Celebrate Juneteenth
Juneteenth or June 19, 1865, is considered the date when the last slaves in America were freed. Although the rumors of freedom were widespread prior to this, actual emancipation did not come until General Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas and issued General Order No. 3, on June 19, almost two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. For more information vist the official Juneteenth site http://www.19thofjune.com/
Reviews
Addy's Cookbook: A Peek at Dining in the Past with Meals You Can Cook Today
Rebecca Sample Bernstein
Illustrations by Susan Maha
Photography by Mark Salisbury
One of the best ways for children to experience history is through play. Fans of the American Girl character Addy can experience the past through Addy's Cookbook. Included are recipes with complete step-by-step instructions and plans for a festive Juneteenth celebration. 1994, Pleasant Company, $5.95. Ages 7 up. Reviewer: Susie Wilde (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 1-5624-7123-6
Africans in America, 1619-1865
Kay Melchisedech Olson
Early West Africans tried to live simply in harmony with nature and their neighbors. But, they possessed one vital resource many developed nations needed: manual labor. From 1500 to 1800, about 10 million blacks were sold for slave labor in Brazil, Cuba, Jamaica, Europe, and North America. On board the slave ships to America, captured blacks were shackled together in cramped quarters and fed few meals. At auction, they were inspected and bought like cattle. Owners usually gave slaves minimal housing, food, and clothing while they worked long hours. By the early 1860s, approximately 4 million slaves lived in the South, while most free blacks claimed northern states as home. After the Civil War, all African Americans were free, but their struggle for equality still continues. Today, upwards of 34 million African Americans reside in the U.S. They celebrate their heritage by observing Juneteenth, Emancipation Day, Martin Luther King Day, and Kwanzaa. Successful African Americans include sports star Michael Jordan and TV personality Oprah Winfrey. Activities in this book include a recipe for benné cookies, directions for playing mancala, and instructions for making a family tree. A map, timeline, glossary, suggestions for further research, and index are featured. The twelve titles in the "Coming to America" series also includes Chinese Immigrants and French Immigrants. 2003, Blue Earth Books, $22.60. Ages 9 to 12. Reviewer: Chris Gill (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-7368-1204-0
The Emancipation Proclamation
Ann Heinrichs
On New Year's Day, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared that "all persons held as slaves...are, and henceforward shall be, free." The Emancipation Proclamation was a "powerful promise of changes to come." Ann Heinrichs explains how the proclamation broadened the focus of the Civil War from re-uniting the country to ending slavery. Even for young readers, however, there should be more explanation of why the proclamation did not free slaves in border states and why "even people who were against slavery were unhappy about the proclamation." But there is valuable discussion of the excitement caused by the proclamation among African Americans then and now, as well as interesting details such as the origin of Juneteenth celebrations. The proclamation was not announced in Texas until it was read aloud by a Union general on June 19, 1863 in Galveston, and Texas' Juneteenth celebration soon became a festival of freedom all over the country. There is also an excellent group of interviews and photos of freed slaves, recalling their early days of slavery and freedom. There is a brief glossary, index, timeline and resource list in this series, which pulls significant historical events out of the textbook and gives them life and color of their own. Other books in the "We the People" series address the Alamo, the Battle of Gettysburg, California Missions, the Great Depression, Plymouth Colony, the Trail of Tears and the Statue of Liberty. 2002, Compass Point Books, $21.26. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Karen Leggett (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-756-50209-8
Freedom's Gift's: A Juneteenth Story
Valerie Wesly
Illustrated by Sharon Silson
June can't wait to go to the Juneteenth celebration. In fact, everything would be perfect if it weren't for her cousin, Lillie, who is visiting from New York City. Lillie doesn't understand the importance of this day and doesn't mind letting everyone know it. Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of African Americans in Texas on June 19, 1865. The story is set in 1943, and the south was still experiencing forced segregation, something Lillie isn't subjected to in the north. Children of all races and ethnicity (as well as the rest of us) can enjoy and appreciate the lessons about family, culture, and celebration taught here. 1997, Simon & Schuster, $16.00. Ages 8 up. Reviewer: Sheree van Vreede (Children's Literature)
Best Books:
•Kaleidoscope, A Multicultural Booklist for Grades K-8, Third Edition, 2001 ; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
•Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 1998 ; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS; United States
•Recent and Relevant Children's Books, 1997 ; American Visions; United States
ISBN: 0-614-29065-1
ISBN: 0-689-80269-2
Jubilee Journey
Carolyn Meyer
Creatively breaking the "show, don't tell" rule of good writing, Meyer uses storytelling to continue where White Lilacs left off. Here, biracial Emily Rose takes a journey with her mother and brothers to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Juneteenth with her great-grandmother. Emily had been told she was double, but her new friend, and sometimes enemy, Brandy insists that Emily's black and ignorant of her own culture. The biracial issue is never fully resolved, but Emily does learn the importance of her black family history through the storytelling of her elderly family members. Using this telling mode, Meyers tries to cram 75 years of racial history into one novel. She fails to do the history justice, but she does tell a compelling story of one girl's search for self. 1997, Gulliver Books, $12.00 and $6.00. Ages 10 to 14. Reviewer: Alexandria LaFaye, Ph.D. (Children's Literature)
Best Books:
Best Books for Young Adults, 1998 ; American Library Association-YALSA; United States
•Kaleidoscope, A Multicultural Booklist for Grades K-8, Third Edition, 2001 ; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
•Middle And Junior High School Library Catalog, Eighth Edition, 2000 ; H.W. Wilson; United States
•Notable Books for a Global Society, 1998 ; International Reading Association; United States
•Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 1998 ; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
•Mark Twain Award, 1999-2000 ; Nominee; Missouri
ISBN: 0-15-201377-6
ISBN: 0-15-201591-4
Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom
Charles A. Taylor
Illustrations by Charles A. Taylor, II
The Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 was the only way Abraham Lincoln could free slaves; as President, he did not have the power to abolish slavery, but as commander-in-chief of the Union armies, he had the power to order the soldiers to free any slaves held in states that were part of the Confederacy. The 13th Amendment to the Constitution was the law that actually abolished slavery, but the Emancipation Proclamation put the whole thing in motion. African Americans celebrate their freedom every year on June 19th, commemorating the day in 1865 that slaves in Texas heard the news that they were free men and women. Readers of Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom will learn these and many other interesting facts about slavery and what it felt like to be a slave during those times. In addition, many primary sources are used, including quotes from former slaves and the full text of the Emancipation Proclamation. Examples of one family's Juneteenth traditions are included. This is a great resource for teachers and librarians, as well as anyone who wants to learn more about history through the eyes of those who lived through it. The subject is presented in such a way that young students can learn about it reading on their own, though they might need help with the text of the Emancipation Proclamation. 2002, Open Hand Publishing, $19.95. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Carey Ahr (Children's Literature)
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
•ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Award Finalist 2002 Juvenile Non-Fiction United States
•Skipping Stones Book Awards Winner 2003 Multicultural and International United States
ISBN: 0-9408-8068-7
Juneteenth: Freedom Day
Muriel Miller Branc
Photographs by Willis Branch
This nonfiction book introduces readers to Juneteenth, a celebration that began in Texas on June 19, 1865 when the slaves there finally learned about the Emancipation Proclamation, which had been signed by Lincoln on Jan 1, 1863. The celebration has since spread within the African-American community. In addition to offering readers a detailed history of the holiday and its meaning to the people who celebrate it, the book follows the author's own experiences with Juneteenth. Black and white pictures with captions portray a variety of places and times, dating from the 1800's to the present. The language is clear and easy to read. The book is an ideal resource for a school library or a classroom studying the history of Black Americans, though I would not expect children to pick it up on their own. 1998, Cobblehill/Dutton, $15.99. Ages 9 to 12. Reviewer: Karen Porter (Children's Literature)
Best Books:
•Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001 ; H.W. Wilson; United States
•Middle And Junior High School Library Catalog, Eighth Edition, 2000 ; H.W. Wilson; United States
ISBN: 0-525-65222-1
Juneteenth Day
Denise M. Jordan
If you are of African American descent and live in the states of Alaska, California, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Oklahoma, or Texas, you will know that it is Juneteenth because it is a state holiday. In clear and straightforward language Jordan explains how this holiday came to be-the slaves in Texas did not learn that they were free until June 19, 1865 when General Gordon Granger read and order in Galveston, Texas stating that all of the slaves were free. The origin or the name for the holiday is also interesting. Since it was against the law to educate slaves most of what they learned or knew was passed along orally. The general order of June 19th became Juneteenth and thus the name stuck. The book describes ways that the holiday is celebrated and is peppered with historical and contemporary photographs. There is a timeline of important dates, a glossary and a short list of relatively recent books to consult for additional information. Since this book is aimed for the school and library market it also has an index as well as a table of contents. 2003, Heinemann, Ages 5 to 8, $22.79. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 1-4034-3505-7
ISBN: 1-4034-4253-3
Juneteenth Jamboree
Carole Boston Weatherford
Illustrated by Yvonne Buchanan
Did you know that "Juneteenth" is short for "June 19th.," the anniversary of the day in 1865 that Texas slaves learned of their freedom? Young Cassandra has just moved to Texas and is celebrating the anniversary for the first time. She makes a new friend, feasts on delicious Texas-style food, and joins others in letting off balloons of freedom. The celebration makes her feel at home in Texas for the first time since she moved. Learn about a Texas tradition from a child's point of view in this delightful story about the joy of freedom. 1995, Lee & Low, $14.99. Ages 6 to 9. Reviewer: Dia L. Michels (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 1-8800-0018-0
Mariah Keeps Cool
Mildred Pitts Walter
Summer has arrived, and so has Mariah's half-sister Denise, to whom the family adjusts, but not entirely. Outside her family, the spunky protagonist of MARIAH LOVES ROCK (Bradbury, 1988) focusses her high energy on The Fabulous Five, a swim team on which she is a diver. Short sentences and chapters, quickly paced action and a large typeface invite readers with many interests into a story in a new sequence of lighthearted episodes revolving around this lively, middle class African-American girl. Walter smoothly interweaves the family observance of Juneteenth into the plot and likewise skillfully pictures a contemporary blended family with strongly held cultural values along with those influenced by the popular culture of the dominant society. CCBC categories: Fiction For Young Readers. 1990, Bradbury, 139 pages, $12.95. Ages 8-11. Reviewer: CCBC (Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices, 1990)
ISBN: 0-02-792295-2
Updated 5/28/04
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