Description
Book SynopsisBooklist starred review
Black activist Opal Lee had a vision of Juneteenth as a holiday for everyone. This true story celebrates Black joy and inspires children to see their dreams blossom. Growing up in Texas, Opal knew the history of Juneteenth, but she soon discovered that many Americans had never heard of the holiday. Join Opal on her historic journey to recognize and celebrate freedom for all.
Every year, Opal looked forward to the Juneteenth picnic—a drumming, dancing, delicious party. She knew from Granddaddy Zak''s stories that Juneteenth celebrated the day the freedom news of President Lincoln''s Emancipation Proclamation finally sailed into Texas in 1865—over two years after the president had declared it! But Opal didn''t always see freedom in her Texas town. Then one Juneteenth day when Opal was twelve years old, an angry crowd burned down her brand-new home. This wasn''t freedom at all. She had to do
Trade Review
Entertaining, informative, inspiring, beautifully illustrated and thoroughly 'kid friendly' in presentation, 'Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free' is unequivocally and unreservedly recommended as a high priority addition to family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library Black History, American Biography, and Holiday Themed picture book collections. * Midwest Book Review *
