Only Passing Through:
The Story of Sojourner Truth

• Age Range: 6 - 9 years

• Grade Level: 1 - 4
  • 2000 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book
  • 2000 New York Times Best Illustrated Book
  • 2001 Orbis Pictus Award
  • 2001 CCBC Choices

• 2001 Association for Library Service to Children Notable Children’s Book Award

For classroom and reading resources, click here.

SUMMARY

Sojourner Truth traveled the country in the latter half of the 19th century, speaking out against slavery. Sojourner's simple yet powerful stories of her hardships helped people to understand the hideous truth about slavery.

Only Passing Through is a powerful picture book biography of how a slave woman transformed herself into one of the most powerful voices of the abolitionist movement. Anne Rockwell combines her lifelong love of history and storytelling to create an inspiring portrait of an American icon.

REVIEWS

Reviewed in Bookselling Kids’ Pick of the Lists Part Two for October 2000. "The facts in this picture-book biography speak as eloquently as its illustrations, which have an authority and passion recalling Jacob Lawrence’s Harriet and the Promised Land."—The Horn Book, Starred Review

“The look and feel of a children’s classic . . . a valuable addition to any child’s library.” — The New York Times

“Rockwell’s vibrant storytelling, powerful content and moving author’s note will likely send readers off to further reading about this extraordinary heroine.” — Publishers Weekly

"It’s a powerful story, well told and handsomely set; worth of its courageous subject." — The Horn Book Magazine