Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom Reader Response

A. Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom
B. Carole Boston Weatherford
C. Kadir Nelson
D. Jump at the Sun/ Hyperion Books for Children, 2006
E. Picture book, historical fiction
F. 3-6
G. This book tells the story of Harriet Tubman as she is a slave and then the greatest Underground Railroad conductor in history. The story begins with Harriet on her plantation talking to God and asking him to make her free. With God's strength, she leaves her plantation and makes the ninety-mile journey north to Pennsylvania where she is free. There, she works to make money and she learns the secret routes and code words used along the Underground Railroad and thus becomes a conductor. She goes South many times and frees over 300 slaves, including her own parents.

H. I love this book. It is so inspirational. It was also very heartwarming and uplifting to hear a story about a real person who overcame such incredible odds to save herself and others from something so horrible. My favorite thing about this book is the attention to Harriet Tubman's religion. In the world now, it is almost taboo to publish literature laced with religious undertones, much less overflowing the pages, as this book is. But religion exists and it is nothing to be ashamed of.
As far as picture books go, this one takes the cake. The text and the pictures are so intricately connected that they seems as if they are the same thing. The words give facts and a bit of emotion but to truly understand and feel how Harriet felt, the reader must look at the illustrations which are beautifully executed oil paintings. The double page spreads express everything that words cannot. The dark colors and lines on Harriet's face teem with worry, doubt, and the looming presence of danger. Once Harriet has made her way to freedom, the pictures become lighter, as does the expression on her face, although she still carries the ever-present look of determination. It's almost hard for me to call this a picture book, it seems more to me like a work of art, both in terms of illustration and in text.
The forward and author's note provide some great background information about Harriet herself, and about slavery and the Underground Railroad to provide the reader with a context for the story. The added information makes the story much more incredible and fascinating. It was great to see a story about Harriet Tubman that took into account the way she must have felt escaping instead of just giving facts about all the people she freed.

I. This book is a great way to teach about slavery, the Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman, and many character lessons. With younger students, I would teach all about slavery and the Underground Railroad, but I would also use this as a chance for them to talk about a time when they were really scared or were afraid. Then we could talk about ways to overcome the fear and have perseverance to do whatever it is that they are afraid of doing.

*Caldecott Honor book*
*Multicultural*