NOW, AN AWARD WINNING BOOK! "The Door in the Floor" has been recognized by the Indiana State Historical Society (Dec. 2009). It has also won MOM'S CHOICE AWARD, honoring excellence in Family-Friendly Media!

Former elementary school teacher Joan Trindle Stiver never had the opportunity to learn about the Underground Railroad as a child. As an educator she collaborated with other teachers to develop a large Social Studies unit about this fascinating part of history. Now retired, Joan continues to inspire children to learn about prejudice and discrimination with her book, "The Door in the Floor - An Underground Railroad Adventure."
Set late into the night of July 15, 1858, the story begins on Lizzie Blue's 10th birthday. A family traveling by route of the freedom trails comes to the door of the Blue home seeking protection. Instructed to hide with the family's 8-year-old girl, Effie Mae, and keep her company, Lizzie befriends the child at a time in history when white and black girls were not allowed to be friends. Their time together is short, but their feelings for each other run deep. Lizzie grows up a lot as Effie Mae teaches her about being happy and thankful for what she has:

"Effie Mae, I never thought about it before but I guess my family already has freedom. Why do you and your family have to run away to get freedom? I mean, it's such a long way and it's so dangerous." "It's because our skin is dark, Lizzie." Several seconds of silence passed as Lizzie was trying to understand. "That just doesn't make sense, Effie Mae." Lizzie's new friend slowly hung her head. Lizzie thought she was going to cry. "I know," said Effie Mae.

A heart-warming story about forbidden friendship for children and a perfect resource for teachers, parents, and counselors seeking ways to further facilitate teachings of inequality, compassion and human rights, the book includes questions in the back of the book to help meaningful discussions and conversations. Beautiful illustrations can be found throughout the text, created by professional artist and retired art teacher, Karen Gruntman. Karen is known for her hidden mice in her illustrations. Children delight in finding the 14 mice hidden in the pictures in this book. Also found in the back of the book is a map of documented safe houses located along the Freedom Trail in Elkhart County, Indiana, given to Joan by Frank Fisher of the Elkhart County Historical Museum in Bristol, Indiana. Joan grew up in Elkhart, Indiana, and graduated from Purdue University with a B.A. and an M.S. in education. She taught 4th grade in the Clinton Prairie School Corporation and 2nd grade in the Middlebury Community Schools both in Indiana. She retired after 24 years of teaching in the public schools and 2 years in a private school.