This is the first time I've introduced slavery and it's consequences to my daughter, who is almost 4. It's amazing, that with no historical background, no explanation besides reading the book and a word or two that she didn't understand, that she had the concept that slavery "is not right." She was sad, confused about why, and deliberate in her thoughts that slavery should not have happened. We didn't go any further than that, but this book, although heartbreaking, was an "easy" way to introduce slavery in a way that children can understand, and the illustrations are absolutely gorgeous. We looked through them several times and found something new with each turn of the page. I highly recommend this for parents that are looking for a resource to start the conversation about slavery and the consequences that are still alive today.

This is a really gorgeous book, and the story is both heart-breaking and inspiring. Recommended reading for children and grown-ups!

This is a great Caldecott winner for personalizing slavery at a level children can understand.

The vivid colors used in the illustrations and the rhyming text bring the slaves' lives - and Congo Square - to life. A forward and author's note both add historical context to the book.