Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine and illustrated by Kadir Nelson is a wonderful and true story about one slave's experience in the Underground Railroad. Henry was born into slavery, though initially his master treated him somewhat kindly. He was eventually sold to his master's son where he would meet his wife. Together, they had several children and were living as happily as they could under the constraints of slavery. That is until one day, the master decides to sell Henry's wife and children to another plantation. This infuriates Henry as that was the only form of happiness he had attained. At this action, he decides to head towards freedom. To do so, he decides that he will ship himself in a box to Philadelphia. The journey is long and difficult and he often times feels like he is going to die. Eventually however, he makes it to Philadelphia and becomes a free man!
It is quite evident why this book was considered as a recent Caldecott nominee. The pictures are quite detailed and reflect the somber tone of the protagonist. Kadir Nelson uses rich colors and deep tones to convey the mood of the piece. Additionally, the depth with which he shows the detailed nuances allow the audience to feel the drama that is occurring on this page. He captures the essence of the words and enhances the piece with his illustrations. I especially love the creativity of the page in which Henry's box is being rolled as it is moved on the ship to Philadelphia. Nelson depicts this spread by using a cutaway so the audience feels privy to see what is inside as Henry is being contorted and shifted with each frame of the move. Kids love this page as well!
As a librarian, this is a wonderful addition to a collection, not only because it illuminates a horrible time in our country's history through one man's story, but also because the rich illustrations used to do so are exceptional. I love this story because the illustrations heighten my interest and allow me to better visualize what is happening.
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