Henry's Freedom Box

February is Black History month and each year we choose books related to slavery and the civil rights movement. This year we chose this wonderful picture book called Henry's Freedom Box. This is an amazing story of a slave named Henry. Henry devised a plan to mail himself to freedom. He purchased a crate and arranged to mail himself from Virginia to an abolitionist in Pennsylvania. Henry traveled inside this crate for 27 hours. He was transported by wagon, railroad and steamboat and often the crate was place upside down making an uncomfortable journey unbearable. Henry's hope for freedom gave him the strength to remain still inside that crate and Henry did make it to freedom and he became known as Henry "Box" Brown.

This book is based on a true story of the underground railroad. The story of Henry "Box" Brown can also be found in The Underground Railroad by William Still.

Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine