When one of my friends said, "Oh, the 'happy slaves' book" I had to stop and think. The narrative portrays potential sale of family members as the only worry in Henry's life. I had also just re-watched 'Song of the South' and remembered all the flak James Baskett caught for leading the portrayal of content slaves in an idyllic rustic South. Is there such a thing as the 'lighter side of slavery'? Sean Qualls' illustrations are in a more folk and impressionist style than Kadir Nelson's realistic paintings of 2007.