Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom #34
Carole Boston Weatherford
Kadir Nelson, Illustrator

Weatherford, Carole Boston. (2006). Moses: When Harriet Tubman led her people to freedom. New York: Hyperion.

Awards: Caldecott Honor
Coretta Scott King Award

Grade Level: 1-4

Genre: Historical Fiction

Content Area: Social Studies

Standards: Determine how democratic principles and values were established and exemplified by people, events, and symbols. (History, Civics)

Author’s Credibility: Carole has written over a dozen children’s books, which have won many awards. Her books include: The Sound That Jazz Makes won the Carter G. Woodson National Council of Social Studies and Remember the Bridge: Poems of a People won the Juvenile Literature Award.

Access Features: Foreword gives background about slavery. Author’s note gives background about Harriet Tubman’s life.

Summary: Harriet has had about all she can take of slavery. She does not want to be a slave any longer. She decides to run away from slavery. She is not sure of her decision and relies solely upon God for his guidance and strength. When she makes it to freedom, she knows that it was only through God's help that she made it. In her appreciation for his guidance, promise to help bring more people to freedom.

Illustrations: Big, bold, and dark to emphasize the threats of slavery. Full-page illustrations capture the strength and humbleness of Harriet.

Voice: Strong, poetic

Tone: Conversational

Text Structure: Problem/Solution

Response: I love it! The illustrations are so powerful and the conversation with God is too much. I wonder where did she get the courage to free, not only herself, but also all the others. I am definitely going to use this book with my soon after school begins. I want them to her story about not giving up and hopeful they want give up.

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