The Night Before Freedom: A Juneteenth Story
by Glenda Armand (Author) Corey Barksdale (Illustrator)
This moving picture book tells the story of Juneteenth with all the care and reverence such a holiday deserves. The rhyming text and stunning illustrations will teach children about this historic day in history.
'Twas the night before freedom, and all through the South,
long-whispered rumors had, spread word of mouth.
"It's coming! It's coming!" I heard people say.
"Emancipation is coming our way."
Eight-year-old David and his family gather at Grandma's house in Galveston, Texas, for a cherished family tradition: Grandma's annual retelling of the story of Juneteenth, the holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.
The signing of the Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln meant that all enslaved persons within the rebellious states would be free as of January 1, 1863. However, people in Texas did not receive the news of their emancipation until two and a half years later--on June 19, 1865.
Grandma tells the story of anticipation, emancipation, and jubilation just as it was told to her many years before by her own grandmother, Mom Bess. As a six-year-old, Bess had experienced the very first Juneteenth. Before that day, she could only imagine what liberty would look like. But once freedom arrived, would it live up to a little girl's dreams?
The story is written in the same meter as Clement C. Moore's The Night Before Christmas, making it a perfect book for parents and kids to read together.
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School Library Journal
K-Gr 5--In this story of a family's annual Juneteenth celebration, the matriarch recounts how her grandmother, Mom Bess, told the story of how she (at six years old) and her parents welcomed freedom on the first Juneteenth in 1865. David's family is celebrating Juneteenth in Galveston, TX, with their relatives. The festivities, which include parades, speeches, food, and music, honor the day when enslaved people in Galveston finally learned of their freedom in 1865, two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. An ode to Clement C. Moore's "The Night Before Christmas," this story is written in the same meter as the well-known poem. Armand's use of rhyme and rhythm throughout the book is reminiscent of nursery rhymes, in a way that makes the history digestible for young readers. The vibrant artwork depicts David's ancestors and people in their community marching, dancing, praising, and singing as word of their newfound freedom spread. Colors are bright, warm, lively, flowy, soft, and blended. The faces have definition, the pages have texture, and the people seem to really move in each illustration. VERDICT Appropriate for elementary school libraries, and would also be an asset in a classroom library or as part of an elementary school lesson for kindergarten to fifth grade students.--Matia Edwards
Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
JUV016110 - Juvenile Fiction | Historical | United States - General
JUV017080 - Juvenile Fiction | Holidays & Celebrations | Other, Non-Religious
African Americans
Picture books
Family life
Texas
1865-1950
Juneteenth
