­Juneteenth

PreS-Gr 2–Mrs. Connor’s diverse and energetic class at Robin Hill School is learning something new. Mrs. Connor asks them to identify a red and blue flag with a starburst. Ayanna, a Black student, identifies it as the Juneteenth flag, a holiday celebrated on June 19th to mark the day when “the last enslaved people in the United States learned they were free.” The class decides to plan a parade, since Juneteenth is often celebrated that way. Reflecting at home, Ayanna’s mom elaborates, “It reminds us of how far we’ve come and how far we have to go.” Headed to school the next morning, Ayanna’s mother points out a Black-owned business; a traffic light, invented by a Black person; and a bus, which would have been segregated less than 100 ago. At the classroom parade, Ayanna astutely declares, “Everyone should get to choose the life they want to live.” Though Juneteenth is a holiday with complicated origins and multi-layered meaning, this title introduces the realities of historical discrimination and the ongoing pursuit of equal rights in accessible terms. Simple sentences and precise vocabulary welcome early readers, but some guidance from a caregiver, supported by the author’s note, can clarify the celebration’s origins and ­purpose ­further.