Children’s Books for African American History Month
The Escape of Oney Judge: Martha Washington’s Slave Finds Freedom
by Emily Arnold McCully
($16.00)
Dubbed as “Gutsy—and very nicely done,” in a starred review from Kirkus Reviews, this is the first picture book to tell the true story of the courageous Oney Judge, a young slave who took great risks to flee servitude to President George and Martha Washingtons and have a free life in New Hampshire. Booklist also gave the title a star. Emily Arnold McCully has written and illustrated many children’s books, including Mirette on the High Wire, a Caldecott Medal Book, and Squirrel and John Muir, an NCSS-CBC Notable Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies. (Ages 6 up, February 2007)
The Story of Jonas
by Maurine F. Dahlberg
($16.00)
In this historical novel set in 1858, young Jonas, a slave, travels to the Kansas Territory with his spiteful master and comes to understand that he is worthy of freedom. Booklist said the book has, “The ability to let readers feel the essential cruelty of slavery without scenes of excessive brutality [making] this well-crafted, engaging novel appropriate for a middle-grade audience.” (Ages 8–12, April 2007)
