Juneteenth is celebrated on June 19th each year. It is a federal holiday in the U.S. commemorating the emancipation of African-American slaves. One of the best ways to teach your elementary students about this holiday is by reading aloud Juneteenth children’s books.
This list of Juneteenth children’s books are high quality texts. They lend themselves to being used as interactive read alouds. Your students will enjoy learning about this holiday in this engaging and accessible format. Not only will they fully engage your students, but are also very informative and will spark important class discussions.
This post highlights the following Juneteenth children’s books:
- All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom
- Juneteenth for Mazie
- Juneteenth Jamboree
- Freedom’s Gifts: A Juneteenth Story
4 Juneteenth Children’s Books
Below are 4 quality Juneteenth children’s books for elementary teachers. Your kids will love these Juneteenth read alouds! They are great for celebrating Juneteenth, but can be read any time of the year!
All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom by Angela Johnson
The first Juneteenth children’s book on this list is All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom. Using vivid watercolor illustrations, this book tells the story of the day a young girl finds out that slavery has ended. The author also includes an informational section about Juneteenth at the end of the book.
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Juneteenth for Mazie by Floyd Cooper
Mazie doesn’t like being told “no.” One night, she is upset about not being able to have a cookie, play outside, and stay up late. Her father tells her that tomorrow they will be celebrating a very special holiday, one that commemorates the day her Great-great-great-grandpa Mose crossed into liberty. Mazie’s father then explains that Grandpa Mose was a slave. He heard “no” all of the time. Often, he and the other slaves would dream of their freedom.
When they found out that their freedom was granted, they danced, cheered, and celebrated into the night. Even though they were free, they still weren’t treated as equal. They went on to continue to fight for equality. Mazie’s father tells her that now it’s her turn to celebrate this special day just like her Great-great-great-grandpa Mose did.
Juneteenth Jamboree by Carole Boston Weatherford
When Cassandra moves with her family back to her parents’ hometown, she doesn’t immediately feel at home. One day, she enters the kitchen to find her parents planning a special surprise. Soon, the doorbell rings. Her Aunt Bet walks in with a ham that she needs to cook. Then, her mother picks out a beautiful calico dress for Cassie to wear. Once the food was ready, Cassie and her family all pile into the car, holding the dishes in their laps. Soon, they arrive at their destination, and Cassie finally begins to feel in place as she enjoys the Juneteenth celebrations.
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Freedom’s Gifts: A Juneteenth Story by Valerie Wesley
The last Juneteenth children’s book on this list is Freedom’s Gifts: A Juneteenth Story. This book is about a young girl named June. She lives in Texas. When her cousin Lillie comes to visit from New York, she doesn’t know much about Juneteenth and some of her remarks are ignorant and rub June the wrong way. With the help of their Great Aunt Marshall, June helps explain the importance of Juneteenth to her cousin and helps clear up her misconceptions.
Grab the Free Reading Resources!
We hope you found this list of Juneteenth children’s books helpful! If you want to get more book ideas to read aloud to your elementary students, then grab this reading freebie. It includes read aloud books lists, reading logs, and reading challenges for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classroom teachers. It will have you covered for the entire school year, as well as the summer months! Grab this free elementary reading packet now!
