Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss. ( )

This book is set in the time period of slavery in America that the Underground Railroad was a way for blacks to escape from the harshness and brutalities of slavery in the South. The little boy's father was a blacksmith who had to make a ironworks bird for the "missus" for her birthday. He used his ironworking as a means of communication; the rhythm, or "song", let the slaves know just when it was safe to escape their Master's plantation. As the missus' party grew louder, the little boy had to send out the rhythmic message to the slaves that were listening for Pa's beat because Pa was too ill to do it. ( )

This is the story of slaves working toward freedom by using the underground railroad. The blacksmith, who was a slave, would beat out a rhythm on his anvil to let those on the underground railroad know if it was safe to travel. A story of bravery and determination. Beautifully illustrated. ( )

I thoroughly enjoyed this whole book. It was almost like reading poetry to me, very intriguing. It was something I was unaware of ,and learned alot about, how the slaves had to find other ways to escape together. The nine year old son got to play his rhythms with a hammer when his father became too ill, but it was time to escape, since the family they worked for were having a loud, big party. The author's note gave alot of useful information about more history and vocabulary used. ( )

'Blacksmith's Song' by Elizabeth Van Steenwyck is a children's picture book about the Underground Railroad, more specifically, a possible way that slaves and others communicated with runaways along the route. As the author states at the end of the book, we are not sure how people on the Underground Railroad were communicated with. It could have been a specific rhythm played out along the trail such as a song, dance, or by a blacksmith working late into the night.

IN this story, a young boy goes to watch his father working in the forge. His father sometimes hammers a certain rhythm in the night. The boy wants to try, but his father says no. His mother finally explains about the song his father plays. It's a secret and dangerous song that could cost someone their life if the owners figure it out. The boy picks up the song from listening and he knows as his father grows weaker, that he will one day play the song and his family will eventually get their turn to run for freedom.

The story does not show the ugly side of slavery, but it gets the point across that these people are not free and wish to be. Using the illustrations by Anna Rich you can see the owners sitting and having a feast, as well as the men on horseback with their dogs out looking for escaped slaves. Depending on the age of the person reading or listening to the story, different discussions can occur regarding this time period and practice. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley. ( )