Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom

Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom
     written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Kadir Nelson
REVIEW

This spiritual interpretation of the  story of Harriet Tubman is in three narrative voices, the narrator (events), Harriet (her prayers and faith), and God (sending strength to continue on). 

The story is told in lyrical text, stylized for each of the voices as they contribute on each page to the overall story.

Included in the author's note at the end of the book are details of the historical events and Harriet Tubman's life that also must be shared to fully appreciate this artistic biography.

Who said E-Everybody (also known as picture books) are only for the very young? Everyone at Bay Farm knows that my favorite section of the library is the Everybody section and this book is a beautiful example of why.

One reading is not enough, multiple readings with discussion is essential. If you don't believe me....take a peak at a book trailer I created  with Michael Jackson's "Will You Be There" as a musical accompaniment.

But that's not the whole story....you have to read it to really know the beauty of this book with the haunting oil paintings of my newest favorite artist Kadir Nelson. He views his work in "Moses" as his most emotional work to date. Each page is a two-page illustration with close-ups for dramatic and emotional effect. The illustrations are dark and moody addressing the topic of running away, the journey at night and the desperation of the task. Kadir was concerned about darkness in a picture book, so he worked hard not to sugarcoat the experience but to also be mindful of the range of age of the reader. He won the Caldecott honor and the Coretta Scott King Illustrator award for this book for this book.


Moses from Roxanne Clement on Vimeo.

ISBN: 078685175-9