The Underground Railroad for Kids: From Slavery to Freedom with 21 Activities

by Mary Kay Carson

Overview

The heroic struggles of the thousands of slaves who sought freedom through the Underground Railroad are vividly portrayed in this powerful activity book, as are the abolitionists, free blacks, and former slaves who helped them along the way. The text includes 80 compelling firsthand narratives from escaped slaves and abolitionists and 30 biographies of "passengers," "conductors," and "stationmasters," such as Harriet Tubman, William Still, and Levi and Catherine Coffin. Interactive activities that teach readers how to navigate by the North Star, write and decode a secret message, and build a simple lantern bring the period to life. A time line, reading list, glossary, and listing of web sites for further exploration complete this activity book. The Underground Railroad for Kids is an inspiring story of brave people compelled to act in the face of injustice, risking their livelihoods, their families, and their lives in the name of freedom.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781556525544
Publisher:	Chicago Review Press, Incorporated
Publication date:	01/01/2005
Series:	Chicago Review Press For Kids Series , #3
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	11.00(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Mary Kay Carson has written more than 15 nonfiction books for children, including The Wright Brothers for Kids, Easy Science Activity Journals, and Space. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Editorial Reviews

"Puts this tragic period of American history in age-appropriate terms without glossing over important details." —Cincinnati Magazine



"Fascinating . . . the latest book from an excellent paperback series that mixes history with craft . . . to bring the past to life." —The Buffalo News



"Carson's well-written text gives the background of the movement that led to freedom for thousands of African Americans."  —The Miami Herald



"It skillfully uses maps, photos, drawings and replicas of documents." —Dallas Morning News



"A complete historical overview of this dark period in American history."  —Peoria Journal Star



"Offers children a way to understand the difficult topic of slavery."  —Learning Magazine

From the Publisher

"Offers children a way to understand the difficult topic of slavery."

Learning Magazine

Gr 5-9-Beginning with a time line that traces the history of slavery in America, this thorough overview includes a narrative history, many quotes from primary sources, archival drawings and photographs, and 21 related projects. The main text is printed in black ink; quotations from historical sources are printed in sepia, as are the illustrations. Brief biographies are provided for famous conductors such as Harriet Tubman, and the many stationmasters, brakemen, and courageous African-American and white individuals who served as guides. The volume is densely packed with information. Occasionally the material introduced in the text is repeated in the sidebars. The activities seem geared to a younger audience than the one to which the rest of the book is addressed and are in some cases simplistic and potentially offensive. For example, dressing up like Seminoles or tying up one's passion in a cloth sack or wearing a disguise seem to trivialize rather than enhance the experiences that are described. Some of the projects may be used by a perceptive and sensitive teacher to spark meaningful discussion, but for the general nonfiction shelves, this is not a first purchase. Try James Haskins's Following Freedom's Star (Marshall Cavendish, 2001) instead.-Kathryn Kosiorek, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Brooklyn, OH Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

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