Henry's Freedom Box

Henry’s Freedom Box, by Ellen Levine and Kadir Nelson, is a captivating true story that will tug at your heart strings. Henry, the son of a slave, is sold into slavery when he reaches working age. He dreams his whole life of being free, and he compares freedom to the way birds feel when they fly about overhead, singing their beautiful freedom songs as he wishes he could do. Henry lives his life working very hard for his white master, but when his wife and children are sold for more money, he feels an ache that nothing can mend or settle. Freedom becomes his only goal, and he believes in doing anything to achieve it! Because of this burning passion, he is led to the idea of shipping himself in a box to a place where he can truly experience freedom. This raw account of Henry “Box” Brown will allow readers to remember that life often takes courage, faith, and passion to achieve even the biggest of dreams!

The author’s purpose was to inform and to share a true story. The information provided describes life through the Underground Railroad. Slavery is often a difficult subject to teach about, especially trying to tread lightly with younger children, so this account is both captivating, informative, and inspiring. There is raw emotion and truth, but it is mixed in with a positive message and an even more inspiring ending, which allows readers to feel that sense of hope and growth needed when learning about slavery.

The illustrations in this book are remarkable. They draw the reader in, really allowing emotion to be felt through the pictures. This book is meant for an audience of about six years old through high school, depending on what information the reader is working to draw out. I believe teachers can use it in many different lessons. I have included this Caldecott Honor Medal winning book as a part of different text sets in learning about slavery with my students.

The authors of this book do a wonderful job showing different perspectives on slavery. They show that slave owners were often violent and unforgivable with behavior, which I believe is important to show children, as the truth can often lead students to deeper understanding. On the flip side, the authors also do a wonderful job showing that some people were very caring toward slaves, wanting to help them on their journey toward freedom. Both sides are important for the reader to see in the hopes that they can understand that the Underground Railroad had many pieces to its’ puzzle.

I hope you find a way to bring this beautiful book into your life and it finds a spot in your heart as it has mine!

- Kaitlynn DeGrano