Ten Juneteenth Children’s Books that Teach about the Holiday
Guest post by Tonya Duncan Ellis, 2024 Bronze Sponsor
On June 19, 1865 enslaved people in Texas learned they were free, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Abraham Lincoln. The date, called Freedom Day or Juneteenth, became a federal holiday in 2021. Juneteenth is a day to celebrate with family picnics, gatherings and pageants, to shop at Black-owned businesses and to reflect on Black history. The ten children’s books below highlight various aspects of Juneteenth.
The Juneteenth Cookbook by Alliah L. Agostini
With captivating illustrations of eighteen quick and easy recipes The Juneteenth Cookbook explores the historical origins of the Juneteenth holiday through food. Buy HERE.
The Juneteenth Story by Alliah Agostini
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. Buy HERE.
Juneteenth for Mazie by Floyd Cooper
Mazie is ready to celebrate liberty in this classic story. She is ready to celebrate freedom. She is ready to celebrate a great day in history, the day her ancestors were no longer enslaved. Mazie remembers the struggles and the triumph, as she gets ready to celebrate Juneteenth. Buy HERE.
Opal Lee and What it Means to Be Free by Alice Faye Duncan
Black activist Opal Lee had a vision of Juneteenth as a holiday for everyone. This true story celebrates Black joy and inspires children to see their dreams blossom. Growing up in Texas, Opal knew the history of Juneteenth, but she soon discovered that many Americans had never heard of the holiday. Join Opal on her historic journey to recognize and celebrate “freedom for all.” Buy HERE.
They Built Me for Freedom by Tonya Duncan Ellis
Through lyrical text and vivid images this book tells the history of Emancipation Park in Houston, Texas, the first spot built to celebrate Juneteenth. In the voice and memory of the park itself—its fields and pools, its protests and cookouts, and, most of all, its people—the 150-year story of Emancipation Park is brought to life. Buy HERE.
Juneteenth by Van G. Garrett
Juneteenth follows the annual celebration in Galveston, Texas—birthplace of Juneteenth—through the eyes of a boy coming to understand his place in Black American history. Buy HERE.
Juneteenth Is by Nathasa Tripplett
This book is an ode to the history of the Black community in the United States, a tribute to Black joy, and a portrait of familial love. With poignant text and vivid illustrations, Juneteenth Is offers a window and a mirror for readers, resonating with kids who will see themselves reflected in its pages and those who hope to understand experiences beyond their own. Buy HERE.
A Flag for Juneteenth by Kim Taylor
Expert quilter Kim Taylor shares a unique and powerful story of the celebration of the first Juneteenth, from the perspective of a young girl. Buy HERE.
Juneteenth Jamboree by Carole Boston Weatherford
A young girl, who has just moved to her parents’ hometown, realizes that she has come home in time for the African American emancipation celebration of Juneteenth. Buy HERE.
Juneteenth Our Day of Freedom by Sharon Dennis Wyeth
Some call it Freedom Day; some call it Emancipation Day; some call it Juneteenth. Learn more about this important holiday that celebrates the end of slavery in the United States in this early reader. Buy HERE.
Tonya Duncan Ellis is the award-winning author of the Sophie Washington children’s chapter book series; multicultural kid’s books that entertain, educate, and inspire, and They Built Me for Freedom: The Story of Juneteenth and Houston’s Emancipation Park (HarperCollins, May 2024). The Sophie Washington series presents modern-day middle school issues like dealing with bullies, managing social media and video games, fitting in, and handling peer pressure and that first crush, with a Texas twist. Sophie, her family, and her diverse group of friends live in the suburbs of Houston, and experience hurricanes, alligators in their neighborhood, rodeo muttin’ bustin,’ and wild boar, opening up an exciting new world to readers. Each book teaches valuable lessons about friendship, responsibility, and being truthful that children of all ages and backgrounds can relate to. Also available in ebook and audiobook forms, this series is best for ages 8-12.
