MOSES: WHEN HARRIET TUBMAN LED HER PEOPLE TO FREEDOM

Bibliography

Weatherford, Carole Boston. 2006. MOSES. Ill. by Kadir Nelson. New York: Jump at the Sun. ISBN 0786851759

Plot Summary

Moses is a beautifully illustrated story of the journey Harriet Tubman took as she escaped from slavery and traveled through the Underground Railroad to freedom. After her initial trip, Harriet returns nineteen more times to free over three hundred slaves.

Critical Analysis

This historically accurate account of Harriet Tubman’s journey up north to Philadelphia is both inspirational and breathe taking. After hearing Gods word to escape, Harriet sets out north leaving her family behind. Harriet must face many obstacles along the way, but eventually finds freedom.

The author does a beautiful job describing the conversations that Harriet has with God as she struggles to escape. Throughout the story, Harriet leans on God asking for strength. Font choice is nicely used to show the reader the prayers from Harriet in italics and God’s answers in bold.

Nelson‘s colors selected in the artwork portray the struggles that Harriet goes through along the way, and the detailed images on Harriet’s face display the emotions that she went through during her escape.

Review Excerpts

Corretta Scott King Award-Winner 2007

Caldecott Honor-2007

A New York Times Bestseller

NAACP Image Award

School Library Journal’s starred review: “Tubman's religious faith drives this handsome, poetic account of her escape to freedom and role in the Underground Railroad. The words and pictures create a potent sense of the harsh life of slavery, the fearsome escape, and one woman's unwavering belief in God.”

Booklist: “Weatherford's handsome picture book about Harriet Tubman focuses mostly on Tubman's religious inspiration, with echoes of spirituals ringing throughout the spare poetry about her struggle ("Lord, don't let nobody turn me 'round").”

Connections

After reading several books about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad, students could write a diary entry from one day on her journey. Students could also write and present a readers theater of the Underground Railroad.

Levine, Ellen and Larry Johnson. If You Traveled on the Underground Railroad ISBN 0590451561

Bial, Raymond. The Underground Railroad ISBN 0395979153

Ringgold, Faith. Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky ISBN 0517885433