TELL ME ABOUT JUNETEENTH

On a day of festivities, a curious African American child asks the rest of the family some important questions.

The Juneteenth block party brings the whole neighborhood together with food and games. Our 5-year-old narrator, hair adorned with twists, knows that everyone comes together on this day to “celebrate our freedom.” But what did the first celebration look like? The child turns to an older cousin, Katelin, who describes the first Juneteenth that she remembers, five years ago: a big parade, a lot of red drink, and delicious brisket. Auntie Judy’s not quite old enough to recall the first Juneteenth, but she says that in the 1980s, the day was observed with a drum circle in the park, smothered turkey wings, and everyone singing; the opening lyrics to “Lift Every Voice and Sing” (widely considered the Black national anthem) float across the page as she reminisces. Finally, elderly Mr. Robert tells the youngster—and readers—about the first Juneteenth, which his mother attended, and describes similarities and differences to celebrations today. After a day of learning history through discussions with family and community, the narrator considers how Juneteenth will look in another 100 years. Dominated by shades of red, Hodge’s bright cartoons sets a festive tone, even as Nash gently explains that the holiday is rooted in the painful history of enslavement. Backmatter offers further context and notes how important red food and drinks are on this day.

A kid-friendly exploration of a significant national holiday.