The Gift of Freedom
How Harriet Tubman Rescued Her Brothers
Will be published approx. on 19. February 2026
Book
Hardback
40 pages
978-1-4197-6929-0 (ISBN)
Description
From bestselling illustrator and Coretta Scott King honoree Laura Freeman and award-winning author Glennette Tilley Turner comes the little-known story of Harriet Tubman's daring rescue of her enslaved brothers on Christmas Day
This historical picture book about the legendary Underground Railroad conductor, abolitionist, and suffragist was written based on personal interviews with Tubman's last surviving relative. A story of courage, hope, and family, The Gift of Freedom takes readers on an inspiring journey during one of America's darkest times.
Harriet Tubman was always a keen observer. She learned to use the North Star for a compass, to tell time by the stars, and to find her way by natural signs as well as any hunter could.
She could navigate dense forests, locate waterways in the area, and identify the white Quakers and Black mariners who were willing to help enslaved people escape.
When Tubman first fled north, she knew she might never have another chance to run away. Yet after she arrived safely in the free city of Philadelphia, she risked her own freedom again and again to help other Freedom Seekers-and those she'd had to leave behind.
She never forgot her family in Maryland, and on Christmas Day in 1854, Tubman returned again, hoping to give three of her brothers the best possible gift-the gift of freedom!
Includes a letter to readers, an author's note, and a bibliography.
This historical picture book about the legendary Underground Railroad conductor, abolitionist, and suffragist was written based on personal interviews with Tubman's last surviving relative. A story of courage, hope, and family, The Gift of Freedom takes readers on an inspiring journey during one of America's darkest times.
Harriet Tubman was always a keen observer. She learned to use the North Star for a compass, to tell time by the stars, and to find her way by natural signs as well as any hunter could.
She could navigate dense forests, locate waterways in the area, and identify the white Quakers and Black mariners who were willing to help enslaved people escape.
When Tubman first fled north, she knew she might never have another chance to run away. Yet after she arrived safely in the free city of Philadelphia, she risked her own freedom again and again to help other Freedom Seekers-and those she'd had to leave behind.
She never forgot her family in Maryland, and on Christmas Day in 1854, Tubman returned again, hoping to give three of her brothers the best possible gift-the gift of freedom!
Includes a letter to readers, an author's note, and a bibliography.
Reviews / Votes
***STARRED REVIEW***"In this intriguing book, Turner provides enough historical context to help younger children understand the importance of Tubman's gift to her brothers and enough details to hold the interest of older readers. Created using dark, rich colors, Freeman's stunning night scenes, sometimes lit by a single lantern, capture the drama of this well-told, memorable story." * Booklist * "A powerful, seldom-shared chapter from Tubman's storied path to freedom." * Kirkus Reviews * "illustrations give emotional heft to the strategically grounded telling...Foregrounding Tubman's courage, strategic capacity, and enduring love for her family, it's a work that meditates on the figure's unyielding pursuit of freedom" * Publishers Weekly * "This enlightening look into Tubman's rescue of her brothers from slavery is a good addition..." * School Library Journal *
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
Abrams
Target group
Children/juvenile
US School Grade: From Preschool to Third Grade, Interest Age: From 4 to 8 years
Illustrations
Full-color illustrations throughout
Dimensions
Height: 254 mm
Width: 229 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
463 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4197-6929-0 (9781419769290)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
01/2026
Abrams Books for Young Readers
€17.49
Available for download
Persons
Glennette Tilley Turner has written many children's books, including A Man Called Horse: John Horse and the Black Seminole Underground Railroad and Fort Mose: And the Story of the Man Who Built the First Free Black Settlement in Colonial America. She has also written collections of biographies of notable African Americans for adults, and she serves as an advisor to the National Park Service, where she helps plan programs for the national historic Underground Railroad trail. Turner has a master's degree in history and children's literature; has spoken at ALA, NCTE, BCALA, and the Library of Congress; has presented at Illinois library, historical, and reading organizations; and taught in the Chicago Public School system for many years. She has received numerous awards and accolades for her writing and was inducted into the International Literary Hall of Fame for Writers of African Descent at the Gwendolyn Brooks Center of Chicago State University. She lives in Wheaton, Illinois. Laura Freeman is a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honoree. Her work has been recognized with an NAACP Image Award, reached the New York Times bestseller list, and has been honored by the Society of Illustrators, the Georgia Center for the Book, and in the Annuals for Communication Arts and American Illustration. She has illustrated more than 30 children's books, and her editorial images are frequently seen in the New York Times and other periodicals. Originally from New York City, Freeman now lives in Atlanta, Georgia.