Juneteenth Books For Kids And Tweens
5 Children's Books About Juneteenth That You Can Buy Now
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We're all familiar with the Fourth of July, a holiday that commemorates the nation's independence, but Juneteenth celebrates another significant piece of American history that isn't taught as widely in schools or even recognised in all 50 states. Juneteenth — also known as Freedom Day — is a holiday that is celebrated on June 19. It commemorates the day when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, TX, on June 19, 1865 with news that enslaved people were free.
If you're looking for ways to reflect on and celebrate Juneteenth with your kids, books that tell the story of Juneteenth is a great place to start. While many children's books about Juneteenth are backordered at the moment, these five books are available to be shipped or on Kindle and are intended for kids between the ages of five and 12.
Juneteenth for Mazie
What It's About: "Mazie is ready to celebrate liberty. She is ready to celebrate freedom. She is ready to celebrate a great day in American history — the day her ancestors were no longer slaves. Mazie remembers the struggles and the triumph, as she gets ready to celebrate Juneteenth. This beautiful eBook will captivate both children and adults."
Ages It's Best Suited For: 6-9
Juneteenth for Mazie ($9)
Juneteenth Jamboree by Carole Boston Weatherford
What It's About: "Joining her parents in a community celebration of Juneteenth, Cassie learns about the day when slaves in Texas were freed some two years after the Emancipation Proclamation and wonders why the news took so long to reach them."
Ages It's Best Suited For: 6-9
All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom by Angela Johnson
What It's About: "Through the eyes of one little girl, All Different Now tells the story of the first Juneteenth, the day freedom finally came to the last of the slaves in the South. Since then, the observance of June 19 as African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond. This stunning picture book includes notes from the author and illustrator, a timeline of important dates, and a glossary of relevant terms.
Told in Angela Johnson's signature melodic style and brought to life by E.B. Lewis's striking paintings, All Different Now is a joyous portrait of the dawn breaking on the darkest time in our nation's history."
Ages It's Best Suited For: 5-9
All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom by Angela Johnson ($18)
The Story of Juneteenth (You Choose: History) by Steven Otfinosk
What It's About: "The Emancipation Proclamation and the Civil War have brought an official end to slavery, yet some Southern slave owners are refusing to comply. The road to freedom is still long and hard for many African Americans, but you're not giving up. Will you: Overcome obstacles as you make your way north from Texas, looking to begin a new life of freedom? Seek out your family, from whom you were separated as a child, after emancipation? Fight back when you take work as an apprentice but find that you're still treated as a slave? You choose offers multiple perspectives on history, supporting Common Core reading standards and providing readers a front-row seat to the past."
Ages It's Best Suited For: 8-11
The Story of Juneteenth (You Choose: History) by Steven Otfinosk ($6)
