James E. RansomeCritiques

This beautiful treasury is one that you will want to have on your bookshelf for years to come. It is divided into two parts: Soul and Heart, with a bridge story about the history of Christmas. Selections include both new stories as well as classics along with spiritual themes. This book takes a look at what makes Christmas special to so many. Also, this compilation of stories, songs and poems focus on the historical significance of this Christian holiday.

The Bottom Line: This Christmas treasury features a little of everything: songs, poems, and stories old and new. With beautiful, seasonal illustrations, this book is sure to be enjoyed by the young and the young at heart. Highly recommended holiday reading throughout the season.

This review also appears at the Mini Book Bytes Book Review Blog.

From Publisher's Weekly: "Bold, painterly spreads by Ransome (Before She Was Harriet) give shape to the lives of an enslaved family whose days are ruled by the overseer’s bell."

An incredibly powerful, encouraging book regarding the many accomplishments of the woman known as Harriet Tubman. Set in a poetic style, the rhymical words help the text flow. The combination of Lesa and James Rasome is a winner! The book begins with Harriet as an old woman "tired and worn her legs stiff her back achy, " and it ends with the same text only the major difference are the additinal words "AND FREE!"

Page by beautiful page, the reader learns of her life and her many accomplishments. She was an incredible woman, and someone to look up to and admire.

Starting with the words "Before she was and old woman she was a suffragist a voice for women who had none. Before she was a suffragist, she was General Tubman as she ferried people to freedom. Before she was General Tubman, she was a Union Spy carrying secrets across battlle field.

Her additional accomplishments affirm her bravery, her courage and her commitment to helping many to freedom. She also was a nurse who helped those who were in need of healing and encouragement. She helped her family members and others flee their master and arrive safely to Canada. Before this, she was Moses and was a conductor on the Underground Railroad. She was a woman of dreams, of belief in God and had strong faith, and as the author notes, she had the courage of a lion!

The author adds that before she was Moses, she carried the name of Minty of Maryland who was beaten, punished for her courage that broke her back, but not her spirit!! Before the name of Minty of Maryland, as a young girl, she was called Araminta who looked to the nightly stars as she prepared to get ready for the day when she could escape.

As she was known for all the above, she then gained the name Harriet, and carrying this name with dreams and courage, she was FREE

This is a book I will keep on my shelves with those that are my favorites. This is the tale of a wonderful, strong- spirited woman who helped many on their journey to freedom from slavery!

Beautifully written and excellentantly illustrated, this book is like none other in outlining all the many accomplishments of one very strong, beautiful woman!

FIVE STARS

A beautiful picture book about the life of Harriet Tubman before she became Harriet. The illustrations are water color like and help keep the story engaging. I love how the author changes the font size and color of newer vocabulary words which makes them easier to go over during a read aloud. This children's book is a great read aloud to all ages, it discusses racism, slavery, and an underlying message of bravery and hope. Before she was Harriet, she was a lot of things. An aunt, a spy, a nurse, a slave. In the end, she gets to look back on her life and realize, after everything she's been through, she's finally free.

A story about a slave family, the brother and his friends escape. Ben was not found, main character believes he is now free. It was confusing for me and I may not share with children. Perhaps I will read again and reconsider.

We know her today as Harriet Tubman, but in her lifetime she was called by many names. As General Tubman she was a Union spy. As Moses she led hundreds to freedom on the Underground Railroad. As Minty she was a slave whose spirit could not be broken. As Araminta she was a young girl whose father showed her the stars and the first steps on the path to freedom. An evocative poem and stunning watercolors come together to honor a woman of humble origins whose courage and compassion make her a larger than life hero.

Audie Award for Young Listeners

Tells the story of Harriet Tubman before she became who we know her as today in reverse order, General Tubman, Moses, Minty and Araminta. Written in poetry shares how Harriet was a Union spy, led hundreds to freedom, an enslaved woman, and a young girl.

In this book we are shown the life of Harriet Tubman before she did what she became historically famous for. She was a suffagist, a general, a spy, and more. She had many important roles and was a natural leader. I enjoyed the poetry style writing in this book as well as the illustrations. I learned a lot about Harriet Tubman that I didn't know before.

Independent Reading Level: Grade 4
Awards: Coretta Scott King Book Awards (2018)

Lovely, contemplative, flowing book that honors the many parts of Harriet Tubman's life and her many names. I love its flowing backward in time. I love its wonderful images. It's almost a teaser, though, since the book just names her many roles and doesn't tell you in depth about any of them. It would be a wonderful jumping off point for a class to discuss.

A wonderful retelling of the story of Harriet Tubman, a truly powerful woman who helped tons of slaves escape captivity.

Before She Was Harriet begins at the end and goes in reverse chronological order, through her many identities and roles: as a suffragist, nurse, general, spy, aunt, and daughter. Written with spare clarity in poetic text and combined with beautiful full-bleed watercolor illustrations, this is a standout picture book biography.

"...who dreamed
of living long enough
to one day
be old
stiff and achy
tired and worn and wrinkled
and free."

Read aloud to four classes of eighth grade students studying the Civil War era and the Underground Railroad, and one class of sixth graders reading and writing biographies, and they were fairly attentive.½

A lyrical biography beginning at the end of Harriet Tubman’s life and traveling back to her girlhood, this book offers a glimpse into a woman who should be known for her many accomplishments and by her different names.

This children's novel is a beautiful depiction of her life and her story. I think that when we look at children's biographies about important historical figures, I think that sometimes they either gloss too much over important details or they dont tell the full story. In thid book, however, they talk about her life, who she was, her name, her different roles in society, and her other--less known--major impacts in American History. The story talks about, in a poetic manner, her different accomplishments and her identity and experience as an African American woman in America. I believe that this novel is perfect in the classroom, and should be implemented in as many as possible. Although serious topics, such as slavery and oppression, are talked about it is not in a manner that is too intense for younger children.

This book is suitable for intermediate students. It is about a slave family who share a very strong family tie. One day, the brother disappears and the family has to wrestle with losing him but also rejoicing in the hopefulness that he has freed himself. This book illustrates the challenge slaves had to face with choosing to attempt to free themselves or stay with their family. It is a really intense book that portrays the pain and reality of freedom that slaves had to endure. I can not decide if I would want to use this book in my classroom. It is extremely hard to read and it shows the reality of pain that slaves dealt with. It is effective and an important topic to understand but I do not know if it is appropriate for young students. I would consider it for classroom use for older students.

This is a biography of Harriet Tubman that is ideal for intermediate readers. It has pictures to depict what was going on in her life and words that are easy to read and follow. It would be a great book to have in the classroom, as it is a positive representation of people of color and the history of neglect and abuse they went through.

The Bell Rang adheres to an audience of second graders. This book is a simple read, but carries heavy concepts for children as it deals with the harsh realities of slavery and the adversity that came with it. Perseverance is a key lesson learned from this book through the repetition seen from page to page and is a good introduction into conversations surrounding the topic of slavery for a young audience.

This story is truly beautiful. It tells the story of a famous, influential woman through beautiful poetry and breath-taking illustrations.

This book is ages 4-8. It is about a young girl who grows up in slavery and one of her friends ends up getting free, they think. But, they are not sure if the beat him to death or if he is really free. It goes day to day what happens each day.

This book is geared towards younger elementary students.

This book is about an African American family that is enslaved by a master. The book shows how this family lives through repetition through each week. When the son runs away to freedom, the family becomes worried and sending prayer for him to make it to freedom safely.

3-5, there are few words and it is a simple book to read but some of the concepts are a little advanced for young children. It's about a slave family and their work week, but the son runs away and everyone around is now sad that he left and hope that he made it. Since it refers to "The Whip" and the boy making it I would recommend reading it to a slightly older group.

Before She Was Harriet is book about the life of Harriet Tubman, told in reverse chronology. The reader sees her in old age, all the way to right before she escapes and influences the world. This story is really inspirational and told with reverence to such an important figure. The story telling itself is unique since it is told in reverse, the reader already knows the ending at the start. Allowing them to see the main motivators and causes for the life she led. Also the illustrations are beautiful, really capturing the essence of her life in drawing form. Overall Before She Was Harriet is a great book that gives proper reverence for someone extremely important for America.

This is so beautiful and the writing was fantastic. My only (tiny) quibble is that I vaguely remember reading somewhere that Harriet was disabled due to some of the severe beatings she endured (something about her eyesight and debilitating headaches maybe? I don't have time to go looking for more info just now unfortunately.), and I feel like this book didn't really touch on that aspect of her experience which feels like leaving out part of her life in a story focused on conveying how much she really did.

Beautifully written book in verse about Harriet Tubman. The book is written in reverse chronological order starting with Harriet as an old woman on a bus. Harriet's incredible life roles are depicted by the many names she held in her life: suffragist, General, spy, nurse, Aunt Harriet, Moses, conductor, Minty and Araminta. Beautiful watercolor illustrations pay tribute to a true American hero.