Moses

Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom

Author Carole Boston Weatherford

Illustrator Kadir Nelson

Publisher: Jump at the Sun/ Hyperion Books for Children

Copyright 2006

38 Pages

Historical Fiction

            I chose to read this book because of the unusual title and Mrs. Strain recommended that as future teachers, we should read this book. Moses is about Harriet Tubman and her journey into freedom and the Underground Railroad. The book introduces the concept of slavery and what it meant to people in the 1619 to 1861 in the forward of the book. Then the book depicts Harriet Tubman and her longing to be free and safe. Harriet prays to God and God leads Harriet to her freedom. Through the journey Harriet faces many trails and is even forced to hide in a potato hole for days. Finally with the help from God Harriet reaches freedom in Philadelphia; however, she is then faced with a longing to free her family that she left behind in slavery. Harriet journeys back to her old home of slavery to free her family as well as many others who are willing to take the risk of getting caught. The book ends with a note from the author that describes the true story of Harriet Tubman and how many lives she effected by helping to free slaves and how she was referred to as a “Moses of her people”.

            The illustrator of Moses chose to include many details throughout the book and use many different colors. The illustrator detailed every object in the illustrations from the veins in Harriet’s hands to the grass, tree leaves, and the horse’s mane. The colors that were used are rich, have deep hues, and are very intense. The readers of Moses can almost feel Harriet Tubman’s emotions by simply looking at the illustrations. The mediums that the illustrator used seem to be oil paintings and acrylic paintings. The illustrator really captures the feelings of the book and transports the reader into the life of Harriet Tubman and the race against slavery.

            This book is appropriate for older children that are interested in studying history and slavery. Most younger children would enjoy the detailed illustrations; however, they may not understand the story or the concept. Most teachers could use this book in their classroom to introduce Harriet Tubman and her role in the Underground Railroad, the concept of slavery, or the Underground Railroad and how it affected slavery. This book is a Caldecott Honor Book and received the Coretta Scott King Award.