Last weekend, Whitney LB Miller, author of “Henry Boyd’s Freedom Bed,” was invited to read her new book at a Saturday morning children’s event. We suggested she film it but – reporting star that she is (she’s currently on the air with Cincinnati’s WCPO television station) – Whitney got a much better story.
After he was done reading, Bouna talked with Whitney about his reactions to “Henry Boyd:” “I like it ’cause he was a person that wanted to have freedom for other people to have rights as well…he wanted to make stuff for other people so they can have a good life…He wants to help people that are people that are slaves and take them out of slavery….”
Now I’m not a very emotional person, but when I saw video of kids reading and reacting to Whitney’s book, well, I teared up. (Anyone who doesn’t think representation matters is likely already well represented.) Visit her Instagram to see more; the link is to the one that tugged my heartstring the most (so far).
It’s a good story for kids of all ages – the first book dedicated entirely to the deeds of an incredible former enslaved person, who became one of Cincinnati’s most important 19th-century furniture makers. Whitney (who also illustrated the book!) wrote it to inspire a new generation of woodworkers, and show how creativity and hard work can lead to a good and important life.
– Fitz
thanks
“Anyone who doesn’t think representation matters is likely already well represented.” Well said. You and Whitney did a really good thing here. As she might say: Yeah!!!
Thanks – but credit where it’s due: I didn’t do a lot with this one. Kara Uhl is our resident children’s book expert; she was Whitney’s editor, and Chris designed it. I was the copy editor on this one (an important job IMHO, but the least involved of all the jobs). But of course the lion’s share of the credit goes to the author and illustrator, Whitney!
This would be a good book for school libraries.
Great story. You guys continue to exceed expectations on a daily basis. I appreciate Ms. Miller’s work and the sustaining interest in such work by the Press.
I’m really looking forward to this one.
Grandkids, 8 ant 10, grabbed this book and read it through. They talked about it with me afterwards. An educational experience for them. Thank you for producing this book!