Illustrated by Daniel J. O’Brien
5 stars
A heartfelt story, fantastically told. This joyful picture book depicts the celebration of Juneteenth, highlights the symbolism used, and emphasizes Juneteenth’s historical significance.
Well-written, heartwarming, and hopeful. Join a family on a sensory experience as they come together to celebrate Juneteenth and remember their history. The story highlights the sights, sounds, tastes, smells, and feel of the celebrations. The book combines the joyful celebration of parades, food, and time with family along with the remembrance of historical events, ancestorial connections, and the continued efforts to achieve equality.
I love how detailed the illustrations are. Each character has their own personality and backstory. The main character’s father has a hearing aid and a prosthetic leg. In one of the photographs on the wall, we see him receiving a purple heart from President Obama. Details like these really flesh out the family featured in the story.
I also loved all the historical figures included in the illustrations such as Ruby Bridges, Shirley Chisholm, a protester from the Memphis sanitation strike, and so many more.
At the back of the book is a note about the significance of the color red in Juneteenth celebrations.
A fantastic story celebrating freedom, family, bravery, and strength.