Henry's Freedom Box

Author: Ellen Levine

Illustrator: Kadir Nelson

Awards: Caldecott Honor

Grade: K-3rd

 Summary:  Henry Brown is an American slave who wants to be free. He is able to marry a woman who did not live on the same plantation as him which was very uncommon for slaves. He had children with her but when they were sold into slavery he was devastated and decided he was going to mail himself to freedom. With the help of some nice men who wanted Henry to be free, he was packaged in a crate and sent up to the north by ship. He got to the North and became free and everyone now called him Henry "Box" Brown because he escaped slavery in a box. 

Evaluation: I think this is a great book to introduce American Slavery and the Underground Railroad to young children. This would perfect for a read aloud because the illustrations help the students connect to what is happening in a different time period and will work as an aid in discussion.