William Still and His Freedom Stories

The Father of the Underground Railroad

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Pub Date 03 Nov 2020 | Archive Date 26 Apr 2021

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Description

From award-winning author-illustrator Don Tate comes a remarkable picture book biography of William Still, known as Father of the Underground Railroad.

William Still's parents escaped slavery but had to leave two of their children behind, a tragedy that haunted the family. As a young man, William went to work for the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society, where he raised money, planned rescues, and helped freedom seekers who had traveled north. One day, a strangely familiar man came into William's office, searching for information about his long-lost family. Could it be?

Motivated by his own family's experience, William Still began collecting the stories of thousands of other freedom seekers. As a result, he was able to reunite other families and build a remarkable source of information, including encounters with Harriet Tubman, Henry "Box" Brown, and William and Ellen Craft.

Award-winning author-illustrator Don Tate brings to life the incredible, true story of William Still, a man who dedicated his life to recording the stories of enslaved people fleeing to freedom. Tate's powerful words and artwork are sure to inspire young readers in this first-ever picture book biography of the Father of the Underground Railroad.
From award-winning author-illustrator Don Tate comes a remarkable picture book biography of William Still, known as Father of the Underground Railroad.

William Still's parents escaped slavery but had...

Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781561459353
PRICE $18.99 (USD)

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Average rating from 35 members


Featured Reviews

This picture book biography shares the little-known story of William Still, a man who was involved in the a variety of abolitionist activities, was a key player in the Underground Railroad, and kept written records to help reunite families. He was also a successful entrepreneur, and this brief book gives readers a glimpse into his historical context, family history, and personal accomplishments.

This is a great book for both children and adults. It is deeply inspiring, even while it is honest and direct about the horrors of slavery and racism, and because the author provides detailed context for events instead of assuming that a reader already understands them, this is a great option for young readers who are only just beginning to learn about slavery. The author's note also provides additional details for older readers, or for parents and children to read and discuss together.

There are only two things that I wish had been different. One is that even though the author mentions William Still's lost brothers several times, he never resolves the loose end regarding one of them. Even if the family never found out what happened to him, I wish that this came up in the book or in the author's note, just so that the open question would be resolved. Also, the prose is sometimes split up on the page in a way that I personally think isn't ideal for the rhythm. However, that is just my preference, and other readers may feel differently.

This is a great resource about a little-known historical figure, and it also raises important questions about which other black leaders history has forgotten. The author explains that even though the Underground Railroad was a joint, cooperative effort between black and white people, subsequent histories centralized white contributions without acknowledging many of the black heroes who pioneered in these efforts. This book can be a great launching point for more reading and discovery.

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Fantastic! The information in this book is meaningful and rich. It tells the story in a way easy for kids and parents to read and talk about. I had learned about the underground railroad when i was young but this gave even more understand to it as well. William Still is inspirational and it is important to keep telling this story as well as it being relavent to issues today. I also loved the illustrations. They added extra interest.

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This is another outstanding picture book about black history and I can’t recommend it highly enough. It’s packed full of facts that can be used to educate older children without them becoming bored. The illustrations are vibrant and perfect for the story. I look forward to more from this author.

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William Tate's life and work has found an ideal narrator/illustrator in the capable artistry of Don Tate. His balance of artwork and narrative in support of an important yet not currently well known figure in American history sets a standard for non-fiction. He has created a highly readable book that draws the reader in with the artwork and moves him or her through the difficulties faced by Still and his family. Tate sets out to improve the historical record of how the work of African Americans drove the Underground Railroad "full steam North" and he does so with a book that is a rewarding reading experience.

Tate's artwork has a quiet beauty--with a muted palette and subtle details he is able to fully realize scenes that support and expand the narrative. The layout of the text and images creates a tapestry of the small and large events that shaped William Still's life and his work. The quality of the artwork competes only with Tate's poetic turns of phrase and his writerly craft with short sentences. The clear writing will no doubt help readers process the difficult history and leave them in a place to explore their own thoughts. The timeline and bibliography are excellent places for readers to continue learning.

This book will be an excellent library and classroom asset.

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