Born on Christmas was how Christmas John got his name. He was born a slave, a Kentucky slave. Granny Judith told Christmas John her story of how she was captured in Africa. It was a red cloth that served as bait. By the time she had gotten the cloth, the boat had gotten her. Off to America. Off to slavery. Granny Judith dyed thread of many colors on that plantation. She had heard of a way to escape to the north. Christmas John was going to paddle the boat to help people escape to Ohio. All she wanted to know was what color were they wearing. Those colors became woven together on Granny Judith's freedom quilt, with just 2 more patches to be filled. Christmas John and Granny Judith finally made the crossing to freedom, leaving behind the color of slavery. ( )

Night Boat to Freedom is about a young boy, Christmas John, who was born into slavery. He was taken care of by a women he called Granny Judith, who was taken as a young girl from her home in Africa. Through Granny Judith's persuasion, every night Christmas John would row some of the slaves on his plantation across the river to freedom in Ohio. He did this for over a year and finally, him and Granny Judith both made it across the river to freedom as well. For these reasons, to me, the moral of the story is perseverance. Christmas John trusted Granny Judith and, through strong will, he succeeded at his task. ( )

Captivating book about Christmas John who was born on Christmas day.
He lived with his grandmother. Plantation is on county line between Kentucky and Ohio. He would row people by night from slavery to freedom.
His grandma made a freedom quilt. She made her own cloth for this quilt.
She would determine color of patches for her quilt by colors of freed slaves transported by Christmas John. ( )

This is such a strong story about escaping slavery. You are on edge the whole time as Christmas John tries to help slave after slave escape across the river to freedom. It is as if you are scared for him that he might just get caught one time. It is one of those books that keeps you wanting more. You want to change the page quickly to find out what is going to happen next. ( )

This was a very heart touching book. I think it would be more appropriate for students in about fourth of fifth grade becuase the young students may not quite yet understand the idea of slavery. I thouhgt it was great though because it shows students how you have to be strong and help other out. ( )