Steamboat School

Based in Missouri in 1847, this realistic fiction story retells the true story of Reverend John Meachum and his "steamboat school." Originally, Reverend Meachum was secretly teaching young African American children underneath a church. When a new law forbidding education for African Americans is enacted, their school is shut down and the children are left without an education. Reverend Meachum, however, did not want to give up on his students. He built a new, floating school inside a steamboat. The steamboat was anchored in the Mississippi River, which was outside of Missouri's jurisdiction, and therefore, legal. 

I thought this story was uplifting and really inspiring, as it followed the true story of a person who would not allow the color of someone's skin dictate their right to an education. The Reverend was an accomplished man that managed to save up enough money to purchase his own freedom, along with his family and his wife's. This book shows his courage and determination and how it helped him accomplish so many selfless things. 

The lessons in this book are brought to life with the illustrations by Ron Husband. They were made by first creating sketches of the scene and then using mechanical pen in an ink to add detail and texture to the drawings. Afterwards, they were finished in Photoshop. The lack of color in the pictures really adds another dimension to the story by suggesting a dark time. 

Overall, this book is a really beautiful depiction of a sad time. Deep feelings are brought to life and I feel as though the ideas that are covered would really resonate with children when presented in this way. Broaching subjects such as slavery and civil rights, it is a great book to delve into "tough" topics with. 

Steamboat School 
By: Deborah Hopkinson 
Illustrated by: Ron Husband 

Published in 2016