The Juneteenth Story: Celebrating the End of Slavery in the United States

by Alliah L. Agostini

Sawyer Cloud (Illustrator)

Winner of the 2022 Black Kid Lit Award for Best Historical title.

With colorful illustrations and a timeline, this introductory history of Juneteenth for kids details the evolution of the holiday commemorating the date the enslaved people of Texas first learned of their freedom​.

On June 19, 1865—more than two years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation—the enslaved people of Texas first learned of their freedom. That day became a day of remembrance and celebration that changed and grew from year to year.

Learn about the events that led to emancipation and why it took so long for the enslaved people in Texas to hear the news. The first Juneteenth began as “Jubilee Day,” where families celebrated and learned of their new rights as citizens. As Black Texans moved to other parts of the country, they brought their traditions along with them, and Juneteenth continued to grow and develop.

Today, Juneteenth’s powerful spirit has endured through the centuries to become an official holiday in the United States in 2021. The Juneteenth Story provides an accessible introduction for kids to learn about this important American holiday.

• ISBN13: 9780760375143
• Publish Date: 3 May 2022
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: becker&mayer! books
• Imprint: becker&mayer! kids
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 32
• Language: English

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

The Juneteenth Story: Celebrating the End of Slavery in the United States is a well written and colorfully illustrated book about the celebration of the end of slavery in the USA. Due out 3rd May 2022 from Quarto on their becker&mayer! imprint, it's 32 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

Aimed at the youngest readers (ages 6-9 years), this is an engaging and age appropriate retelling of the story of the end of slavery and the codification of the Emancipation Proclamation which was ratified into law as the 13th Amendment. Despite being freed, many former slaves in Texas weren't aware that they were no longer slaves until General Gordon Granger read in Galveston:

“The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free . . .”

The text is simple and accessible and lends itself to interactive reading either with a classroom reading circle or one on one with one's own children. The art is full of small details which invite readers to ponder and take a closer look.

The author has also included a short timeline of events from the beginning of the trans-Atlantic European slave trade down to 2021 when President Biden signed into law Juneteenth as a federal holiday.

Well written and important history, told in an age appropriate manner.

Five stars. This would be a good choice for public library or classroom use, as well as for the home library.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.