An award-winning author and illustrator join forces in a stirring and emotional rich telling of Henry “Box” Brown’s famed escape from slavery—a feat he achieved by mailing himself to freedom.  This nonfiction picture book is an excellent choice to share during homeschooling, in particular for children ages 6 to 8. It’s a fun way to learn to read and as a supplement for activity books for children. Honoring Henry’s determination and courage, Sibert Medal–winning author Sally M. Walker weaves a lyrical, moving story of the human spirit. And in nuanced illustrations, Sean Qualls captures the moments of strength, despair, and gratitude that highlight the remarkable story of a man determined to be free. Much admired for her well-researched history and science nonfiction titles, Walker here explores the life of a slave who famously made his escape to freedom by squeezing into a crate bound for Philadelphia. As revealed in the author’s note, Walker was intrigued by the role song played in Brown’s life, and her affecting, homespun narrative imagines how singing helped him endure extreme hardship: “As Henry worked ’neath Virginia’s hot sun, he sang his workday song. Its lift, tote, toss-the-sack words sent strength to his arms.” Like Ellen Levine’s Henry’s Freedom Box (2007), Walker’s text touches on Brown’s childhood and his heartrending separation from his wife and children, but much of the book is devoted to the claustrophobia-inducing details of the slave’s incredible escape. Qualls’ acrylic, pencil, and collage artwork, featuring a somber palette of black, brown, and blue, is particularly well suited to the subject, and the dynamically composed illustrations ratchet up the drama of this heroic tale. Grades 1-3. --Kristen McKulski Poetic - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review) Qualls’s primitive-style collage illustrations strongly convey the depth of Brown’s emotions. - School Library Journal (starred review) Henry "Box" Brown's ingenious escape from slavery is celebrated for its daring and originality. Throughout his life, Henry was fortified by music, family, and a dream of freedom. When he seemed to lose everything, he forged these elements into the song that sustained him through the careful planning and execution of his perilous journey to the North. Honoring Henry's determination and courage, Sibert Medal-winning author Sally M. Walker weaves a lyrical, moving story of the human spirit. And in nuanced illustrations, Sean Qualls captures the moments of strength, despair, and gratitude that highlight the remarkable story of a man determined to be free. --Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred review) Henry “Box” Brown’s ingenious escape from slavery is celebrated for its daring and originality. Throughout his life, Henry was fortified by music, family, and a dream of freedom. When he seemed to lose everything, he forged these elements into the song that sustained him through the careful planning and execution of his perilous journey to the North. Honoring Henry’s determination and courage, Sibert Medal–winning author Sally M. Walker weaves a lyrical, moving story of the human spirit. And in nuanced illustrations, Sean Qualls captures the moments of strength, despair, and gratitude that highlight the remarkable story of a man determined to be free. Sally M. Walker’s many award-winning books bring history and science alive for young readers. Her books include the Robert F. Sibert Medal winner Secrets Of A Civil War Submarine: Solving the Mysteries of the H. L. Hunley and the Revolutionary War story The 18 Penny Goose (an I Can Read Book). Ms. Walker lives in DeKalb, Illinois. Sean Qualls is a Brooklyn-based artist, illustrator, and author. His work is a mixed-media combination of painting, drawing, and collage. He is the author and illustrator of Fros, Fades, and Braids but has illustrated many picture books, including The Idea in You by Questlove; Before John Was a Jazz Giant , which received a Coretta Scott King Honor; The Poet Slave of Cuba , a Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books Blue Ribbon book; Dizzy , an ALA Booklist Notable Book and a Kirkus Reviews , School Library Journal , and Child magazine best book as well as a Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books Blue Ribbon book and an ALA Booklist Editors’ Choice; and Emmanuel’s Dream , which was a Schneider Award winner and an Amazon Best Book of the Month. You can find him occasionally DJing in and around New York City. Visit him at seanqualls.com.