Traveling on the Underground Railroad by David Gordon is part of a series of time-travel history books for children. In this book, the author introduces the American Underground Railroad, which helped save many enslaved people from the late 18th century until the end of the Civil War. The book introduces Harriet Tubman and Henry Coffin and tells how they rescued a family from a harsh master. The Underground Railroad and its vocabulary are explained as the story is told. Moly, the time-traveling dog, accompanies Harriet and the enslaved family as they flee at night and are housed by a Quaker family. When the group learns that slave-hunters are on their heels, they hide, and Moly provides a diversion for them to get away and to Canada safely. In the present day, Ferrara and Chadwick desperately try to get Moly back home. But Moly has her own plans, and with some of her friends, she drops in to visit a very important man in American history before returning home, where she belongs.

History is one of the most intriguing and educational subjects in school. But many children, especially young children, find it difficult to relate to history when it is presented only as facts. What makes Traveling on the Underground Railroad by David Gordon attractive is how it presents history to young readers. The book includes a vocabulary list to help readers identify the code words members of the Underground Railroad used to identify themselves and share information about their routes and safety. David Gordon and illustrator Valeria Leonova make the story feel real and representative of the historical event depicted. They also pay attention to detail, showing that the Railroad had no color division and that good people helped protect and guide fleeing slaves to a new life. The metaphor of Moses leading the slaves from Egypt suits the work Harriet Tubman and her fellow Underground Railroad volunteers did. This is an excellent way to introduce history to young readers, as the book is written with empathy and presents a sensitive topic in a positive, informative way.