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Levine, Ellen. Henry’s Freedom Box. Illustrated by Kadir Nelson. New York:
Scholastic Press, 2007. ISBN: 978-0-439-77733-9. Fiction
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Summary
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A fictional account of how a Virginia slave escapes to freedom by shipping himself in a wooden crate from Richmond to Philadelphia.
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Media
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Artwork inspired by an antique lithograph of Brown. Use of crosshatched pencil lines layered with watercolors and oils, gives old look to story.
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Literary
Devices
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Symbolism, personification
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Curriculum Connection
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5th – 8th grades
American history, slavery
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Rating
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5Q 5P
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Theme/extra
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Caldecott honor book
Note explains historical basis.
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Mary Smartt 8/2/09
Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad by Ellen Levine and Kadir Nelson, Ill. NY: Scholastic Press, 2007. ISBN-13: 978-0439777339, Q5/P5.
Students will see that there is always a way if one never gives up. Henry is the famous man who mailed himself to freedom one day. Illustrations are done in pencil, water-color and oil paint. Excellent choice for 5th grade history class.
-Christina Gendron, 8/02/09
Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine and Kadir Nelson ill. New York: Scholastic, 2007.
ISBN: 978-0-439-77733-9
Annotation: This is the story of Henry ”Box” Brown, a courageous slave who mailed himself to freedom by sealing himself in a box. He lost his mother and family as a child when he was sold, then watched as his own family was sold away from him, before he finally decided to escape slavery in a daring and desperate escape.
Media: pencil, watercolor, and oils
Curricular Connections: 5-8th grades: US History, slavery, freedom, courage, Underground Railroad
Aspects of artwork: When Kadir Nelson was asked to illustrate this book, it was a story he had always wanted to illustrate. An 1850s lithograph by Samuel Rowse was the inspiration for his illustrations. Nelson used crosshatched pencil lines and applied layers of watercolor and oil paint to achieve the feel of the lithograph in his illustrations. He also used cutaways to depict the travel onboard a ship while inside the box. He won a 2008 Caldecott Honor for his artwork in this book. He prides himself on finding accurate references for his historical fiction works. His work is instantly recognizable and noted for the emotion, strength, and dignity of human spirit found in his art.
Rating: 5Q/5P
RAC 7.26.09
Levine, E. (2007). Henry’s freedom box: a true story from the Underground Railroad (K. Nelson, Illus.). New York: Scholastic. ISBN 978-0-439-77733-9 5Q/3P
Summary: Henry Brown was determined to escape to freedom. Even if that meant mailing himself North in a box. This is one man’s story on the Underground Railroad.
Media: Crosshatched pencil lines, then applied watercolor and oil paint.
Curricular connections: Grades 5-7. Slavery, abolitionists, Underground Railroad
KEM 4/29/08
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