nothing. The literal interpretation of this moral would be easy for children to understand and help them with the implied meaning.
The illustrations, also done by Simms Taback, are colorful two-page spreads. He used a combination of “watercolor, gouache, pencil, ink and collage” (copywrite page) to give the illustrations a collage-like effect. On the left-hand side of the page spread, Taback had an image of Joseph in his current garment, showing how it was getting warn and frayed. On the right-hand side of the page spread, a cutout appears. When the reader turns the page, the cutout shows what garment Joseph made next. The items in the pictures indicate Taback’s Jewish background and expose the reader to a little bit of the Jewish culture and symbols.
Additionally, the illustrations contain hidden details that are humorous or interesting. For instance, one page has a newspaper laying on the floor that says “Fiddler on Roof Falls Off Roof”. On the very next page, a man sits on a roof playing a fiddle. Additionally, the reader can find morals and philosophies ‘hidden’ throughout the pictures, such as “What one has, one doesn’t want, and what one wants, one doesn’t have”.
This is a great book to teach young readers to evaluate the text and illustrations alike. It is also a good way to talk about Jewish culture and expose children to items they may not be familiar with.
AWARDS AND REVIEW EXCERPTS
• The Caldecott Medal
• Amazon.com Reviews “the book is filled with rhythms and arresting colors that will delight every reader”
• Publisher’s Weekly “it's the bustling mixed-media artwork, highlighted by the strategically placed die-cuts, that steals the show”.
CONNECTIONS
• Have students write or share their meaning of “You can always make something out of nothing”
• Ask students what they think Joseph is like by his actions and the illustrations in the book.
• Select another book by Simms Taback and compare and contrast the two books
• What can the readers understand about Taback from examining this and other works by him.
• Rohmann, Eric. MY FRIEND RABBIT. ISBN 031236752X
• Wiesner, David. FLOATSAM. ISBN 0618194576
• Taback, Simms. THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A FLY. ISBN 0670869392
Taback, Simms. JOSEPH HAD A LITTLE OVERCOAT. New York, NY: Viking. ISBN 0670878553
PLOT SUMMARY
Joseph started with an overcoat, and as it got warn, he repurposed it as another garment. Eventually, the overcoat turned into a button that got lost. He may have nothing left of his overcoat, but Joseph wasn’t empty-handed.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Simms Taback writes a charming story based on a Yiddish folk song that he enjoyed as a child. The story is written for young readers and contains a moral at the end. The main character continues to repurpose his overcoat into other garments, until he is left with nothing at all. He, then, writes a story about it, showing that he made something from nothing. The literal interpretation of this moral would be easy for children to understand and help them with the implied meaning.
The illustrations, also done by Simms Taback, are colorful two-page spreads. He used a combination of “watercolor, gouache, pencil, ink and collage” (copywrite page) to give the illustrations a collage-like effect. On the left-hand side of the page spread, Taback had an image of Joseph in his current garment, showing how it was getting warn and frayed. On the right-hand side of the page spread, a cutout appears. When the reader turns the page, the cutout shows what garment Joseph made next. The items in the pictures indicate Taback’s Jewish background and expose the reader to a little bit of the Jewish culture and symbols.
Additionally, the illustrations contain hidden details that are humorous or interesting. For instance, one page has a newspaper laying on the floor that says “Fiddler on Roof Falls Off Roof”. On the very next page, a man sits on a roof playing a fiddle. Additionally, the reader can find morals and philosophies ‘hidden’ throughout the pictures, such as “What one has, one doesn’t want, and what one wants, one doesn’t have”.
This is a great book to teach young readers to evaluate the text and illustrations alike. It is also a good way to talk about Jewish culture and expose children to items they may not be familiar with.
AWARDS AND REVIEW EXCERPTS
• The Caldecott Medal
• Amazon.com Reviews “the book is filled with rhythms and arresting colors that will delight every reader”
• Publisher’s Weekly “it's the bustling mixed-media artwork, highlighted by the strategically placed die-cuts, that steals the show”.
CONNECTIONS
• Have students write or share their meaning of “You can always make something out of nothing”
• Ask students what they think Joseph is like by his actions and the illustrations in the book.
• Select another book by Simms Taback and compare and contrast the two books
• What can the readers understand about Taback from examining this and other works by him.
• Rohmann, Eric. MY FRIEND RABBIT. ISBN 031236752X
• Wiesner, David. FLOATSAM. ISBN 0618194576
• Taback, Simms. THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A FLY. ISBN 0670869392
Pass It Down: Five Picture-Book Families Make Their Mark BY Leonard S. Marcus
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Marcus, Leonard S. PASS IT DOWN: FIVE PICTURE-BOOK FAMILIES MAKE THEIR MARK. New York, NY: Walker & Company. ISBN 0802796001
SUMMARY
This book is a wonderful compilation of stories about families who have made bookmaking a multigenerational task. It features five families who made careers in bookmaking. One such story is the Crews and Jonas Family who recount the time they met in art school, married, and gave birth to two beautiful daughters. Donald and Ann illustrated and eventually wrote children's books, and always encouraged the artistic endeavors of their daughters. Both girls went on to study at Yale. One of their daughters, Nina, studied art history and photography. Later on, Nina followed in her parents' footsteps and wrote and illustrated her first children's book called One Hot Summer Day. Other families included are the Hurd family, the Myers family, the Pinkney family and the Rockwell family.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
A person's choice in occupation is influenced on how his or her parents made a living. Children often analyze their parents' lives and notice either the joy or sorrow that their occupation brings to the home. This interesting collection of family stories tells about multiple generations of bookmakers and can be an inspiration to anyone in a creative arts field.
Along with family stories, Pass It Down includes family photographs, letters, bits of drafts, brainstorming, and illustrations produced by members of the family. These artifacts provide an interesting glimpse into the lives of the featured families. By providing such items, the reader may feel privileged to get a first-hand look into the intimate lives of each family member.
The unifying catalyst in the story is that each family encouraged their children to find their own way. The children were exposed to bookmaking tasks, but not forced into the occupation; they were left to make their own mark in their own way.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
School Library Journal: "Marcus's writing is, as usual, tight but lively, and each chapter is liberally laced with photographs, preliminary sketches, and final art."
Booklist: "young fans will find this a very readable and perceptive book that throws an intriguing light on growing up within a successful family"
CONNECTIONS
*Have children compare and contrast the different families
*With older students, select a book from one of the families and talk about where the inspiration may have come from
*Write a letter to the family that the student likes the best.
*Read two or more books by the same family and compare the books
OTHER BOOKS OF INTEREST
*Marcus, Leonard S. A Caldecott Celebration: Seven Artists and their Paths to the Caldecott Medal. ISBN 0802797032
*Carle, Eric. Artist to Artist: 23 Major Illustrators Talk to Children About Their Art. ISBN 0399246002
*Marcus, Leonard S. Golden Legacy: How Golden Books Won Children's Hearts, Changed Publishing Forever, and Became an American Icon Along the Way. ISBN 0375829962
Marcus, Leonard S. PASS IT DOWN: FIVE PICTURE-BOOK FAMILIES MAKE THEIR MARK. New York, NY: Walker & Company. ISBN 0802796001
SUMMARY
This book is a wonderful compilation of stories about families who have made bookmaking a multigenerational task. It features five families who made careers in bookmaking. One such story is the Crews and Jonas Family who recount the time they met in art school, married, and gave birth to two beautiful daughters. Donald and Ann illustrated and eventually wrote children's books, and always encouraged the artistic endeavors of their daughters. Both girls went on to study at Yale. One of their daughters, Nina, studied art history and photography. Later on, Nina followed in her parents' footsteps and wrote and illustrated her first children's book called One Hot Summer Day. Other families included are the Hurd family, the Myers family, the Pinkney family and the Rockwell family.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
A person's choice in occupation is influenced on how his or her parents made a living. Children often analyze their parents' lives and notice either the joy or sorrow that their occupation brings to the home. This interesting collection of family stories tells about multiple generations of bookmakers and can be an inspiration to anyone in a creative arts field.
Along with family stories, Pass It Down includes family photographs, letters, bits of drafts, brainstorming, and illustrations produced by members of the family. These artifacts provide an interesting glimpse into the lives of the featured families. By providing such items, the reader may feel privileged to get a first-hand look into the intimate lives of each family member.
The unifying catalyst in the story is that each family encouraged their children to find their own way. The children were exposed to bookmaking tasks, but not forced into the occupation; they were left to make their own mark in their own way.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
School Library Journal: "Marcus's writing is, as usual, tight but lively, and each chapter is liberally laced with photographs, preliminary sketches, and final art."
Booklist: "young fans will find this a very readable and perceptive book that throws an intriguing light on growing up within a successful family"
CONNECTIONS
*Have children compare and contrast the different families
*With older students, select a book from one of the families and talk about where the inspiration may have come from
*Write a letter to the family that the student likes the best.
*Read two or more books by the same family and compare the books
OTHER BOOKS OF INTEREST
*Marcus, Leonard S. A Caldecott Celebration: Seven Artists and their Paths to the Caldecott Medal. ISBN 0802797032
*Carle, Eric. Artist to Artist: 23 Major Illustrators Talk to Children About Their Art. ISBN 0399246002
*Marcus, Leonard S. Golden Legacy: How Golden Books Won Children's Hearts, Changed Publishing Forever, and Became an American Icon Along the Way. ISBN 0375829962
Monday, February 8, 2010
Moses by Carole Boston Weatherford, Ill. by Kadir Nelson
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Weatherford, Carole Boston. 2006. MOSES. Ill. By Kadir Nelson. New York, NY: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 078685175
PLOT SUMMARY
In this heroic tale of Harriet Tubman, Carole Boston Weatherford writes about Tubman’s initial voyage to freedom. She describes how faith lead Tubman out of the south, through life threatening challenges and finally to her destination in Philadelphia. Once she experiences freedom, she is lead back into danger to rescue many others through the assistance of God and caring individuals.
CRITICAL ANAYSIS
Readers gain an inside perspective to Tubman’s prayers, fears and motivation while completing her dangerous mission. The intensity of her emotion and strength are evident throughout the book. The narration is interlaced with her prayers, showing Tubman’s value in her faith.
Beautiful, double page spread illustrations, done by Kadir Nelson, add to the mood of the story. Many of the images are dark and elicit feelings of isolation and fear; the very things Harriet Tubman may have experienced. Moments in the story were full of hope. “In a clearing: the save haven… the farmer’s wife feeds Harriet…” In these moments, the pictures are light and contain lots of negative space, symbolizing hope and freedom. The large and winding fonts used as God’s messages, are associated more to the illustration than the text. The words are much larger than the narrators or Tubman’s, showing the care and direction from an omniscient God.
This is a great book to share with younger or older readers like. It goes into the emotion of slavery and desiring freedom, but leaves out details that would be harder for young audiences to understand. The story is heavily based on the Christian faith, so teachers and parents should be prepared to discuss religious questions with young readers, if they have not previously been exposed to Christianity.
AWARDS WON AND REVIEW EXCERPTS
Caldecott Honor Book
Coretta Scott King Award
Starred review from Publisher’s Weekly: “In this gorgeous, poetic picture book, Weatherford ...depicts Harriet Tubman's initial escape from slavery and her mission to lead others to freedom as divinely inspired, and achieved by steadfast faith and prayer.”
CONNECTIONS
• This book can be used to discuss topics such as slavery, civil rights, and freedom
• Readers can write a journal response about a time that they did what was right and the challenges that they faced.
• Check out these books further reading on freedom
- Levine, Ellen. HENRY’S FREEDOM BOX: A TRUE STORY FROM THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD. ISBN 9780439777339
- Brinckloe, Julie. FIREFLIES. ISBN 0689710550
Weatherford, Carole Boston. 2006. MOSES. Ill. By Kadir Nelson. New York, NY: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 078685175
PLOT SUMMARY
In this heroic tale of Harriet Tubman, Carole Boston Weatherford writes about Tubman’s initial voyage to freedom. She describes how faith lead Tubman out of the south, through life threatening challenges and finally to her destination in Philadelphia. Once she experiences freedom, she is lead back into danger to rescue many others through the assistance of God and caring individuals.
CRITICAL ANAYSIS
Readers gain an inside perspective to Tubman’s prayers, fears and motivation while completing her dangerous mission. The intensity of her emotion and strength are evident throughout the book. The narration is interlaced with her prayers, showing Tubman’s value in her faith.
Beautiful, double page spread illustrations, done by Kadir Nelson, add to the mood of the story. Many of the images are dark and elicit feelings of isolation and fear; the very things Harriet Tubman may have experienced. Moments in the story were full of hope. “In a clearing: the save haven… the farmer’s wife feeds Harriet…” In these moments, the pictures are light and contain lots of negative space, symbolizing hope and freedom. The large and winding fonts used as God’s messages, are associated more to the illustration than the text. The words are much larger than the narrators or Tubman’s, showing the care and direction from an omniscient God.
This is a great book to share with younger or older readers like. It goes into the emotion of slavery and desiring freedom, but leaves out details that would be harder for young audiences to understand. The story is heavily based on the Christian faith, so teachers and parents should be prepared to discuss religious questions with young readers, if they have not previously been exposed to Christianity.
AWARDS WON AND REVIEW EXCERPTS
Caldecott Honor Book
Coretta Scott King Award
Starred review from Publisher’s Weekly: “In this gorgeous, poetic picture book, Weatherford ...depicts Harriet Tubman's initial escape from slavery and her mission to lead others to freedom as divinely inspired, and achieved by steadfast faith and prayer.”
CONNECTIONS
• This book can be used to discuss topics such as slavery, civil rights, and freedom
• Readers can write a journal response about a time that they did what was right and the challenges that they faced.
• Check out these books further reading on freedom
- Levine, Ellen. HENRY’S FREEDOM BOX: A TRUE STORY FROM THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD. ISBN 9780439777339
- Brinckloe, Julie. FIREFLIES. ISBN 0689710550
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