Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine

Author: Ellen Levine

Illustrator: Kadir Nelson

Genre: Multicultural, Nonfiction

Awards: Caldecott Honor (2008), South Carolina Picture Book Award Nominee (2008), BCCB Blue Ribbon Book (2007), ALA Notable Children's Book (2008), Wyoming Buckaroo Nominee (2008-2009), NCSS/CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Boo for Young People (2008), Great Lakes Great Books Award (2009), AISLE Read-Aloud Books Too Good To Miss (2007), Capitol Choices Noteworthy Book for Children's and Teens (2008), ISLMA Bluestem Award Nominee (2011), Vermont Red Clover Award Nominee (2009), CCBC Choices (2008), Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award (2010), Comstock Read Aloud Book Award (2007), West Virginia Children's Choice Book Award Nominee (2009), Arkansas Diamond Primary Book Award Nominee (2009), California Young Reader Medal (2012), IRA Teachers' Choices Reading List (2008)

Grade(s): 1st-4th

Summary: Henry's Freedom Box is a book set back in the days of slavery. Henry grew up in the slave world as a slave child, and eventually became a man living in slavery. He gained approval to marry from his master and his wife's and became happily wed. Henry decided to start a family and him and his wife had three children. However, since many of the masters were becoming poor, they had to sell their slaves in order to survive. Sadly, Henry's wife and children were sold and Henry would never be able to see them again. This motivated Henry to want to escape slavery and he came up with a plan. With the help of some of his friends, one being a white man, they devised a plan for Henry to be shipped to America in a large wooden crate. Scared that the plan would fail, but desperate to make it work, Henry found himself turned upside, on his head, on a ship sailing for America. Thankfully, Henry arrived safely in Philadelphia to very welcoming arms. Having never known his birthday, he made March 30, 1849 his birthday, his first day of freedom. Henry also gained a middle name as he would forever be known as Henry "BOX" Brown.

My Thoughts: I absolutely loved this book and would definitely use it in my classroom to teach my students about the slavery era. This is a wonderful multicultural book that teaches about the culture of slavery and African Americans. The illustrations of this book were astounding as Kadir Nelson really has a way of bringing the story to life. Although there were sad moments in this story, it really shows the reality of how many were made to live during this time period. I will definitely have this book in my classroom library for years to come!!