Henry Brown by Ellen Levine is the profound story of a man born into slavery who packaged and mailed himself to liberty. Henry Brown lived in Civil War times and lived in Richmond, Virginia. This book begins with young Henry being moved from his family when his kind master dies and sends him to work for his unkind son. He is great at his job of working with tobacco but his facial expressions and posture speak of his sorrow. After seasons of loneliness he meets and marries young Nancy and begins his family. Henry is overcome with anguish when appalling slavery once again separates him from the ones he loves. He decides to find a way to travel from Richmond, Virginia to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where there is freedom. He exhibits bravery, determination and leadership as he travels in a wooden box transported by a horse-drawn cart, steamboat and train. He goes down in history as a change agent as this box is delivered to his doctor friend’s connection in Philadelphia. His date of freedom and liberty is March 30, 1849. Kadir Nelson uses piercing and real life looking portraits to beautifully illustrate this story. With vividly shaded pencil drawings and vibrant use of watercolor and oil, Mr. Nelson created detailed drawings of Henry, other characters, and the surroundings found in the mid 1800’s. Young readers will feel compelled to join in the story and experience Henry’s feelings and emotions as he matures through the unimaginable hardship and grief of slavery and social injustice. In the beginning of the story the reader feels heartache for young Henry’s plight as he is separated from his mother and moves from the covering of his kind master. Later, the reader celebrates with Henry when he falls in love and begins his family. The story has a heart wrenching moment when Henry is torn from his family. Mr. Nelson portrays in detail the despair and grief Henry feels as his family rides off without him. Nelson shows Henry’s tortured thoughts and gives vivid cutaway imagery to illustrate him placed upside down in his confined box for his journey Philadelphia. The last page shows a thankful Henry coming out of the box and being welcomed with looks of kindness and warmth as he begins his life of freedom. This book is a wonderful addition to the classroom library and is a MUST read aloud in the elementary classroom. This book is profound and meaningful and will engage all students and provide the readers with the authentic perspective of Henry. Children will fall in love with this character and hope for justice to prevail and for Henry to find a way out of his grim circumstances. While reading this story with students, powerful discussions about Henry and his family’s perspective and emotions can take place.

Culturally authentic books have been used for years to develop positive cross-cultural attitudes. It is important for young learners to feel appreciated in school, and including members of their group through literature that represents their perspectives accurately will help achieve this goal. Knowledge of the contributions of one’s culture group will enhance one’s self esteem (Bennett, Russell.) Culturally authentic children’s biographies can help acquire this knowledge and are important to all students (Morgan.)

Other works of literature can be added to the classroom’s study on diversity and different perspectives and cultures. “Aunt Harriet’s Underground Railroad in the Sky” by Faith Ringgold, “If You Traveled on the Underground Railroad” by Ellen Levine and “The Bus Ride that Changed History” by Pamela Duncan Edwards are other great books to use with this book.

These types of stories represent the views and perspectives of minority group members. This is important because a biography is not authentic if authors do not express an “insider’s” perspective of the culture they are portraying. (Morgan)