Follow the Drinking Gourd: Come Along the Underground Railroad

Setting the Stage for Fluency

by Wim Coleman, Pat Perrin, Courtney Martin (Illustrations)

Slavery in the United States became illegal in the 1860s. Before that, many slaves found their way north by following the Big Dipper, or the Drinking Gourd as they called it. Our story begins in 1880 with Old Ellie and Old Sam, two escaped slaves who share their brave story along the path to freedom called the Underground Railroad.

40 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Wim Coleman is a playwright, poet, novelist, and nonfiction writer. His play "The Mad Scene" won First Place in the Script category of the 91st Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition. Another play, "The Shackles of Liberty," was the winner of the 2016 Southern Playwrights Competition. Two collections of his one-act plays, "Nine Muses" and "Stages of History," are currently in print, and his plays have appeared in anthologies along with works by authors ranging from Molière to David Mamet. His book of poetry, "I.O.U.," was published in 2020 by Adelaide Books. Novels that he has co-authored with his wife, Pat Perrin, include "Anna’s World," the Silver Medalist in the 2008 Moonbeam Awards, and "The Jamais Vu Papers," a 2011 finalist for the Eric Hoffer/Montaigne Medal. Wim and Pat lived for fourteen years in Mexico, where they adopted their daughter, Monserrat, and created and administered a scholarship program for at-risk students. Wim and Pat now live in Carrboro, North Carolina. They are active members of PEN International; Wim is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America and the Academy of American Poets.

Reviews

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This dramatization is the story of two children who flee a plantation and abusive slave-owner in Alabama and find themselves on the Underground Railroad. The story ends with them crossing into Indiana with plans to head for Canada because of the fugitive slave law. I can see a teacher assigning parts in a classroom for this short but informative play. It could simply be a reading or become an elaborate production. It introduces many aspects of the Underground Railroad like the symbols used, the song that was code for the journey and even the blankets used as roadmaps. The illustrations are lovely and appear to be acrylic or oil. I recommend for purchase.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a dramatization of the story of the Underground Railroad. There are 5 scenes and 12 characters. Reading straight through can be confusing, because there are narrators and flashbacks.
If the characters' parts are read by different students, it should be much less so.
Good for 3rd - 5th grade.

[Bridget's Quiet Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5
For my thoughts, go to Bridget's Book Ramblings