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I know that Harriet Tubman would be so proud of this book.

(After reading I thought this same thing, she would DEFINITELY be happy with her portrayal): Kassy

I know that she was a deeply religious woman and I know she would be glad that this book focuses so much on her faith because without it, we wouldn't know her name.

I loved everything about this book from the different text fonts for the different voices in the story to the absolutely mesmerizing illustrations.

This book would be wonderful in a unit about slavery or the underground railroad but I just could not pass up the chance to read it to my 2nd graders.  If I don't read it to them now they may miss out on it.

While slavery is not a topic we are supposed to cover in 2nd grade it always comes up.  They know bits and pieces and they are curious.  I think this book was great for them and triggered a lot of discussion in which all students were involved.

I agree with you Ashley it is not something we are suppose to cover in 2nd grade but it does all seem to come up. And, what better way to discuss it but using this picture book to spark their interest.----Ashley D

I agree with both of you.  I want to be able to read this book to kids so they can see the details in the illustrations and how different the text fonts are, but I don't think they will truly understand or appreciate the work as much as I do.  Karie

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My students and I loved this book. We had lots of good discussions about the illustrations and the words.  Of course as Heather mentioned we discussed the conversations she had with God.  We decided we was a brave woman with with strong faith.  We discussed the darkness in the illustrations and they realized that was because she traveled at night to keep from being found.  One thing that amazed my students was the time she spent in the potato hole.  The students had a good discussion of how she must have been feeling and how uncomfortable this was. One more thing that my students pointed out was the words from God wrapped around her.  They said that the words were put that way to show that God has his arms around her and will protect her.

This book really helped us to realize how hard life was for slaves and how strong these people were.   Then it also started a new discussion about the quilts used to help in underground railroad, so now I need some books on this for them.  I found one to use on Friday.

I read this to my students also.  This book opens up so many discussions.  Harriet was a brave woman!  The time that she spent hiding and the time in the potato hole was  beyond our imaginations.  We talked about how she made sacrifices for her own life to help others to freedom.  She was a brave and fearless leader.  My students and myself can't imagine the pain that the slaves went through.  It must have been horrible...If you have time, please pass the book that you connected to this one on to our class. Jill

Wow! What amazing ideas your students had about the design and layout of "God's words"!! How introspective of your kiddos to infer that the words were wrapping around Harriet like His arms would to protect her.It's just as Giorgis states, "Circular lines convey serenity, contentment, or safety." Your kids critical thinking and inferencing skills attest to your superb teaching! Bravo! -Elisabeth

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I was moved by the suggestion of another character in the story as Harriet talked to God.

The translucent font used for the words from God, for me, became a part of the art in the story and suggested the presence of another character. I felt the oppression of slavery while reading the story. The author did a magnificent job of sharing this concept without all the ugly details that follow this topic, which makes it a 'safe' choice for the introduction of the history of slavery in the young classroom. The darkness of the paintings alone show the disparity of slavery and reflect the sadness and shame of this era.

Debby, I felt the same way about the translucent font for the words from God.  I also loved how the words looks as if they were flowing in the wind and especially when they were written around her.  As if he wrapped himself around her for protection.  Karie

Debby,

I noticed how Harriet's voice is in italics. To me, this represented the shakiness and uncertainty in her voice not knowing what is going to happen and how she is going to get to where she wants. The narrator's voice is in a very simple plain font that kind of fades into the background for me. It doesn't stand out as much as the other two fonts. This shows how it is just a voice in the background that is simply helping the reader fill in the gaps with information of the story. ---Jennifer

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As I read this book out loud to my students, they sat silently soaking it all in. This was a first for them, because they usually are very interactive with a text when I read out loud. They just sat in silence taking everything in. It was amazing to watch! Once I finished, they started chattering about how she was talking to God and about how she held a powerful role in helping slaves find safety and freedom. One student also talked about people like Harriet helped to end slavery, which was why my student could be friends with everybody else in the room no matter what their color. One of my girls talked about how the art and colors in the book set/matched the mood/tone of the story. My thought is that I would love for Maya Angelou to read this book out loud for http://www.storylineonline.net/ . That in my mind is the perfect voice to really portray the emotion that I think of and feel when I read this book. I think her voice would move my students more than my voice ever could while reading this story. This story derserves a voice like hers to read it.

Debby - Great idea. This is a book that when read aloud, should never be hurried. It must be read with passion.

Awesome idea Jennifer!  Can you email storyline with ideas?  That would be the absolute perfect voice for this book.  Maybe even a combination with Morgan Freeman as God.  (Maybe that's a little much but you have me really excited with this idea) (Ashley M)

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The word that comes to my mind when I read this story is powerful. That is one of the most moving books that I have read. I read this bI look to my students and one of them pointed out that God's words were written bigger because God is bigger than us. I thought that was very insightful and it brought a whole new meaning to the book for me. I think the illustrations coupled with the text bring the book to life. Neither can survive alone without the other. I think that it was a very emotional book and the illustrations really help children understand and see the emotion. They can see the pain and determination in her face.

Heather,

After reading your post about how God's words were bigger, I just had to go back through the book again to see that. That is awesome that a student recognized that and made that correlation. It brought the meaning to a deeper level for me as well. My students picked up on the way each person's words were separated and different, but they didn't go as deep as your student. ---Jennifer

Heather I had the same word come to me after I read it. I read this book aloud to my kids and then let them post their thoughts of the book on a padlet. It was really neat to see their connections that they made. The background of my padlet I used the star wallpaper and one girl wrote that the reason the background was stars for the padlet was because Harriet talks to the stars/God. Children are very intuitive and pick up on a lot. There was no particular reason I chose stars, I just kind of did. I thought it was neat that she made that connection-Kayla S.

Heather,

My students also made the connection to the bigger words being from God.   I was amazed how how quiet they sat and listened and discussed this story.  On the very first page they were very quick to predict that she was praying in the illustration.  They also very quickly pointed out that Moses was in the Bible.

Lisa

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I read this book to my students today. I teach First Grade. I had to explain a lot as we went and the concept of God talking back to Harriet was very confusing. The kids loved the illustrations. They thought they were "almost photographs".

Elisabeth- Great Job on the page. A lot of great information.

M- Thank you! There is tons of great stuff out there about HT, I just wanted to give you all the best "kid-friendly" stuff I found. I can see how your firsties would need lots of explanation about the God character. The children never "see" him in the book, and CBW never writes anything like, " 'God said, '...'". -Elisabeth

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Growing up near where Harriet Tubman spent

her years as a free woman, I was always fascinated

by the Underground Railroad, so much so that I wrote

a paper about her in high school. She was an amazing woman.

This book shows the struggle she had--both external and internal.

The illustrations fit perfectly, like Rena said about the video-Nelson

wanted to make an impact, yet still make the book readable by

young children. I think that he accomplished this.

I agree with you Kristin!  My students seemed very touched and

amazed by what Kadir Nelson had done with his illustrations.--Hannah Andrews

K- great mention of both her internal and external struggles. Most of the time we focus on her external struggle of slavery, but her internal struggle is something new in children's lit. -Elisabeth

Kristin-- I agree with you that the book does a beautiful job showing external and internal struggles. My student's were fascinated by her bravery.  Thy were amazed that she went back. ----Brittany

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Eric Bibb sings the Af-Am spiritual song that was supposedly used by an Underground Railroad operative to encode escape instructions and a map. The word "gourd" refers to a hollowed out gourd many used as a water dipper. The "Drinking Gourd" is then code for "The Big Dipper", the constellation which led slaves North. -Elisabeth

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-Elisabeth

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Meet your most important ELA objectives with Scope's engaging multi-genre content, rich skill-building support material, and thrilling videos.

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Fantastic Teacher Guide provided by teachingbooks.net -Elisabeth

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Listen to CBW discuss her background and books. -EB

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N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources

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Her People to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford

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N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources

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2010 N.C. Award Winner -- Carole Boston Weatherford

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Frederick Douglass, the subject of one of Carole Boston Weatherford's many books, could have been describing her work when he wrote, "Once you learn to read, you will be forever free." Writing fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for juvenile audiences, she has published 40 books since 1995.

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-Elisabeth

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Harriet Tubman: abolitionist, spy, cook, rapper(?)

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Harriet Tubman: abolitionist, spy, cook, rapper(?)

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I only had 2 options: Die or Be Free.

Watch this awesome video from Flocabulary. Click the link, then click the purple "SOURCE" button at the bottom of your screen so your image isn't cut off.
-Elisabeth

Thanks for this awesome resource.  I have never heard of Flocabulary.  Interesting.  (Ashley M)

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Civil War - Harriet Tubman - Abraham Lincoln - Flocabulary

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Learn key facts about the American Civil War with Flocabulary's educational rap song and lesson plan.

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1820- March 10, 1913

-Elisabeth

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-Elisabeth

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Desmond Tutu- Modern Day Civil Rights in S. Africa

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Desmond Tutu- Modern Day Civil Rights in S. Africa

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....where they will know people will count not because of their biological irrelevancies. They will count because each one of them is created in the image of God.

Watch this video of The Most Reverend Desmond Tutu's speech about a free and democratic South Africa. Like HT, Bishop Tutu fought to free S. African's from apartheid. The Nobel Peace Prize winner continues to advocate for human rights and against sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, and wrongful imprisonment. This speech was given at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

-Elisabeth

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Was the Civil War really about slavery? Or states' rights?
And if we allow the authors of our history to document that this war was indeed over states' rights, what does that say about our countryman's bigotry (if they truly weren't fighting for human rights...)? -Elisabeth

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Slavery or States Rights- The Causes of the Civil War