Juneteenth is a time for remembrance, celebration, and education. Deepen your understanding of Juneteenth, the holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States, through these new children’s titles, ideal for preschool through early elementary readers. Then, honor the legacy of freedom and resilience by joining your community at one of the many Juneteenth celebrations taking place across the Twin Cities.

Pro-tip: Track the books you & your children are reading. Download the free app The Storygraph, created and owned by Black female tech entrepreneur Nadia Odunayo.All titles are available through the Debra S Fish Early Childhood Resource Library, a branch of the St. Paul Public Library.

Children’s Titles

THE JUNETEENTH COOKBOOK: RECIPES AND ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES TO CELEBRATE

With captivating illustrations of 18 quick and easy recipes, follow along with little Alliah and her grandparents as they explore the historical origins of the holiday through food. Make, share, and enjoy kid-friendly takes on some of the most popular Juneteenth celebration foods. Keep the celebration going with five fun and educational activity sections that include crafting projects, table and field games, on-site or virtual field trips, and dancing to the music of the holiday with Alliah’s Cookout DJ 101 tutorial. These activities are perfect for families, community groups, or classes and bring elements of the road to emancipation and Juneteenth’s history to life.

Juneteenth IS (Age Focus: 5 – 8 years)

CELEBRATES BLACK JOY: At its root, this is a story of family and community. Vibrant illustrations capture the warmth and unity of Black families and Black communities in a portrait of beautiful joy.REMEMBERING A LEGACY: Both a story of celebration and a commemoration of freedom, this book honors a past of struggle, resilience, and triumph. It recognizes Juneteenth not just as a holiday but as a cultural legacy. An author’s note also explains the significance of the color red to Juneteenth—its use as a symbol of African American endurance and the ways Black communities weave the color into modern-day celebrations through food and clothing.BLACK HISTORY IS AMERICAN HISTORY: Juneteenth marks an undeniable truth of American history and remains a cultural touchstone for many Black Americans, making it important for all Americans to understand. Much needed in this time of growing representation and discussion about equity and social justice, this book is a strong resource for parents and educators seeking to introduce Black history and encourage respectful conversations.

They Built Me for Freedom: The Story of Juneteenth and Houston’s Emancipation Park (Age Focus: 4 – 8 years)On June 19, 1865, the 250,000 enslaved people of Texas learned they were free, ending slavery in the United States. This day was soon to be memorialized with the dedication of a park in Houston. The park was called Emancipation Park, and the day it honored would come to be known as Juneteenth.In the voice and memory of the park itself—its fields and pools, its protests and cookouts, and, most of all, its people—the 150-year story of Emancipation Park is brought to life. Through lyrical text and vibrant artwork, Tonya Duncan Ellis and Jenin Mohammed have crafted an ode to the struggle, triumph, courage, and joy of Black America—and the promise of a people to remember.

The Night Before Freedom: A Juneteenth Story (Age Focus: 4 – 8 years)David’s family has joined relatives to celebrate the holiday in Galveston, Texas. After the parades, speeches, food, and music, the culminating activity is David’s grandmother’s telling the story of her grandmother Mom Bess and the events that came to be known as Juneteenth. The rumors that freedom was coming for enslaved people finally came true with the arrival of a White soldier on horseback who read the Emancipation Proclamation. Bess, who was 6 at the time, did not understand until her mother explained what freedom meant. The newly freed began to plan what they would do next. Bess’ parents started to work for wages, eventually purchasing land and providing an opportunity for Bess to get an education. The afterword explains that although President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation to take effect Jan. 1, 1863, enslaved people in Texas did not learn of the change in their status until June 19, 1865. For years some states celebrated the holiday. In June 2021, President Joe Biden declared Juneteenth a federal holiday. Armand uses the same meter as Clement C. Moore’s “ ’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” evoking the same anticipation—in this case for freedom.

Juneteenth: A Picture Book for Kids Celebrating Black Joy (Age Focus: 4 – 8 years)

A lyrical picture book about our newest national holiday, Juneteenth follows the annual celebration in Galveston, Texas—birthplace of Juneteenth—through the eyes of a boy coming to understand his place in Black American history in a story from three Texan creators.

Build a House (Age Focus: 4 – 8 years)

Grammy Award winner Rhiannon Giddens celebrates Black history and culture in her unflinching, uplifting, and gorgeously illustrated picture book debut. As an acclaimed musician, singer, songwriter, and cofounder of the traditional African American string band the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Rhiannon Giddens has long used her art to mine America’s musical past and manifest its future, passionately recovering lost voices and reconstructing a nation’s musical heritage. Written as a song to commemorate the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth-which was originally performed with famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma-and paired here with bold illustrations by painter Monica Mikai, Build a House tells the moving story of a people who would not be moved and the music that sustained them. Steeped in sorrow and joy, resilience and resolve, turmoil and transcendence, this dramatic debut offers a proud view of history and a vital message for readers of all ages: honor your heritage, express your truth, and let your voice soar, even-or perhaps especially-when your heart is heaviest.

Community Celebrations!

JUNETEENTH Calendar of Metro Area Celebrations: The Anika Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering community through health, wellness, economic empowerment and civic engagement, has assembled a calendar of some of the biggest Juneteenth events happening around the metro area

Juneteenth – Minnesota Orchestra

Juneteenth at Minneapolis institute of art 

2025 JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION — RONDO CENTER OF DIVERSE EXPRESSIONS

By Jennie Walker Knoot