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Henry's Freedom Box

by Ellen Levine

Henry's Freedom Box Cover

ISBN13: 9780439777339
ISBN10: 043977733x
All Product Details

 

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

A stirring, dramatic story of a slave who mails himself to freedom by a Jane Addams Peace Award-winning author and a Coretta Scott King Award-winning artist.

Henry Brown doesn't know how old he is. Nobody keeps records of slaves' birthdays. All the time he dreams about freedom, but that dream seems farther away than ever when he is torn from his family and put to work in a warehouse. Henry grows up and marries, but he is again devastated when his family is sold at the slave market. Then one day, as he lifts a crate at the warehouse, he knows exactly what he must do: He will mail himself to the North. After an arduous journey in the crate, Henry finally has a birthday — his first day of freedom.

Review:

"Levine (Freedom's Children) recounts the true story of Henry Brown, a slave who mailed himself to freedom. Thanks to Nelson's (Ellington Was Not a Street) penetrating portraits, readers will feel as if they can experience Henry's thoughts and feelings as he matures through unthinkable adversity. As a boy, separated from his mother, he goes to work in his new master's tobacco factory and eventually meets and marries another slave, with whom he has three children. In a heartwrenching scene depicted in a dramatically shaded pencil, watercolor and oil illustration, Henry watches as his family — suddenly sold in the slave market — disappears down the road. Henry then enlists the help of an abolitionist doctor and mails himself in a wooden crate 'to a place where there are no slaves!' He travels by horse-drawn cart, steamboat and train before his box is delivered to the Philadelphia address of the doctor's friends on March 30, 1849. Alongside Henry's anguished thoughts en route, Nelson's clever cutaway images reveal the man in his cramped quarters (at times upside-down). A concluding note provides answers to questions that readers may wish had been integrated into the story line, such as where did Henry begin his journey? (Richmond, Va.); how long did it take? (27 hours). Readers never learn about Henry's life as a free man — or, perhaps unavoidably, whether he was ever reunited with his family. Still, these powerful illustrations will make readers feel as if they have gained insight into a resourceful man and his extraordinary story. Ages 4-8." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Synopsis:

In this powerful story, Levine weaves together the extraordinary events in the life of Henry "Box" Brown, who as a young boy hid in a wooden crate in one of the most amazing escapes using the Underground Railroad. Full color.
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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 3 comments:
teacher in the desert, January 29, 2011 (view all comments by teacher in the desert)
As a teacher, I have read this book to and with kids from kindergarten to fifth grade, and they all love it. The story--a true story from the days of the Underground Railroad--is simply told, the language is easy to understand without being babyish, there are many teachable aspects, the art is very good--I could go on and on, but suffice to say that it's one of the best read-aloud children's books around. I usually do a lesson cycle of a week based on this book alone, and it's never failed to be a huge success.
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bgparlour, January 20, 2010 (view all comments by bgparlour)
Henry's Freedom Box is an incredible book for people of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds. It not only gives the reader insight into many truths of slavery-- the negative, as we see Henry and his family being torn apart, and the postitive, as we discover white men who are willing to help Henry make it to freedom (an aspect we do not often see in stories of slavery). Henry's Freedom Box also has incredible illustrations that help the story really come to life. This book is very useful for lessons on slavery and art lessons, as well.
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antone, February 7, 2009 (view all comments by antone)
This one of the best books ever read.
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780439777339
Author:
Levine, Ellen
Publisher:
Scholastic Press
Illustrator:
Nelson, Kadir
Author:
Nelson, Kadir
Subject:
Historical - United States - 19th Century
Subject:
Slavery
Subject:
Underground railroad
Subject:
Situations / Prejudice & Racism
Subject:
People & Places - United States - African-American
Subject:
Social Issues - Prejudice & Racism
Subject:
African Americans
Subject:
Children s-Historical Fiction-U.S. 19th Century
Copyright:
2007
Edition Description:
Hardcover
Publication Date:
20070131
Binding:
HARDCOVER
Grade Level:
from P up to 3
Language:
English
Illustrations:
YES
Pages:
40
Dimensions:
11 x 9 in
Children's Book Type:
Picture / Wordless
Age Level:
04-08
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Related Subjects

Children's » Awards » Caldecott Award Winners
Children's » General
Children's » Historical Fiction » United States » 19th Century
Children's » History » United States » General
Languages » Foreign Languages » Spanish » Children's » General
Languages » Foreign Languages » Spanish » Children's » Historical Fiction » United States » 19th Century
Languages » Foreign Languages » Spanish » Young Adult » Fiction » Social Issues » Prejudice and Racism

Henry's Freedom Box New Hardcover
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$17.99 In Stock
Product details 40 pages Scholastic Press - English 9780439777339 Reviews:
"Publishers Weekly Review" by , "Levine (Freedom's Children) recounts the true story of Henry Brown, a slave who mailed himself to freedom. Thanks to Nelson's (Ellington Was Not a Street) penetrating portraits, readers will feel as if they can experience Henry's thoughts and feelings as he matures through unthinkable adversity. As a boy, separated from his mother, he goes to work in his new master's tobacco factory and eventually meets and marries another slave, with whom he has three children. In a heartwrenching scene depicted in a dramatically shaded pencil, watercolor and oil illustration, Henry watches as his family — suddenly sold in the slave market — disappears down the road. Henry then enlists the help of an abolitionist doctor and mails himself in a wooden crate 'to a place where there are no slaves!' He travels by horse-drawn cart, steamboat and train before his box is delivered to the Philadelphia address of the doctor's friends on March 30, 1849. Alongside Henry's anguished thoughts en route, Nelson's clever cutaway images reveal the man in his cramped quarters (at times upside-down). A concluding note provides answers to questions that readers may wish had been integrated into the story line, such as where did Henry begin his journey? (Richmond, Va.); how long did it take? (27 hours). Readers never learn about Henry's life as a free man — or, perhaps unavoidably, whether he was ever reunited with his family. Still, these powerful illustrations will make readers feel as if they have gained insight into a resourceful man and his extraordinary story. Ages 4-8." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)
"Synopsis" by , In this powerful story, Levine weaves together the extraordinary events in the life of Henry "Box" Brown, who as a young boy hid in a wooden crate in one of the most amazing escapes using the Underground Railroad. Full color.
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