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June 19th marks Juneteenth, the day in 1865 when the last enslaved people in the United States learned they were free—more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. As we honor this pivotal moment in American history, books offer a powerful way to reflect, learn, and celebrate Black voices and stories. 

 

Tell Me About Juneteenth by Kortney Nash

In this empowering picture book, learn about how a community comes together to honor Juneteenth every year. As family and friends recount their memories and stories of Juneteenths past, a young girl learns about the holiday’s longstanding history and traditions. 

 

Juneteenth for Mazie by Floyd Cooper

Mazie is ready to celebrate liberty. She is ready to celebrate freedom. She is ready to celebrate a great day in American history! The day her ancestors were no longer slaves. Mazie remembers the struggles and the triumph, as she gets ready to celebrate Juneteenth.

 

Juneteenth: Our Day of Freedom by Sharon Dennis Wyeth

Some call it Freedom Day; some call it Emancipation Day; some call it Juneteenth. Learn more about this important holiday that celebrates the end of chattel slavery in the United States in this children’s book.

 

On Juneteenth by Annette Gordon-Reed

Weaving together American history, dramatic family chronicle, and searing episodes of memoir, this adult nonfiction book provides a historian’s view of the country’s long road to Juneteenth, recounting both its origins in Texas and the enormous hardships that African-Americans have endured in the century since, from Reconstruction through Jim Crow and beyond. 

 

Watermelon and Red Birds: A Cookbook for Juneteenth and Black Celebrations by Nicole A. Taylor

The very first cookbook to celebrate Juneteenth, from a food writer who draws on her decade of experiences observing the holiday. On Juneteenth in 1866, Black Texans congregated with music, dance, and BBQs to celebrate the first anniversary of the event. All-day cookouts with artful salads, bounteous dessert spreads, and raised glasses of “red drink” are essential to Juneteenth gatherings. In this book, the author bridges the traditional African-American table and 21st-century flavors through stories and recipes. 

 

Jen Pace Dickenson is the Youth Services Librarian for Polk County Public Libraries. For information about the library’s resources, programs, and other services, visit polklibrary.org or call (828) 894-8721.