Box: Henry Brown Mails Himself to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford and Michele Wood - ADVISABLE

Box: Henry Brown Mails Himself to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Michele Wood PICTURE BOOK, BIOGRAPHY Candlewick, 2020. $18. 9780763691561 

Violence: PG (Descriptions of brutality toward slaves) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL;  EL , MS - ADVISABLE  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Born into slavery in 1815, Henry Brown worked for his master's son in a tobacco factory. But his wife and children are also enslaved, but to different masters, and Henry struggles. Occasionally paying a price to keep them close, Henry eventually sees them sold away further south. Henry puts together a plan to escape, which involves shipping himself in a box to an abolitionist in Philadelphia. 

Poetic vignettes recall not only Henry Brown's story, but the 19th century slave experience. Expressive illustrations on every page help tell the story as well. Because some of the text addresses abuse and violence, I would consider this more appropriate for older elementary and middle school.

Lisa Librarian