Juneteenth
By Diondra K. Brown,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Lyrical, vibrant celebration of the Juneteenth holiday.
Rate book
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this book.
Where to Read
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
JUNETEENTH -- which is set in the 1980s in Galveston, Texas, the birthplace of Juneteenth -- transports readers to a buzzing, vibrant celebration for the holiday. A young Black boy, along with his parents and younger sister, travels to Galveston to witness the annual parade and celebrate the anniversary of enslaved Africans learning of their emancipation. The boy has a captivating sensory experience: He hears melodic music, smells delicious food, tastes sweet candy, and sees warm faces that look like those of his family members. While dancing and rejoicing, his parents educate him about the history of slavery in the United States and why Juneteenth is a day filled with hope and joy. Strangers, family members, and friends all spread hope and love to each other as the holiday comes to a close with fireworks over the ocean.
Is It Any Good?
This energetic, poetic book reminds Americans, particularly Black Americans, to take pride in the United States' newest national holiday. Juneteenth shows how a common history can bring strangers together from across the nation, all experiencing the same feelings of happiness and pride. The illustrations are lively, bright, and emotional. And the author's use of lyrics from a song that's rich with history adds a sense of familiarity to the story. Readers will be excited to commemorate history on Juneteenth with this great book.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how in Juneteenth the characters are celebrating the holiday by attending a parade. Have you ever seen a Juneteenth parade? If so, where was it, and what was the experience like? If not, why would it be important to attend a Juneteenth parade?
Why is Juneteenth a different celebration from the Fourth of July?
Do you know what the symbols on the Juneteenth flag represent? If not, ask an adult to help you find the answer.
Book Details
- Author: Van G. Garrett
- Illustrator: Reginald C. Adams
- Genre: Picture Book
- Topics: Activism , History , Holidays
- Character Strengths: Gratitude
- Book type: Non-Fiction
- Publisher: Versify
- Publication date: May 2, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 4 - 8
- Number of pages: 40
- Available on: Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: June 9, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Read
Our Editors Recommend
Exciting Books for Young Kids Learning About Black History
Holiday Books for Kids
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate