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

All of the angst of a child born into slavery and yearning for freedom is poured into Kadir Nelson‘s artwork of Henry, a real person who mailed himself to freedom in a wooden crate. Ellen Levine‘s story weaves fact and fiction together, highlighting the tenacity and quiet strength of Henry “Box” Brown.

Extension ideas include role playing, writing and justice discussions.

When Sheep Cannot Sleep: The Counting Book

I’m currently taking a graduate class on picture books, and we are repeatedly studying this book by Satoshi Kitamura, coming back to it over and over and over again for several elements of picture book design. So I thought I’d highlight it here as a great example of imaginative storytelling, surreal illustrations with many hidden elements that encourage repeated readings and unique artistic style.

Published in 1986, When Sheep Cannot Sleep: The Counting Book has an ironic premise that stands strong today: Woolly, an insomniac sheep, is only able to fall asleep when he counts sheep. Cleverly hidden in the illustrations are items to count, up to twenty-two, and the last page shows a chart of these.

On the Farm

A book of short poems themed around the farm, opening with a rooster crowing and ending with the rabbit listening, is just what we need for early spring. Holly Meade‘s woodcuts lend strong lines to each poem, emphasizing the animal characters as written by David Elliot.

Take your city kids to the farm with these learning activities.

Red Sled

Oh, to have enough snow to go sledding! In lieu of real snow, Lita Judge‘s Red Sled  will do. During the day, it’s a child’s red sled, but at night, creatures of the forest take it for a whirl. Shown entirely in pictures and onomatopoeic words, first a bear, then a rabbit, moose, opposum and raccoon join in. Like Jan Brett’s The Mitten, it’s the mouse that makes it one too many.

Use the words in this story to start a chart of sound words. Compare Red Sled to The Mitten using the Venn Diagram.

The Cruisers

While set in the present day, Walter Dean Myers‘ The Cruisers takes us back to the mindset of the Civil War era through eighth grade students. Zander and his friends, the Cruisers, have to prove their potential at Da Vinci Academy, a school for New York City’s gifted and talented, in order to stay. When a role-playing assignment on the Civil War turns personal, Zander is designated peace-maker by Mr. Culpepper, the assistant principal who doesn’t appear to be unbiased. Through the reenactment of history, Zander discovers present day attitudes toward race, violence and free speech. He also finds out who comes out of the proverbial woodwork when he heads up a protest against the Sons of Confederacy.

So much is packed into this short book but I think the candid portrait of race and how we talk about it is one of its most important aspects. The Cruisers is first in a series about Zander Scott and friends. Walter Dean Myers is the new ambassador for children’s literature in the US.

Click on the links above for resources.

The Steadfast Tin Soldier

A classic love story to share with children, Rachel Isadora‘s The Steadfast Tin Soldier, is retold and illustrated beautifully. Even though there wasn’t enough tin to finish his leg, the soldier stands strong through all the cruel twists and turns in his life. He remembers his love for the ballerina, who because of her pose, also appears to have only one leg. In the tragic end, the two are reunited as only true love can be.

Small As An Elephant

Jack and his mom are camping in Acadia National Park–at least that’s what he thought they were doing. Except when he wakes up the next day, she’s gone. She doesn’t answer her cell phone and the local bartender says he saw her talking with a mariner about going to the Bahamas. Jack’s been alone before when she’s “spinning”, but this time is different. He’s in Maine, hours from home, and if he asks for help, someone is sure to call Social Services. So he sets off on his own with a small elephant in his pocket and a real elephant as his destination.

Jennifer Richard Jacobson begins each chapter with elephant quotes and seamlessly weaves Jack’s love of the majestic animal throughout the story. Her website offers advice to writing teachers and an activity page which includes maps of Jack’s Maine journey.