Freedom at Dawn: Robert Smalls’ Voyage Out of Slavery
1862. Lizzie Smalls knows her father is the best boat pilot in South Carolina, but being enslaved, he isn’t given that title. The Civil War is raging and her father and his shipmates, also enslaved, have been forced to serve on the side of the South in their boat, the Planter. However, they know if they can sail past Fort Sumter in the dark, they will be free. One night, Lizzie’s father and his shipmates sneak their families aboard the Planter and try to sail to freedom. Will they make it?
The full-color illustrations are bold and beautiful, showing what the people, ships, sea, and battles looked like. The images do a good job of showing the emotions of the characters as well. The true story of Robert Smalls’ piloting, through the perspective of his daughter, is told simply and well. End pages give more information about Robert Smalls and the long life of his daughter, Elizabeth Lydia (Lizzie), as well as information about slavery and the Civil War. An excellent picture book. Ages 4-8.
