Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad, by Ellen Levine, illustrated by Kadir Nelson, Scholastic Press, New York, 2007. Caldecott Honor Book.
This is a fascinating and beautifully illustrated telling of the story of Henry Box Brown. He is the man who sent himself to freedom. This was not without risk. Even though they had painted "This side up" on the box, people did not always looking at the writing, and he suffered a bad time being upside down with the blood rushing to his head.
The book also explores his reason for escaping to freedom. He was motivated by the loss of his wife and children. Although he had been allowed to marry, his wife belonged to someone else, and she and the children were sold. He watched helplessly as the took them away. I want my children and grandchildren to know that people had to struggle for freedom in our country, and that others were willing to sacrifice to help them in this pursuit.
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