by Alice Faye Duncan, author; and Keturah A. Bobo, illustrator
review by Lillis Ward
This true story of the history of the national holiday, Juneteenth, will entertain and capture the attention of young children with its beautiful illustrations and colorful language. Through the eyes of Opal Lee, a grandchild of a slave, readers will learn about life of an enslaved person before the Emancipation Proclamation, life for black Americans during the 1900’s, and finally Opal Lee’s quest to make “Juneteenth” a national holiday. Her efforts were rewarded in 2021 when President Biden signed into law “Juneteenth”, June 19th, a day to commemorate freedom for all. This is certainly a book for all ages as we strive to learn more about our American past.
Possible Book Related Activities:
- At the end of the book is a timeline of the history of the Black Americans and the creation of Juneteenth. Help your child create a timeline of his or her life and include in it memorable events in their lifetime.
- Also at the end of the book is a recipe for “Red Punch”, a popular strawberry lemonade drink served at Juneteenth celebrations. Help your child make a recipe of Red Punch and serve it to your family and friends.
- Ask your child what part of Opal Lee’s story was most important to him or her? Invite him or her to draw a picture illustrating what you enjoyed most about her life story. OR invite them to draw a picture of what freedom means to him or her.
Deeper Conversation:
- Discuss with your child our country’s independence day and its history. Read the first section of this document and discuss what this means with your child and how this relates to Juneteenth. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”