If you want to learn more about Juneteenth as we approach its anniversary, or just want to be sure its history and relevance has a place on your bookshelves, we have found some terrific children’s books about Juneteenth to help.
After all, I know a lot of us (embarrassingly) still don’t hear much about Juneteenth especially since it was only made a federal holiday in 2021. But Juneteenth Independence Day—also called Freedom Day or Emancipation Day—marks the very important celebration of the June 19, 1865 announcement that freed the last enslaved people in the state of Texas, nearly 30 months after the Emancipation Proclamation. It’s an amazing story.
All of us should know more about its history so that we can all celebrate this important holiday with the respect and reverence it deserves. After all, Black American history is American history.
So, we’ve rounded up seven great children’s books about Juneteenth, to help more kids—and even more adults—understand why this day is so significant. (Updated for 2026).
Juneteenth for Mazie
For early elementary aged kids, Juneteenth for Mazie by Floyd Cooper is a perfect introduction the celebration of Juneteenth. Mazie, like most modern kids, hears “no” a lot and doesn’t like it. So her dad sits her down and tells her the story of her third-great grandfather Mose, who heard “no” even more as an enslaved person. It explains the joy behind this day, presented with underlying themes of forgiveness and accomplishment too.
Free at Last: A Juneteenth Poem
Powerful and strong, Free at Last: A Juneteenth Poem provides kids–and adults– with a better understanding of what it meant to be free for so many people at that moment in 1865. Sojourner Kincaid Rolle’s solemn verse makes it clear that freedom did not mean the end of hard times for people who had been enslaved for so long. At the same time, Alex Bostic’s illustrations showcase a steady and unwavering movement toward something better—a sentiment that carries through to today.
Opal Lee and What it Means to be Free: The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth
The book Opal Lee and What it Means to be Free: The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth was released in 2022. Written by Alice Faye Duncan and illustrated by Keturah A. Bobo, this inspiring book follows the true story of Opal Lee’s childhood in her turbulent Texas town, through her fight to make Juneteenth a nationally recognized federal holiday.
The Bell Rang
The Bell Rang by James E. Ransome, is a beautiful and haunting picture book that depicts the horrors of slavery not just in terms of individual abuses, but the pain and difficulty of trying to keep families together and what that looks like to a young child. As we celebrate Juneteenth, we should acknowledge the truth about what enslaving humans really was like.
For a joyfully informative look at Juneteenth, check out The Juneteenth Story by Alliah L. Agostini and Sawyer Cloud. Since Juneteenth was officially recognized just five years ago (2021) in our country, this children’s book that outlines the evolution of this holiday is very helpful.
So Many Years: A Juneteenth Story features Anne Wynter’s beautiful lyrical verse along with Jerome Pumphrey’s stunning illustrations. This story doesn’t shy away from our dark history of slavery, but still communicates the essential spirit of Black joy that resonates today.
If you’re looking for a straightforward, informative book for kids about Juneteenth, we recommend A Kids Book About Juneteenth by Garrison Hayes. This is part of a very cool series of books for kids about important topics, and we love the factual, educational presentation about the holiday with cool graphic design for kids.
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