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

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I heard Bill Clinton say at Rosa Parks’ funeral that when he and his friends heard that black people no longer had to sit at the back of the bus, then he and his friends knew that they no longer had to sit at the front of the bus. All other trademarks, service marks and trade names referenced on this site are the property of their respective owners. For readers who have some knowledge of this time in history, this is an excellent selection for teaching more advanced strategies, such as asking questions, identifying the author's purpose, and synthesizing. Diagnostic– Getting an idea of what students think and how they see the world is incredibly important so that teachers can start to lay the foundation of a topic. Nelson’s illustrations, always powerful and nuanced, depict the evolution of a self-possessed child into a determined and fearless young man.

The paintings throughout this book are inspired by a mid-nineteenth century anti-slavery artist, Samuel Rowse. Also share Emily Arnold McCully's eye-opening picture book, The Escape of Oney Judge: Martha Washington’s Slave Finds Freedom.

Kadir Nelson’s unforgettable paintings, which won him a Caldecott Honor, are breathtaking, heartbreaking, and ultimately, hopeful. Henry traveled 350 miles in a large box, sometimes upside down and always cramped, from Richmond, Virginia to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, garnering national and international attention for the plight of slaves. The themes of slavery, loss and freedom in Henry's Freedom Box allow more sophisticated readers to practice making deeper connections.

By anchoring word study to the text, students will benefit from seeing how inflectional endings are used inside of the text before engaging in both guided and independent practice with words. Each cause card is marked with a square and each effect card is marked with a circle, making it easy to support students who struggle with matching cause and effect relationships. If you're working with students who need practice identifying the author's purpose, Henry's Freedom Box is a great resource.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. These powerful illustrations will make readers feel as if they have gained insight into a resourceful man and his extraordinary story. The BookPagez extension activities are a great way to push student engagement beyond the pages of the text.

The story gives voice to our human condition: the desire to know that we belong, that our lives matter, that the lives of our loved ones matter no matter how seemingly insignificant we or they are. Related in measured, sonorous prose that makes a perfect match for the art, this is a story of pride and ingenuity that will leave readers profoundly moved.Students will learn about social justice issues while instilling reading, listening and speaking strategies. Some groups who may appear on the list could include: Native Americans, children, Jews, homosexuals, and women. Conversation– I will assess the mindfulness of the questions asked, and the depth of the conversations between students’ groups.