Genre: Picture Books_Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom by Carole Weatherford

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Weatherford, Carole B. 2006. MOSES WHEN HARRIET TUBMAN LED HER PEOPLE TO FREEDOM. Ill. by Kadir Nelson. New York: Jump at the Sun. ISBN 9780316013567.

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Born into slavery and contending with the idea of being sold to another master, Harriet Tubman plans her escape, but not without first consulting with God. Without telling anyone, she leaves the plantation, along with her husband and family, in the dead of night. Her arduous journey is guided by her faith in God. Trusting in His signs, she makes it to safety. However, she is alone and misses her family. A new faith-filled journey takes her back South to help her family and many other slaves escape.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The Foreword provides concise, yet relevant information about slavery. This story and the illustrations are masterpieces. Weatherford takes a historical figure and her struggles during a period in slavery and turns it into poetry. I found Kadir Nelson’s illustrations to compliment the text throughout the book. When Harriet kneels down to speak with God in the field, you see a calm but desperate plea in her eyes. Nelson’s depiction of hardship is visible as the morning sun strikes on Harriet and fellow slaves. Harriet’s face displays fear and caution as she treads across water. In another illustration, you see her exhaustion as she lies asleep in the grassy woods. In addition, Nelson’s color choices are imposing. The different shades of blue give a sense of a cool, calm, nights filled with secrecy. The hues of browns and yellows produce sensations of heat and thirst. Regardless of the text or illustrations, both are mesmerizing. Weatherford brings this story full-circle by including factual information about Harriet Tubman in her Author’s Note, which is located on the last page of the book.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Caldecott Honor Book
Starred review in Publisher's Weekly: “In this gorgeous, poetic picture book, Weatherford…depicts Harriet Tubman's initial escape from slavery and her mission to lead others to freedom as divinely inspired, and achieved by steadfast faith and prayer.”
Starred review in Kirkus: “Larger, italic type telegraphs the devout Harriet's prayerful dialogue with God: "Shall I leap, Lord?"
Star reviewed in Booklist: “There's no romanticism: the pictures are dark, dramatic, and deeply colored….”
Starred review School Library Journal: “The words and pictures create a potent sense of the harsh life of slavery, the fearsome escape, and one woman’s unwavering belief in God.”
*Starred reviewed in The Horn Book: “Weatherford's poetic telling of Harriet Tubman's role as a conductor on the Underground Railroad combines with Nelson's larger-than-life illustrations to portray the spiritual life of the African American visionary. “

5. CONNECTIONS
*A great book to use during February—Black History Month, or March—Women’s History Month.
*With permission from the publisher, this can be transformed into a Readers Theater script.
*Additional book related to Harriet Tubman:
Schroeder, Allan. MINTY A STORY OF YOUNG HARRIET TUBMAN. Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. ISBN 0803718888