Published by Capstone Young Readers

Summary:  When Mazie is mad at being told no, her father tells her about her great-great-great grandfather Mose who was a slave and heard “no” even more.  He learned about the Emancipation Proclamation on June 19, 1865, and now Mazie and her family celebrate Juneteenth every year.  Her father talks about others who worked and fought for civil rights after they got their freedom, all the way to the present.  The last page includes a paragraph of information about the origins of the Juneteenth celebration.

Pros:  This is a great introduction to Juneteenth and the Civil Rights Movement for primary grades. The 150th anniversary is coming up on June 19. Mazie looks to be about six years old, and the facts are presented appropriately for her age.  The illustrations are very appealing.

Cons:  The information is pretty simple and basic.  Pairing this with another book like Angela Johnson’s All Different Now will give a broader perspective.