Back in elementary school, the Underground Railroad was a big topic in history class. We read books, watched documentaries and film/television adaptations all about it. When I saw another book about this historical event, I really wanted to jump back into reading it. It's an important story to tell, and an intriguing one at that.

This is a biography of one of the men who was a big part of the Underground Railway - if not the most important! William Still's story is crazy important and is one incredible one. I think this is a great way to introduce the tale, especially in a picture format. I feel like this would have helped me with reading the Underground Railway chapter book way back in my youth.

This Black History book is super important. I highly recommend it not only because of it's important historical context but the beautiful illustrations and great story telling that brought this book to life.

Five out of five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Peachtree Publishing Company for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review. ( )

This book follows the historic figure William Still. He and his parents escaped slavery when he was young and had to leave two of his siblings behind. After years in Pennsylvania, he becomes an abolitionist and was inspired by his own family's hardships to start collecting stories from freed slaves. This story is great for a readout loud for kids in 1st- 5th grade. It's a book that is not only an autobiography of William Still but also Harriet Tubman, Henry "Box" Brown, and William and Ellen Craft. Overall, it's an enjoyable informative book with fantastic visuals that draw in the reader. ( )

Underground Railroad was the term used to describe a network of people and places used by slaves in the American South in search of freedom in the Northern United States and Canada. William Still is sometimes referred to as the father of the Underground Railroad. In addition to being a conductor, he also recorded the personal accounts of fugitive slaves escaping through Philadelphia.

Read the recently published picture book, then learn more at the website:

WILLIAM STILL AND HIS FREEDOM STORIES: THE FATHER OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD by Don Tate is a picture book biography exploring the life of William Still who helped hundreds of slaves escape to freedom. The story concludes with a timeline and author’s note.

UNCOVERING WILLIAM STILL’S UNDERGROUND RAILROAD is a digital history project that includes Still’s journal and original records.

To view the digital collection, go to https://bit.ly/2K6Y35P.

UNDERGROUND RAILROAD: THE WILLIAM STILL STORY tells the story of William Still’s experiences as an abolitionist. Teachers may wish use excerpts from this hour long documentary.

To view the documentary, go to https://to.pbs.org/3kmn2OF.

DISCOVERING THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD from the National Park Service is a Junior Ranger Activity Book available online.

To download the PDF, go to https://bit.ly/3luJM0y.

ARC courtesy of Peachtree. ( )

This is a wonderful story about a little-known Black man born into freedom in 1821 who grew up determined to help enslaved blacks escape to the North.

William’s parents were originally enslaved in Maryland. His father purchased his freedom and went North. His mother escaped along with their two girls, leaving their two boys behind. They started a new life in New Jersey, eventually having fifteen children. The youngest was William. When William was eight, he helped an escaped slave get to safety; William knew every corner of the woods. The author writes, “The experience defined the rest of his life."

Growing up, he got a job in Philadelphia, at the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society, eventually working his way up to manager. William sought out travelers on the “Underground Railroad” - i.e., escaped slaves from the South, and welcomed them into his home, which became a “station” on the Underground Railroad. One evening a “passenger” arrived at his office - an elderly man - and it turned out to be his long-lost older brother Peter.

The author recounts:

“Peter’s story was sad. Tragic. Miraculous. And extraordinary. And Peter’s story restored his family.”

William wondered, could other people’s stories help reunite families torn apart by slavery? He started to record every detail escaped slaves could provide to him, and in 1872 published The Underground Rail Road, a collection of those stories from his journals. (Photographs of pages from Still’s journal are shown on the front endpapers, with transcriptions of them featured on the back endpapers.) Tate writes:

“William Still’s records, and the stories he preserved, reunited families torn apart by slavery.”

Back matter includes a timeline, an author’s note about the book’s inspiration, and a bibliography.

The author, also a noted illustrator, used his warm illustrations and variations in font to help tell the story.

Evaluation: This inspiring history for ages 6 and up shows how one person, starting in the worst of circumstances, can work hard and make a difference. I also love that he brings much-needed attention to other African Americans besides the names everyone knows, like Harriet Tubman, who worked so hard to help slaves gain their freedom. ( )