Summary
This story shares the traditions of Juneteenth and how the holiday came about. It shares the story of Opal Lee, the ‘”grandmother of Juneteenth” and how she led the movement that eventually made Juneteenth a national holiday. It shares the background of the holiday which is not known commonly by many. She ties in real history and even adds a timeline at the end of the story for readers to see when all of the important dates happened, some much later than many would think. It even has a recipe!
Theme(s):
Overcoming adversity, courage, bravery, racism, prejudice, traditions
Personal Response
This is such a beautiful book! The book made me feel the excitement of the kids waiting to hear the stories that Opal would share with them. This book has amazing illustrations and shares these important parts of history with young readers. This books is great because I was never taught much about Juneteenth, but now having this book available to a younger generation of readers increases their awareness of the holiday and these social issues. I love the element of storytelling from Opal in here!
Teaching Ideas
This book would be a great resource for students who are writing a biography. My third graders just worked on one, and these are exactly the types of books they need to use to write. It helps them learn about their writing skills and research skills, while also incorporating history lessons into the lesson. I would have a student write a biography about Opal where they can write about her life, why she is so important, and also write about their own connections or awareness of the holiday.
Recommended Reading Level
Grade 02, Grade 03, Grade 04, Grade 05
