Peter Claver, Patron Saint of Slaves by Julia Durango
illustrations by Rebecca Garcia-Franco
Peter Claver was a Spanish Jesuit priest who traveled to Colombia in the New World "in the time of explorers and sailors." Horrified by the institution of slavery, he dedicated his life to serving the slaves, tirelessly caring for them and advocating for them. It is a wonderful example of treating all people as we would treat Christ and of standing for what is right against a culture or society without being overbearing at all. The text and illustrations manage to convey the evil of slavery without being frightening for young children.
Though it is written about a Catholic saint, any Christian without qualms about saints in general would be able to read and enjoy this book with children.
I purchased this book directly from Paulist Press during their annual sale. I'm not sure how I received the catalog (it takes place only by mail), but I'm certain you can call to find out how to get on their mailing list.
