Freedom River (Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Books)
Grade 2-5-This strikingly beautiful picture book relates the true story of John Parker, an African-American businessman who bought his own freedom and helped others to gain theirs via the Underground Railroad. Rappaport chronicles just one of many incidents in which Parker helped families escape from Kentucky, a slave state, across the river to freedom in Ohio. Repetitions highlighted in large type such as, "Run, run-Row, row-Wait, wait. Listen, listen" add drama and poetry to the moving narrative. The author's and illustrator's notes at the beginning and the historical note at the end strengthen the story's impact. The hyperrealistic collage-and-watercolor illustrations dominated by deep blues and browns also add drama; the ancestors and protectors are depicted in an ethereal manner with wavy lines across their faces representing the river. Endpapers feature reproductions of a map of the Ohio River. A distinguished and thought-provoking title.Cynde Marcengill, Horry County Memorial Library, Surfside Beach, SCCopyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.