Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life Written & Illustrated by Ashley Bryan | Beautiful Blackbird Children's Book Festival

Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life

Written & Illustrated by Ashley Bryan

Newbery Honor Book
Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book
Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book

Imagine being looked up and down and being valued as less than chair. Less than an ox. Less than a dress. Maybe about the same as…a lantern.

This gentle yet deeply powerful way goes to the heart of how a slave is given a monetary value by the slave owner, tempering this with the one thing that can’t be bought or sold: dreams. Inspired by the actual will of a plantation owner that lists the worth of each and every one of his “workers,” the author has created collages around that document, and others like it.

Through fierce paintings and expansive poetry, he imagines and interprets each person’s life on the plantation, as well as the life their owner knew nothing about—their dreams and pride in knowing that they were worth far more than an overseer or madam ever would guess. Visually epic, and never before done, this stunning picture book is unlike anything you’ve seen.

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Ashley Bryan

Ashley Bryan grew up to the sound of his mother singing from morning to night, and he shared the joy of song with children ever since. A beloved illustrator, he was named a Newbery Honoree for this picture book, Freedom Over Me. He has been the recipient of the Coretta Scott King—Virginia Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award; the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award; has been a May Hill Arbuthnot lecturer; a Coretta Scott King Award winner; and the recipient of countless other awards and recognitions. His books include Freedom Over Me; Sail Away; Beautiful Blackbird; Beat the Story-Drum, Pum Pum; Let It Shine; Ashley Bryan’s Book of Puppets; and What a Wonderful World. He lived in Islesford, one of the Cranberry Isles off the coast of Maine. The Beautiful Blackbird Chidren’s Book Festival was founded in Ashley’s honor.