These 16 childrens books about the underground railroad will help your children learn more about this important movement in history. The girl is helping her mother with the daily chores that goes with running a farm exp. Books that feature quilts as guides for slaves making their way north to freedom include aunt harriets underground railroad quilt in the sky by faith ringgold, sweet clara and the freedom quilt by deborah hopkinson, the patchwork path. Book aunt harriets underground railroad in the sky by. It was a name given to the way that people escaped. Explore how harriet tubman went from being a slave on a plantation in maryland to one of the most important figures in american history. She loves reading, crochet, and enjoying her family and friends. A reverent retelling of harriet tubmans brave work on the underground railroad, written by carole boston weatherford with luminous illustrations by kadir nelson. Learn about harriet tubman in this biography video for kids. Notable childrens books of 19401970, american library association. A story from the underground railroad by henry cole.
This book is best for kids reading at a third grade level or higher. To help you find the right books for you and your young reader, weve compiled a list of the best kids books about the underground railroad. Narrative nonfiction picture books glatzer, jenna, glenn, ebony on. Its for my daughter who is finishing fourth grade, but im happy to have titles for older childrenyoung adults as well.
Sadie, the youngest crosswhite, shuddered when she saw the paddy rollers thunder into the slave yard on their horses, draggin a runaway on the end of a rope behind them. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. The story begins with confederate soldiers marching through a girls farmland. The underground railroad by colson whitehead, the last runaway by tracy chevalier, unspoken. By ones, twos, and threes, in the years before the civil war thousands of enslaved people slipped through the night on their way to freedom, riding the underground railroad. Sweet clara and the freedom quilt this 1995 classic is a fictional story of a seamstress who helps fellow enslaved people find freedom on the underground railroad using a quilt. Stories from the underground railroad had long been relegated to nonfiction or the broad and.
Jan 3, 2018 a collection of children s books to support the underground railroad documentary, dawn of day, produced by kansas state universitys college of education. One of the most obvious themes is that of survival. Before we get to the book club questions, lets talk about some prominent themes in the underground railroad. I read this as one of six books chosen by the childrens books groups picture books club for its february theme of black history month. She helped rescue over 300 people from slavery through the underground railroad. Its the true story of henry box brown, a man who mailed himself to freedom, to a. The story of the underground railroad coloring book. Below are more than 60 books we recommend for the classroom and as background reading for parents and teachers on the history of slavery and resistance in the united states. Childrens literature has many notable options when it comes to the underground railroad. The sources i drew from were those generally available to the public, primarily general interest books on the underground railroad. The underground railroad for kids is an inspiring story of brave people compelled to act in the face of injustice, risking their livelihoods, their families, and their lives in the name of freedom. This book features interesting facts, lots of illustrations, maps, and profiles of those who made the journey.
Fortyfour dramatically illustrated scenes tell the story of the secret network that took runaway slaves from southern states to the north and canada between 1830 and 1860. Reading out loud two childrens books on the subject of the underground railroad that slaves traveled to freedom from the southern united states through to. From the creators of voices from the oregon trail and colonial voices, an unflinching story of two young runaway slaves on the underground railroad, told in their voices and those who helped and hindered them its the 1850s and enslaved siblings jeb and mattie are about the make a break for freedom. A story from the underground railroad is a wordless picture book by henry cole. An underground railroad story by cari meister adapter, robert squier illustrator follow the drinking gourd is an american folk song from the 1920s. Africanamerican, slavery, fugitives, underground railroad, freedom. Books for kids about the underground railroad scholastic.
Underground railroad childrens book collection discover. Aunt harriets underground railroad in the sky ringgold, faith on. Including real stories about passengers on the railroad, this book chronicles slaves close calls with bounty hunters, exhausting. If you enjoyed this list of books about the underground railroad, youll love our newsletter. Books and authors top teaching blog teachers tool kit student activities. Underground railroad book list scholastic books for kids. I would love suggestions of books picture books and chapter books for a study of the underground railroad. The underground railroad is the topic of too many childrens books this fall north by night by katherine ayres, bright freedoms song by gloria houston, and the last safe house by barbara greenwood, but woodruffs poignant story manages to stand on its own and hold some ground, though not as powerful as ayress north by night. Books for kids underground railroad barbara lowell. A time line, reading list, glossary, and listing of web sites for further exploration complete this activity book. It was a network of people who provided shelter and supplies to slaves trying to es. Get 10% off your first order at the scholastic store online when you sign up. Shocking views of slave pens, below decks aboard a slave ship, methods of punishing runaway slaves, refugees arriving at a safe house, and more. Too often, the underground railroad stories are of heroic whites rescuing helpless blacks.
Jan 3, 2018 a collection of childrens books to support the underground railroad documentary, dawn of day, produced by kansas state universitys college of education. Receive book suggestions, reading tips, educational activities, and great deals. A new york times best illustrated book designed to present youngsters with a moral choice. Black pencil illustrations on buffcolored pages detail a wordless story set during the civil war. Follow the drinking gourd childrens books read aloud. Hidden and hunted, the escape of southern slaves to the north remains a compelling event in american history. Soon afterward, clara learns about maps and the underground railroad. The underground railroad quilt code in childrens books. A quilt with the north star pattern hung on a rail fence comprises the opening page spread, which is followed by a scene showing confederate soldiers riding across a field bordering. The underground railroad was not literally a railroad underground. With thousands of childrens books, audiobooks, and videos, there is no limit to what children can learn and explore. I was especially moved by the photos of harriet tubman. The childrens book experts this list of the best kids books about slavery is sure to include a. This book is better because it shows the active resisance of blacks to their captivity.
By deborah hopkinson, illustrated by james ransome the snowy day the snowy day was one of the first childrens books to focus on a noncaricatured african. When wgn americas drama underground debuted last winter, it seemed like a cultural outlier. See more ideas about underground railroad, childrens books and books. Books about slavery picture books hopkinson, deborah. A quilt map to freedom by bettye stroud, under the quilt of dark by deborah hopkinson, the secret to. Voices from the underground railroad by kay winters. Picture books are generally great options for toddlers and. No one is sure where it originally got its name, but the underground part of the name comes from its secrecy and the railroad part of the name comes from the way it was used to transport people. In this video we discuss the underground railroad and its most critical stop in the city of niagara falls new york. Clara is taught to sew by another slave on the plantation so that she can work in the big house instead of in the fields. Harriet tubman bravely used the underground railroad. The story of a conductor on the underground railroad encounter.