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    Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad | Book Review

    Bianca SchulzeBy Bianca Schulze4 Mins Read Ages 4-8 Award Winners Best Kids Stories Picture Books
    Henrys Freedom Box A True Story from the Underground Railroad Book Cover
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    Book Review of Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad
    The Children’s Book Review

    Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad: Book Cover

    Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad

    Written by Ellen Levine

    Illustrated by Kadir Nelson

    Ages 6+ | 40 Pages

    Publisher: Scholastic | ISBN-13: 9780439777339

    What to Expect: Slavery, Freedom, and True Stories

    Henry’s Freedom Box, winner of a Caldecott Honor in 2008, is a retelling of a true story about Henry “Box” Brown, who courageously escaped slavery and found freedom. Join Henry on his remarkable journey and get ready to be moved!

    Henry, born into slavery on a plantation, dreams about freedom, but freedom doesn’t look like it will come his way when he is taken from his family and put to work in a factory where he is treated very severely. When he is older, he marries another enslaved person and has three children. His family is sold at the slave market, and he watches them disappear down a road. Henry realizes his only chance at finding freedom is to mail himself North in a crate from the factory. The journey in the box is arduous, but Henry does get his first day of freedom.

    The illustrator, Kadir Nelson, is incredibly talented; the illustrations look real and poignantly show Henry’s feelings. It’s hard to imagine that this story is based on real-life, but by reading it, we can learn so much about the past and how we can be better people in the future—fearless and determined defenders of freedom, just like Henry Brown. If you still have questions after reading Henry’s Freedom Box, the author gives some great answers at the end of the book.

    Henry’s Freedom Box is a powerful and inspiring tale that will stay with you long after you turn the last page. Readers will love reading about the incredible true story of Henry “Box” Brown and his quest for freedom!

    Buy the Book

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    About the Author

    Ellen Levine has always been drawn to stories of people who struggled for justice and ordinary people who did extraordinary things. She was fascinated by Henry “Box” Brown, whose escape is recounted in The Underground Railroad by William Still, first published in 1872. Ms. Levine was awed by Henry’s ingenious idea and moved by his incredible courage. Among the author’s award-winning books are Freedom’s Children, winner of the Jane Addams Peace Award and an ALA Best Book for Young Adults; and Darkness Over Denmark, a Jame Addams Peace Award Honor Book and an ALA Best Book for Young Adults. She lives in New York City and Salem, New York.

    Ellen Levine: Author Headshot
    About the Illustrator

    Kadir Nelson illustrated two Caldecott Honor Books: Moses and Libre : Le long voyage d’Henri. Ellington Was Not a Street by Ntozake Shange won the Coretta Scott King Award. Will Smith’s Just The Two of Us won an NAACP Image Award, and his new book, We Are The Ship continues to garner major awards. Nelson showed artistic talent at age three and began working in oils by age sixteen. Kadir Nelson lives in Los Angeles.

    Kadir Nelson: Illustrator Headshot

    What to Read Next if You Love Henry’s Freedom Box

    Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans, by Kadir Nelson

    Crossing Bok Chitto: A Choctaw Tale of Friendship & Freedom, by Tim Tingle

    The Story of Ruby Bridges, by Robert Coles

    Bianca Schulze reviewed Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad. Discover more books like Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad by reading our reviews and articles tagged with Award Winners, Freedom, Kadir Nelson, Picture Book, and Slavery.

    What to Read Next:

    1. Caldecott Award: Randolph Caldecott Medal Winner | 2014
    2. Mr. Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown | Bull-Bransom Award Winner, 2014
    3. Randolph Caldecott Medal Award-Winning Kids’ Books 2021
    4. Mango, Abuela, and Me | Book Review

    *Disclosure: Please note that this post may contain affiliate links that share some commission. Rest assured that these will not affect the cost of any products and services promoted here. Our team always provides their authentic opinion in all content published on this site.

    Award Winners Caldecott Honor Books Ellen Levine Freedom Kadir Nelson Non-Fiction Picture Book Scholastic Slavery
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    Bianca Schulze
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    Bianca Schulze is the founder of The Children’s Book Review. She is a reader, reviewer, mother and children’s book lover. She also has a decade’s worth of experience working with children in the great outdoors. Combined with her love of books and experience as a children’s specialist bookseller, the goal is to share her passion for children’s literature to grow readers. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, she now lives with her husband and three children near Boulder, Colorado.

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