Mumbet's Declaration of Independence
Age 6+
Picture Books
Inspirational story of how one slave gained her freedom through legal means at a time when slavery was legal.
Mumbet's Declaration of Independence tells the story of a Massachusetts slave from the Revolutionary era-in 1781, she successfully used the new Massachusetts Constitution to make a legal case that she should be free. She has no picture book to her name. Backmatter provides further information about Mumbet's story as well as the Massachusetts Constitution of 1780.
Creators
Gretchen Woelfle writes picture books, middle grade, and YA nonfiction and biography. Her first book, The Wind at Work: An Activity Guide to Windmills (Chicago Review Press), led to Katje the Windmill Cat (Candlewick), followed by Animal Families, Animal Friends (NorthWord). Jeannette Rankin: Political Pioneer (Calkins Creek Books) won the 2008 Children's Literature Council of Southern California Nonfiction Award and the Once upon A World Award from the Simon Wiesenthal Center/Museum of Tolerance, WILLA Literary Award finalist, and several notable listings: NCSS/CBC, Amelia Bloomer Project, Book/isl Top Ten Youth Biographies, Instructor Teachers Picks and more. When she is not traveling the world doing research, Woelfle lives in Los Angeles, where she is writing more biographies.
Alix Delinois is a fine artist and art teacher living in Harlem, New York. He was born in Saint Marc, Haiti and moved to Harlem as a child. His formal training began at fourteen when he was selected to the City College Arts Institute for inner city students. He went on to the High School of Art and Design, the Fashion Institute of Technology and Pratt Institute. In addition to his art training, Delinois holds a Master's in Art Education from Brooklyn College. He has illustrated two children's books written by award-winning authors Walter Dean Meyers and Edwidge Danticat and is currently working on a new children's book about Elizabeth Freedman.
