Let's Celebrate Emancipation Day & Juneteenth: (Holidays & Heroes)

In the 1800s, abolitionists like Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, and Sojourner Truth fought for freedom from slavery for all African Americans. They fought with speeches, songs, newspapers, and even with daring rescue missions! Every year on both Emancipation Day and Juneteenth we honor and continue their fight for freedom and equality. Holidays & Heroes brings to life the people whose holidays we celebrate throughout the year. Enriched with colorful historical images, books in this series will engage children in the stories behind our holidays and the people they honor.

About the Author :
Barbara deRubertis recently retired after 31 years of teaching elementary and middle school classes. She has written more than 50 books for children that have been published by Kane Press. Barbara and her husband live in Cashmere, Washington.

Review :
The colorful books in the Holiday & Heroes series present overviews of the origins, history, and current practices associated with specific holidays. There's no cookie-cutter approach here. DeRubertis organizes each book in a way that suits its topic, while writing clearly and using short sentences effectively. Each double-page spread includes several brief paragraphs of text and two or three well-chosen pictures, including portraits, period illustrations, and photos. Besides explaining the process and the importance of voting, Election Day lays out the gradual expansion of American voting rights through the elimination or reduction of restrictions based on religion, property holding, race, sex, national origin, and age. Emancipation Day & Juneteenth discusses the abolishment of slavery in the U.S., the observance of District of Columbia Emancipation Day, and the spread of Juneteenth celebrations from Texas to 45 other states. After looking at historical calendars, including Native American and Roman examples, New Year's Day describes modern celebrations within Jewish, Persian, and Chinese traditions, and it concludes with American customs, such as the New Year's Eve ball drop. Women's Equality Day surveys the history of women's suffrage in the U.S., the stalled status of the Equal Rights Amendment, and the gender gap among elected officials before suggesting ways to celebrate Women's Equality Day and International Women's Day. An attractive, informative series."--Booklist -- "Journal" (9/15/2018 12:00:00 AM) The holidays of Emancipation Day and Juneteenth are occasions for learning about the U.S. history of slavery, abolitionism, and emancipation. In order to learn the meaning and significance of 'Emancipation' and 'Juneteenth, ' readers first learn about 'a terrible part of America's history called slavery' and the brave heroes and heroines who fought to end it. A section called 'How Did Slavery Begin in America?' explains how traders brought captured Africans across the ocean in chains, then sold them in markets to white owners, who became dependent on slave labor. This section points out that the rights and equality established in the Declaration of Independence did not include the enslaved population. Next, sections on Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, and Harriet Tubman describe the hard work that such abolitionists undertook. A section on the Civil War includes the Compensated Emancipation Act and the military operation Harriet Tubman led to help the Union Army rescue slaves. This section includes mention of the 'Black Codes' that limited African-Americans' freedom for many more years. The final few pages detail the history of the District of Columbia Emancipation Day holiday and the origin and traditions of the Juneteenth celebrations in Texas and elsewhere. Vivid modern photographs and historical illustrations cover half of every spread. Packed with information but more engaging than a textbook, this volume, like others in the series (Let's Celebrate Women's Equality Day publishes simultaneously), uses an honest yet positive approach to presenting the fight against injustice in U.S. society. A solid option for introducing the historical context of the holidays.--Kirkus Reviews -- "Journal" (7/15/2018 12:00:00 AM)