Barefoot, Escape on the Underground Railroad
A heron, a squirrel, a mouse, a deer, and a frog all witness a pair of bare feet running frantically through the woods. The feet belong to a runaway slave trying to escape his pursuers, whom the animals recognize as the Heavy Boots. Following the animals' lead, the Barefoot is able to escape and survive. He listens for the croaking of a frog to find fresh water and observes the nibbling of a mouse to find berries to eat. Eventually he comes upon a house in the woods-but is it really a stop on the Underground Railroad? With this story of courage, Pamela Duncan Edwards and Henry Cole bring a unique perspective to a heartrending era in American history, while lending a magic and mystery to the benevolent interrelationship between humankind and nature.