Juneteenth, the commemoration of the ending of slavery in the U.S., was established as a national holiday in 2021. Share these seven titles with young readers to help them understand the history of the June 19th holiday.

Juneteenth for Mazie by Floyd Cooper. illus. by author. Capstone. ISBN 9781623701703.
K-Gr 3—Dad tells Mazie about the history and significance of Juneteenth, from the jubilation after emancipation through civil rights struggles of the last century. Cooper's accessible text covers the subject broadly and lyrically; his warm illustrations have a dreamlike quality and effectively tie past and present together. A brief author's note provides a few details.

Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free: The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth by Alice Faye Duncan. illus. by ­Keturah A. Bobo. Thomas Nelson. ISBN 9781400231256. 
K-Gr 2–Through illustrative and truthful text, Duncan rings the celebration of Juneteenth, relating stories of the Emancipation Proclamation, the freeing of enslaved people in Texas, and Lee’s experience with Jim Crow, racial violence, and activism. The narrative is fast-paced, with great emphasis on freedom and community.

What Is Juneteenth? by Kirsti Jewel. illus. by Manuel Gutierrez. Penguin Workshop. ISBN 9780593384695. 
Gr 3-6–A thorough introduction to an American holiday. Covering the past and the present of Juneteenth, this addition to the “What Was?” series is informative and entertaining. The text covers the journey of this holiday, from its origins to the fight for national recognition. Essential for every holiday book collection.

All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom by Angela Johnson. illus. by E. B. Lewis. S. & S. ISBN 9780689873768.
Gr 3 Up—In exquisite, lyrical text, Johnson reimagines Juneteenth—the date slaves in Texas finally learned of their emancipation—from the perspective of one fictional family. The words build to a crescendo of emotions as these now-free people prepare for a new life. Lewis's soft watercolors mirror the emotion of the text.

See also: Spotlight on Juneteenth

Free at Last: A Juneteenth Poem by Sojourner Kincaid Rolle. illus. by Alex Bostic. Sterling. ISBN 9781454943747. 
Gr 1-4–Rolle’s poem offers glimpses of the joy of freedom, the hardships of the years after, and how Juneteenth has evolved over time. The poem has an overall lyrical feel that evokes a range of emotions, from sadness for the realities of the many hardships still faced right after emancipation, to the hope and resilience of newfound freedom.

The Story of J­uneteenth by Dorena Williamson. illus. by Markia Jenai­. WorthyKids. ISBN 9781546002161. 
PreS-Gr 2–On June 19th, 1865, the last enslaved people in Texas learned they were free. Juneteenth celebrations commemorate the day with parades, music, dancing, and food. This nonfiction board book provides a simply worded, age-appropriate explanation of the holiday’s origin for toddlers. 

Juneteenth: Our Day of Freedom by Sharon Dennis Wyeth. illus. by Kim Holt. Random. ISBN 9780593434789. 
Gr 1-3–A joyful Black family prepares to celebrate Juneteenth, the country’s newest federal holiday. The story moves back in time to June 19, 1865, the original Juneteenth. The narrative uses simple sentence structure and vocabulary to explain challenging concepts.