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A noteworthy tribute to Juneteenth.

Bostic’s exquisite oil paintings, rich with warm hues, pair beautifully with Rolle's free-verse poem to pay tribute to a celebration long relegated to the shadows of American history. This picture book stands as a marvelous tribute to the enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, who listened to the reading of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1865. It honors the Black families who stayed in Texas and those who tried to find solace as far away as they could. The book also highlights the lasting legacy of Juneteenth, noting that “in towns from sea to sea,” the ancestors of enslaved Black people continue to celebrate the anniversary of freedom from slavery and pass down the history and traditions of the holiday. Rolle lauds everyone who pays homage to the monumental day. In her closing author’s note, she describes how her Juneteenth poem came to fruition and the Texan roots of the globally impactful holiday. Fans of Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre (2021) by Carole Boston Weatherford and Floyd Cooper and The Undefeated (2019) by Kwame Alexander and Kadir Nelson will enjoy this book. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A profound memorial to the suffering, strength, and stories of Black Americans.