Henry's Freedom Box

Levine, E. (2007) Henry's Freedom Box. Scholastic Press.  Henry's Freedom Box is based on the true story of Henry  Brown who was a slave who actually mailed himself to freedom. After witnessing  his family being sold at auction Henry knew he had to do something for his own freedom. With the help of some friends in the story Henry had to courage to mail himself to freedom. The illustrations in the story help add to the mood of the story by the media of watercolors and oil. The illustrations show the hardships Henry had to go through throughout his journey at times even showing Henry upside down in the pictures.  I first heard this book when my students and I had a field trip to the Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. The students got to hear the story of Henry Brown and also sit inside a model box that was around the same size as the shipping box Henry made his voyage to freedom in. This is a wonderful story to  help illustrate importance of their freedom and the depths that people were willing to go to get their freedom.  Big Questions: Why is your freedom important? Describe Henry in one word? Would you have the courage to go on a voyage for your freedom?