The Juneteenth Story: Celebrating the End of Slavery in the United States; Alliah L. Agostini

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 freedom.

On June 19, 1865 —more than two years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation— the enslaved people of Texas first learned of their freedom . That day became a day of remembrance and celebration that changed and grew from year to year.

Learn about the events that led to emancipation and why it took so long for the enslaved people in Texas to hear the news . The first Juneteenth began as “Jubilee Day,” where families celebrated and learned of their new rights as citizens. As Black Texans moved to other parts of the country, they brought their traditions along with them, and Juneteenth continued to grow and develop .

Today, Juneteenth’s powerful spirit has endured through the centuries to become an official holiday in the United States in 2021 . The Juneteenth Story provides an accessible introduction for kids to learn about this important American holiday.

May 3, 2022

About the Author

Buffalo, NY native Alliah L. Agostini has marketed everything from tampons to scrappy start-ups, but motherhood helped her return to her first love: children's literature. She writes to spread joy, truth, and to help more children see themselves reflected on the page.

Alliah is a member of KidLit in Color, Black Creators HQ, the Picture Book Sunrays, and SCBWI. She has been a guest on a number of podcasts, and has also been featured on CNN and in the Washington Post. Ms. Agostini resides in New Jersey where she enjoys impromptu dance parties, fossil hunting, and making up corny jokes with her husband and two children. She has an A.B. and an M.B.A. from Harvard.