Text Set

I am assigned to the book, Henry’s Freedom Box for my literature circle project. This book is about an African American man who is a slave and decides to put himself in a box and get mailed to Pennsylvania to become free. Therefore, all the books I found are based on African American slaves trying to become free or who have lost their family members during the Civil War. I found my five books for my text set at the Joyner Library. First, I found several books after finding my assigned book on the library’s website page, by a link that takes you to a webpage of similar books to the one just found. I then wrote down multiple fiction books that were similar to Henry’s Freedom Box, and I went to find the books on the shelves in the library. I read through many and found a few fiction books that had very touching stories, amazing illustrations, and familiar authors. After this, I went on a computer in the library and searched for non- fiction books that were about the Underground Railroad. I found a book about the Underground Railroad that had a Coretta Scott King Award. Next, I went to the computer and searched “African American fantasy books” so I could have a variety of different books. I found another Coretta Scott King fantasy book that I really liked as well. All the books I chose for this project have a similar theme of African American slaves trying to escape from slavery, just like in, Henry’s Freedom Box. I chose a variety of genres that include fiction, nonfiction and fantasy books that are for 2nd – 5th students.

1. Underground, (Nonfiction), 2nd Grade

This is a nonfiction book is about the struggles and hardships slaves had to go through before finally becoming free.

Evens, S. W. (2011) Underground. New York, New York: Roaring Book Press

2. Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt, (Fiction) 4th-5th grade

This is a wonderful book about a little African American girl who learned to become a seamstress and make beautiful quits. She used her talent to make a quilt that had a secret map sewed into it that helped some African Americans become free.

Hopkinson, D. (1993) Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt. New York, New

3. Walking Home to Rosie Lee, (Fiction) 3rd- 5th grade

This book is about a sad little boy trying to find his mother, Rosie Lee after they got separated during the Civil War. After the war was over, the determined little boy sets on out a journey to find his mother.

LaFaye, A. (2011). Walking Home to Rosie Lee. El Paso, Texas: Cinco Puntos Press

4. I Want to be Free, (Fiction) 2nd- 3rd grade

This book is about a man who is trying to escape to find freedom. Along the way, he finds a homeless little boy, and they escape to freedom together.

Slate, J. (2009) I Want To Be Free. New York, New York: The Penguin Group

5. The People Could Fly: African American Black (Fantasy) 2nd-4th grade

This is an inspirational book about slaves who heard magic words that were able to help them actually fly away to freedom.

Hamilton, V. (2004) The People Could Fly: African American Folktale. New York, New York: Random House