Book Review #4: "Moses"

Weatherford, Carole Boston. Illustrated by Kadir Nelson Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom. New York: Hyperion Books for Children

Moses tells the amazing story of Harriet Tubman, the founder and orchestrator of the Underground Railroad, a pathway that led slaves to freedom. Throughout the book, Tubman converses with God and asks him for guidance and strength to finish her journey. She continuously faces obstacles in her travels but eventually makes it to Philadelphia and returns to the South frequently to help free other slaves.

The book does a great job of fleshing out a story that so many children are familiar with. This story is such an important one in the Black community and Weatherford seems to handle it in just that manner. Weatherford explores Tubman's spiritual side in a way in that children can understand and relate to. The issue of slavery is not a major focus but is presented in a manner that children can understand the effects of it. The different fonts in the book signify the differences in narrative, Tubman's voice, and God's voice. This makes the story easier to follow for the reader and also gives readers the sense of unsureness of Tubman and the power of God.

The illustrations are very powerful and engaging. The scenes where Tubman runs through the woods show the fear that this journey was filled with. Nelson does a great job of showing pain, triumph, and strength through Tubman's facial expressions. The colors and expressions throughout the book match well with the story and its message. This is one of my favorite picture books for both its content and illustrations.