Sojourner Kincaid Rolle’s solemn verse makes it clear that freedom did not mean the end of hard times for people who had been enslaved for so long. Powerful and strong, the newly released Free at Last: A Juneteenth Poem provides kids–and adults– with a better understanding of what it meant to be free for so many people at that moment in 1865.

It explains the joy behind this day, presented with underlying themes of forgiveness and accomplishment too.

So her dad sits her down and tells her the story of her third-great grandfather Mose, who heard “no” even more as an enslaved person. Mazie, like most modern kids, hears “no” a lot and doesn’t like it. Related: The Roots create a Schoolhouse Rock-is video about slavery that every parent should watch.įor early elementary aged kids, Juneteenth for Mazie by Floyd Cooper is a perfect introduction the celebration of Juneteenth. There may be affiliate links in the post, meaning purchases may generate a small commission for us at no additional cost to you, to help support our own small business. And be sure to check out our 2020 post sharing 3 excellent educational videos about Juneteenth for kids. So, we’ve rounded up six great children’s books about Juneteenth, to help more kids - and even more adults - understand why this day is so significant. After all, Black American history is American history. It’s an amazing story.Īll of us should know more about it, so that we can all celebrate this important holiday with the respect and reverance it deserves. But Juneteenth Independence Day - also called Freedom Day or Emancipation Day - marks the very important celebration of the Jannouncement that freed the last enslaved people in the state of Texas, nearly 30 months after the Emancipation Proclamation. It wasn’t in my school textbooks growing up, and my community doesn’t have a Juneteenth parade through our neighborhood. If you want to learn more about Juneteenth as we approach its anniversary, or just want to be sure its history and relevance has a place on your bookshelves, we have found some terrific children’s books about Juneteenth to help.Īfter all, I know a lot of us (embarrassingly) still don’t hear much about Juneteenth especially since it was only made a federal holiday in 2021.

Juneteenth mazie