The Patchwork Path; a Quilt Map to Freedom

The Patchwork Path; A Quilt Map to Freedom by Bettye Stroud, illustraed by Erin Susanne Bennett
no awards that I know about

I liked this book. I thought, surely it is on one of these award lists. But I didn't find it anywhere, but I recommend it!

It tells the story of a girl named Hannah, learning to quilt "The year I turned ten, Mama taught me to make a special quilt. . . . But Mama wanted me to learn more than just how to sew. While we stiched, she told me a secret. 'Each pattern holds a special meaning,' Mama whispered. 'Hannah, this quilt will show you everything you need to know to run to freedom.'"

And Hannah eventually uses this quilt as a map to freedom. . . . leaving in a drenching rain, hiding under the floor of a church, staying with Quakers, and finally making it to Canada.
Makes me want to sew a quilt.

I liked the art work in this book too. The quilt square patterns are shown and the illustration style is bold and colorful like a quilt.

Love, Louise

An Apple for Harriet Tubman

An Apple for Harriet Tubman bu Glennette Tilley Turner, illustrated by Susan Keeter
no award that I know of, though I don't see why not!

I love this book. It's based on stories told to the author by Harriet Tubman's great niece Alice Brickler, who learned it from Harriet herself. I like it when stories about big people and big events have specific little details that pull us in.

Harriet Tubman loved apples. Who knew?
This story carries her from picking apples while being forbidden to eat any, and getting whipped for taking a bite of one.  . . . to owning her own land in NY and planting a row of apple trees that she ate her fill of shared with her neighbors.

Both of my children (age 10 and 7) enjoyed the book also.

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

Henry's Freedom Box; A True Story from the Underground Railroad by Ellen Levine, illustrated by Kadir Nelson
2008 Caldecott Honor Book

This is a powerful book worth reading and sharing. It's not a happy book and deals with gritty real life issues. Henry is a slave that successfully puts himself in a box and mails himself to freedom. But the "success" of that plan is against the backdrop of his dispair after his wife and children have been sold, never to be seen again.

The illustrations by Kadir Nelson are beautiful and convey the emotions of the story well. The text is also excellent. There is depth and sensitivity in how she shares the story. She doesn't overplay any of the painful elements, she tells it like it is, but in a steady poets voice, without punishing us with the facts.

"His friend James came into the factory. He whispered to Henry, "Your wife and children were just sold at the slave market." 


"No!" cried Henry. Henry couldn't move. He couldn't think. He couldn't work. 
"Twist that tobacco!" The boss poked Henry. 


Henry twisted tobacco leaves. His heart twisted in his chest. 


The pictures and stories together also convey well the closeness in the bonds between mother and child, husband and wife. I also appreciate the white people in the story who don't believe in slavery and assist in the plan, especially the character of Dr. Smith, who helped Henry mail himself to Philadelphia.

Slavery is something I have discussed with my children starting in pre-school. I think it's a necessary discussion and I appreciate this and other picture books for giving us the jumping off places and the context and details for those conversations. My son LOVED learning about history from a young age and developed a keen sense of justice from reading this kind of book, and we read a lot of books about African American history. My daughter is more inclined towards fantasy than non-fiction, so we haven't done as MUCH of this kind of reading, but I intentionally include this kind of book in the mix.

I recommend this book.