Summary
This beautifully written book teaches children about the newly established holiday of Juneteenth and its history. In the story, the author herself teaches students about the enslavement of Africans over 200 hundred years ago and how President Abraham Lincoln officially declared the end of slavery in the United States on June 19, 1895. The book also shares the happy celebrations that took place after the emancipation proclamation was issued and how this celebration still continues today.
Theme(s):
Struggles against pressures of society, Overcoming Adversity, Fairness/Unfairness, Racism/Prejudice, Taking a Stand, & Courage/Bravery
Personal Response
This powerful story was a sliding glass door text for me because it took me on the unjust journey of the African people who were brutally enslaved. I noticed Lee’s use of historical facts to help readers get a understanding of the timeline of the United States and how the ending of slavery led to this important celebration. The text reminded me about the significance of Juneteenth and why its valuable that we teach our students about this history and how far we have come as a country.
Teaching Ideas
I would integrate this book into our social studies curriculum. First, I would facilitate a discussion about students’ thoughts after reading the book. Then, I would have students collaboratively fill out a Who, What, When, How, and Why chart regarding the history of slavery and how it led to the emancipation proclamation and Juneteenth in the United Sates. Then, I would engage students in a discussion about why they think some states have chosen not to celebrate this important holiday.
Recommended Reading Level
Birth-PreK, Grade 01, Grade 02, Grade 03, Grade 04, Grade 05
