Juneteenth for Kids

The Juneteenth holiday (a portmanteau of June and nineteen) commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union general Gordon Granger read federal orders in Galveston, Texas, that all previously enslaved people were free — finally freeing slaves in Texas over two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. The Juneteenth holiday is a time to celebrate as well as a time to examine our history, to reflect on the legacy of slavery, and to look toward the future. Here are some books by Black authors and artists that celebrate African American culture, resistance and achievement.

Updated June 4, 2026
L
LINCC (Libraries in Clackamas County) Happy Valley Library
Drag items up and down to your preferred order then select the "Save Order" button.
The Juneteenth story : celebrating the end of slavery in the United States
Agostini, Alliah L.
Paper Book
Winner of the 2022 Black Kid Lit Award for Best Historical title. With colorful illustrations and a timeline, this introductory history of Juneteenth for kids details the evolution of the holiday commemorating the date the enslaved people of Texas first learned of their...
An American story
Alexander, Kwame
Paper Book
A Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Book A 2023 New York Times Best Children's Book A 2023 Publisher's Weekly Best Picture Book An NPR Best Book of the Year #1 New York Times Bestselling and...
Let the children march
Clark-Robinson, Monica
Paper Book
This powerful picture book introduces young readers to a key event in the struggle for Civil Rights. Winner, Coretta Scott King Honor Award. In 1963 Birmingham, Alabama, thousands of African American children volunteered to march for their rights after hearing Dr. Martin Luther King...
The ABCs of Black history
Cortez, Rio
Paper Book
In this New York Times bestseller that takes a bold journey through the alphabet of Black history and culture, B is for Beautiful, Brave, and Bright! Letter by letter, The ABCs of Black History celebrates a story that spans continents and centuries,...
Opal Lee and what it means to be free : the true story of the grandmother of Juneteenth
Duncan, Alice Faye
Paper Book
Booklist starred review Black activist Opal Lee had a vision of Juneteenth as a holiday for everyone. This true story celebrates Black joy and inspires children to see their dreams blossom. Growing up in Texas, Opal knew the history of Juneteenth, but she soon discovered that many...
Juneteenth
Garrett, Van G.
Paper Book
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. A young Black child...
Born on the water
Hannah-Jones, Nikole
Paper Book
The 1619 Project's lyrical picture book in verse chronicles the consequences of slavery and the history of Black resistance in the United States, thoughtfully rendered by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones and Newbery honor-winning author Renee Watson. A...
Black girl power : 15 stories celebrating Black girlhood
Johnson, Leah (Young adult author)
Paper Book
AN INSTANT USA TODAY BEST SELLER Kirkus Reviews Best of 2024 list, Best of Middle Grade A vibrant, heartwarming collection of 15 middle grade stories and poems that celebrates the joy, strength, and experience of Black girlhood, including stories from Ibi Zoboi, Sharon M...
Malcolm lives! : the official biography of Malcolm X for young readers
Kendi, Ibram X.
Paper Book
"Vital, brilliant" --New York Times Book Review * A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection * 4 starred reviews National Book Award-winning and #1 New York Times-bestselling author Dr. Ibram X. Kendi brings a global icon to life in the first major...
Black boy joy : 17 stories celebrating Black boyhood
Mbalia, Kwame
Paper Book
THE INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER. FIVE STARRED REVIEWS Celebrate the joys of Black boyhood with stories from seventeen bestselling, critically acclaimed Black authors-including Jason Reynolds, Jerry Craft, and Kwame Mbalia. ★"Pick up Black Boy Joy...
Juneteenth: Ready-To-Read Level 1
McNamara, Margaret
Paper Book
The first graders of Robin Hill School learn about Juneteenth in this easy-to-follow Level 1 Ready-to-Read story! Juneteenth is an important holiday in Mrs. Connor's class. When the students hear about its history, it inspires them and opens their eyes to what it means to treat...
Stamped : racism, antiracism, and you
Reynolds, Jason
Paper Book
Don't miss this "fresh and conversational" (TIME Magazine), "potent and provocative" (The San Francisco Chronicle), #1 New York Times bestselling exploration of racism--and antiracism--in America. ...

Library staff! You can create and contribute to lists. Contact your catalog administrator or log in here.