Elementary Secondary Higher Ed Common Reads

Elementary Education


Guides
Collections
News
(0)
Wish List (0)
Wish List
Download high-resolution image

William Still and His Freedom Stories

The Father of the Underground Railroad

Author Don Tate
Ebook
Holiday House | Peachtree
On sale Jul 07, 2020 | 40 Pages | 9781682632772
Grades 1-4
Reading Level: Lexile 610L | Fountas & Pinnell T
Add to cart Add to list Exam Copies
See Additional Formats
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.
Don Tate grew up in Des Moines, Iowa, where he learned about Black history at the Center for Study and Application of Black Theology. He grew up to become an author and illustrator of numerous award-winning children's books, including It Jes' Happened: When Bill Traylor Started to Draw and Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton, both of received Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Honor awards. He lives in Austin, Texas.
Don Tate View titles by Don Tate
★ "Gentle and straightforward prose. . . The text recounts the oppression and dehumanization of slavery but is not too graphic for the target age demographic. . . . Tate's expressive, colorful illustrations work well with the text to convey this important part of American history. . . . This inspirational true story combines fact with a very readable narrative, spotlighting a pivotal figure in the abolitionist movement. A book that deserves a place on school and public library shelves." —School Library Journal, Starred Review

★ "Tate's sentences are often short, underscoring Still's effort and drive; when they occasionally lengthen, they land with a punch. . . His paintings often likewise play out in vignettes that capture action over time then linger lovingly on the expressive faces of his characters. Brings deserved attention to the life of a man who dedicated himself to recording the lives of others." —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

"The digital illustrations portray [Still] effectively from infancy to old age. . . . In this concisely written, informative picture-book biography, Tate introduces a man who deserves to be more widely known." —Booklist

★ "[A] clear, comprehensive narrative. . . .Graceful free verse. . . Textural digital illustrations and expressive characters punctuate the affecting text. . . An illuminating picture book biography of a lesser-known hero." —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"[A] thorough and informative picture-book biography. . . . Tate's writing style is generally engaging and accessible. Rich acrylic illustrations are perfectly matched with a poetic narrative that celebrates the subject and conveys the realities of the times." —The Horn Book Magazine

"Striking illustrations with approachable text. . . The legacy of an American hero is told here using accessible, factual text; lifelike illustrations rendered digitally; and informative backmatter. . . An alluring picture book."—Shelf Awareness

"Tate's short sentences and accessible language convey the urgency of Still's work, and his illustrations sensitively communicate the danger and terror faced by enslaved people. . . .There's plenty of hope here, too."—BookPage

About

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.

Author

Don Tate grew up in Des Moines, Iowa, where he learned about Black history at the Center for Study and Application of Black Theology. He grew up to become an author and illustrator of numerous award-winning children's books, including It Jes' Happened: When Bill Traylor Started to Draw and Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton, both of received Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Honor awards. He lives in Austin, Texas.
Don Tate View titles by Don Tate

Praise

★ "Gentle and straightforward prose. . . The text recounts the oppression and dehumanization of slavery but is not too graphic for the target age demographic. . . . Tate's expressive, colorful illustrations work well with the text to convey this important part of American history. . . . This inspirational true story combines fact with a very readable narrative, spotlighting a pivotal figure in the abolitionist movement. A book that deserves a place on school and public library shelves." —School Library Journal, Starred Review

★ "Tate's sentences are often short, underscoring Still's effort and drive; when they occasionally lengthen, they land with a punch. . . His paintings often likewise play out in vignettes that capture action over time then linger lovingly on the expressive faces of his characters. Brings deserved attention to the life of a man who dedicated himself to recording the lives of others." —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

"The digital illustrations portray [Still] effectively from infancy to old age. . . . In this concisely written, informative picture-book biography, Tate introduces a man who deserves to be more widely known." —Booklist

★ "[A] clear, comprehensive narrative. . . .Graceful free verse. . . Textural digital illustrations and expressive characters punctuate the affecting text. . . An illuminating picture book biography of a lesser-known hero." —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"[A] thorough and informative picture-book biography. . . . Tate's writing style is generally engaging and accessible. Rich acrylic illustrations are perfectly matched with a poetic narrative that celebrates the subject and conveys the realities of the times." —The Horn Book Magazine

"Striking illustrations with approachable text. . . The legacy of an American hero is told here using accessible, factual text; lifelike illustrations rendered digitally; and informative backmatter. . . An alluring picture book."—Shelf Awareness

"Tate's short sentences and accessible language convey the urgency of Still's work, and his illustrations sensitively communicate the danger and terror faced by enslaved people. . . .There's plenty of hope here, too."—BookPage

Additional formats

Other Books by this Author

Related Articles

General Education & Professional Learning

Reading with Purpose Summit Event

On Monday, June 10th, Penguin Random House Education and DK Learning co-hosted a Reading with Purpose Summit Event in collaboration with Molly Ness, PhD. The event took place at Penguin Random House’s NYC headquarters and included sessions featuring leading education experts and a lunchtime author panel. The in-person professional learning event was built to show

Read more

Reading with Purpose Summit Event

General Education & Professional Learning
Social Studies & History Math The Arts General Early Concepts Education & Professional Learning English Language Arts Favorite Authors & Series Science & Technology

2024 Elementary School Collection

The Penguin Random House Education Elementary School Collection features outstanding fiction, nonfiction, and picture books from Penguin Young Reader’s, Random House Children’s, DK, and Grupo Editorial, as well as children’s publishers distributed by Penguin Random House. Explore online or download this valuable resource to discover great books in specific topic areas such as: Leveled Readers,

Read more

2024 Elementary School Collection

Social Studies & History Math The Arts General Early Concepts Education & Professional Learning English Language Arts Favorite Authors & Series Science & Technology
DK Learning Phonic Books Sampler Request
General Publisher's Spotlight English Language Arts

DK Learning Phonic Books Sampler Request

Thank you for your interest in DK Learning | Phonic Books. To download the DK Learning | Phonic Books sampler with four complete readers, please click here and complete the form. Once your information is successfully submitted, a link to download the sampler will be provided on the confirmation screen.   Click here to learn

Read more

DK Learning Phonic Books Sampler Request

General Publisher's Spotlight English Language Arts
education translanguaging collections affirming bilingual and multilingual learners
General Education & Professional Learning English Language Arts Favorite Authors & Series The Arts

PRH Education Translanguaging Collections

Translanguaging is a communicative practice of bilinguals and multilinguals, that is, it is a practice whereby bilinguals and multilinguals use their entire linguistic repertoire to communicate and make meaning (García, 2009; García, Ibarra Johnson, & Seltzer, 2017)   It is through that lens that we have partnered with teacher educators and bilingual education experts, Drs.

Read more

PRH Education Translanguaging Collections

General Education & Professional Learning English Language Arts Favorite Authors & Series The Arts
Against a green background, four book covers for Black History Month: GO FORTH AND TELL, LITTLE ROSETTA AND THE TALKING GUITAR, MADAM CJ WALKER BUILDS A BUSINESS, INVINCIBLE
Social Studies & History

Books for Black History Month

Join Penguin Random House Education in celebrating the contributions of Black authors and illustrators. In honor of Black History Month in February, we are highlighting essential fiction and nonfiction to be shared and discussed by students and teachers alike. Black History Month – Elementary Explore additional books by Black creators that will educate, empower, and

Read more

Books for Black History Month

Social Studies & History

About Elementary Education

Penguin Random House Education

Penguin Random House

About Elementary Education

Penguin Random House Education

Penguin Random House

Back to Top
0
    • 0
    Elementary Education
    Wish List (0)