The History of Juneteenth: A History Book for New Readers

By Arlisha Norwood

“This timely and compelling overview of Juneteenth shows what it has meant to African Americans since 1865 . . . a must-read for young and old alike.” ―Common Sense Media

On June nineteen, 1865, a Union soldier traveled to Texas to tell the enslaved people who lived there that they were free—that slavery was now illegal in every state. The people danced and sang in celebration of their freedom. Today, we pay tribute to this historical day with a special holiday on June nineteen called Juneteenth. This colorfully illustrated story takes kids on an exciting journey through all the events that led up to the first Juneteenth, the day itself, and the impact it had on the future of the United States.

What sets this book apart from other Juneteenth books for kids:

• A thorough history—Kids will learn the Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How of Juneteenth, and take a quick quiz to test their knowledge.
• A visual timeline—Help new readers grasp important details with a visual timeline that marks the major milestones of Juneteenth history.
• Today’s perspective—Kids can explore thought-provoking questions that help them better understand how the history of Juneteenth affects the world they live in today.

Teach new readers about an important piece of African-American history with this kid-friendly Juneteenth book.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: May 24, 2022
• ISBN: 9781685398118

Book preview

Black slaves working in cotton fields. One woman stands in front of a basket of cotton.

Understanding Juneteenth

When Sarah Ashley was a child, she thought about a life different from her own. She imagined playing outside and laughing with her friends. She dreamed about freedom. She wanted to be an ordinary kid.

Unfortunately, she could not. Sarah Ashley was born enslaved. She was forced to work under harsh and dangerous conditions. She was considered the property of another person. She was bought and sold without her permission, as if she were an item in a store. Sarah’s entire family had been sold, too. They were separated and sent to other places. She knew that slavery was evil. She knew she was supposed to be free. Instead of thinking about the awful and scary work, she dreamed of the day that everything would change.

On June 19th, 1865, Sarah encountered her burst of freedom.

A map of the U S. Northern states, Southern states, and Territories are labeled.

This book is about Sarah Ashley’s journey from slavery to a new world of dreams. It is also about the history of a holiday called Juneteenth, a celebration of that journey. Although this story is full of determination and courage, many of the chapters will teach about the difficulties that Sarah and other African Americans faced. At times, while reading, you may feel