Juneteenth is a special day for many African Americans. It’s a day to remember our ancestors, celebrate our culture, and educate the next generation about our history.
This year, why not add some fun and educational activities to your Juneteenth celebration? One way to do that is by reading children’s books about Juneteenth together as a family.
In this blog post, we will recommend 10 children’s books about Juneteenth that are perfect for kids of all ages!
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Juneteenth: Children’s Guide to Celebrating African American Independence
By: Sharnita Arrindell
An educational book for children that provides lessons on juneteenth and its importance in African American history. This book includes facts, history, and activities to help children understand and celebrate Juneteenth.
For the moms who are teachers, you could create an entire lesson based on what is discussed in this book. Add this Juneteenth book for kids and some others to the collection to create a space where your kids can learn more about African American history.
Freedom Day: A Juneteenth Activity Book for Kids
By Ama Karikari Yawson
Within the last two years, so many Juneteenth children’s books have been released. This book provides so much detail and information about juneteenth and what it means to be free.
It includes plenty of Juneteenth activities for kids that you could do as a family. This book is perfect for kids who are inquisitive and want to learn more about the holiday and what it represents.
Juneteenth (On My Own Holidays)
By: Drew Nelson, Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
One of the first picture books about Juneteenth that is mentioned on this list, Juneteenth is perfect for kids who are just learning to read. The illustrations in this book are beautiful and help tell the story of Juneteenth in a way that kids can understand.
This book is a great starting point for young children who are interested in learning more about Juneteenth and African American history. I’ve been told that this book captures the attention of even the youngest readers.
All Different Now: Juneteenth, The First Day of Freedom
By: Angela Johnson
All different now is one of the most popular children’s books about Juneteenth. This book tells the story of a young girl who goes to a Juneteenth celebration with her family and learns about the holiday and its significance.
This book is perfect for kids who crave knowledge and wants multiple Juneteenth picture books in the home. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a children’s book about Juneteenth.
Juneteenth (Beautiful Me)
By: Anece Rochell
This picture book centers around Daylen-one of many of the characters the author creates the Juneteenth series on. He is a young African American boy who is celebrating Juneteenth with his family.
This book is perfect for kids who appreciate creative stories that inspire, empower, and teach. This book is perfect for kids of all ages, but it’s especially perfect as a Juneteenth gift for young African American boys who need to see themselves represented in literature.
Juneteenth Book for Kids
By: Green Owl
I have to say, this author did such a great job of providing descriptions of what’s inside the book on their sales page. Inside the book, your child will enjoy everything from a short history of Juneteenth, and questions about Juneteenth to crossword and color pages.
I love a children’s book that gets me excited because that’s usually an indicator that kids will love it too. This Juneteenth for kids book is perfect for those who are creative and enjoy a variety of activities.
Holly Celebrates Juneteenth
By: Kimberly Kendall-Drucker
Released on April 26 of this year, you are going to want to add this gem to your collection. This is the second in a series of books that focus on African American holidays.
Holly is a young African American girl who loves to celebrate Juneteenth and other holidays from the series with her family. If you are desiring to add a brand new book to your Juneteenth collection, then this is the one for you.
I think it’s important for kids to have new books about Juneteenth every year so they can keep the momentum going and continue to learn about this important holiday.
What is Juneteenth?
By: Kirsti Jewel
The New York best times series comes in to give us a historical account of Juneteenth in this children’s book. This is another great option if you are seeking books about Juneteenth for kids to introduce to your young ones.
Released in April 2022, this book goes into detail about what happened on that day in Texas and how it eventually became a national holiday. This is the perfect Juneteenth book for kids who want to learn about the past and present significance of Juneteenth.
Juneteenth for Mazie
By: Floyd Cooper
Published in 2016, this book is another very popular book many families have in their homes today. Mazie is a young African American girl who loves to learn about the emancipation proclamation and share what she knows with others.
This Juneteenth book for kids is perfect for those who appreciate a good story and like to learn through fiction. I would highly suggest getting this book for your curious little ones who love going back and forth between reading and asking questions.
The Juneteenth Story: Celebrating The End of Slavery for The United States
By: Alliah L. Agostini
Obviously, this is the year of newly released kids’ books on the emancipation day of African Americans in the United States. This Juneteenth book for kids was released on May 3rd of this year and it is a perfect addition to any Juneteenth activity this year.
With vivid pictures greeting you, the book goes into detail about powerful events in history that led to June 19th and the eventual freedom of African Americans. This Juneteenth book is perfect for kids who are visual learners and enjoy seeing pictures that go along with the story.
Books On African American Emancipation Day
There are so many key takeaways from all of the books I featured on this list. One of them is history from long ago is history which should never be forgotten. It’s essential that we keep the momentum going and continue to educate ourselves and our children about juneteenth so that we can create a more just society for everyone.
Do you have any other suggestions for Juneteenth activities for kids? Let us know in the comments!
Happy Juneteenth, bloomers!
