5 Essential Books to Celebrate Juneteenth with Your Family

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As Juneteenth continues to gain recognition as an important American holiday, families across the country are seeking meaningful ways to celebrate June 19th with their children. At Milestone Mingle, we understand that the most memorable family celebrations happen when learning and joy come together naturally. This year, consider building your Juneteenth family celebration around carefully chosen children’s books that tell powerful stories of freedom, resilience, and community.


Creating meaningful Juneteenth activities for kids doesn’t require expensive party supplies or elaborate planning. The most impactful family traditions often center around shared stories that spark important conversations. Children’s books about Juneteenth provide the perfect foundation for intimate family discussions, helping young readers understand both the historical significance and the joyful spirit of America’s newest federal holiday.


Books also offer budget-friendly celebration options that align perfectly with creating lasting family memories. When you invest in quality children’s literature, you’re building a home library that can be revisited year after year, making each Juneteenth celebration deeper and more meaningful.

This 2024 Golden Poppy Award winner transforms Juneteenth into a vivid sensory experience through a young narrator’s eyes. Tripplett’s beautiful prose captures the sounds, smells, and feelings of modern Juneteenth celebrations, making it perfect for families wanting to understand how the holiday is celebrated today.
The book’s focus on family gatherings, community connections, and Black joy makes it an ideal conversation starter for families exploring the holiday’s contemporary significance. Children ages 5-8 will connect with the relatable narrator while absorbing important lessons about celebration and community.
Family Activity Idea: After reading, create a “Juneteenth Is” sensory chart with your children, listing sights, sounds, and smells from your own family celebrations.

Winner of the 2022 Black Kidlit Award for Best Historical Title, this book provides essential historical context for families seeking to understand Juneteenth’s origins. At just $6.99, it’s an incredibly affordable addition to any family’s celebration planning.
Agostini expertly explains how enslaved people in Texas first learned of their freedom on June 19, 1865, and traces the holiday’s evolution into a national celebration. The colorful illustrations and timeline make complex historical concepts accessible for children ages 6-9.
Family Activity Idea: Create a simple timeline of your family’s own important freedom moments or celebrations alongside the historical Juneteenth timeline.

This extraordinary book stands apart through its hand-sewn, quilted illustrations that tell the story of young Huldah experiencing the first Juneteenth celebration. Currently available for $11.55, this book connects readers to the communal spirit of creating something beautiful together.
Taylor’s unique artistic approach provides perfect inspiration for families wanting to incorporate hands-on Juneteenth activities into their celebrations. The quilted artwork demonstrates how communities come together to create lasting symbols of freedom and hope.
Family Activity Idea: Design and create family freedom flags using fabric scraps, construction paper, or even digital art tools, inspired by the community flag-making in the story.

From the popular “What Was?” series, this book serves as an comprehensive resource for curious children and adults alike. The engaging question-and-answer format makes it perfect for family reading sessions where everyone can participate in the learning process.
This book provides detailed information about Juneteenth’s significance in American history while maintaining an accessible tone that keeps young readers engaged throughout.
Family Activity Idea: Create your own family Q&A session about freedom, rights, and celebration traditions, using the book’s format as inspiration.

While we’ve highlighted four specific books, the fifth “essential” element is the tradition you create around these stories. The most successful Juneteenth family celebrations happen when parents and caregivers approach the holiday with curiosity, respect, and openness to learning alongside their children.

These books offer numerous opportunities for meaningful, affordable celebration activities that extend far beyond reading time. Consider organizing multi-generational reading circles where grandparents, parents, and children all participate in storytelling. Create discussion questions that help children connect historical events to their own family experiences and values.
For families who enjoy crafts and hands-on activities, each book provides inspiration for creative projects. From freedom flags to sensory charts, these activities reinforce learning while creating tangible memories of your celebration.

Making Juneteenth Whether you’re celebrating Juneteenth for the first time or looking to deepen existing family traditions, these carefully selected books offer pathways to richer understanding and more meaningful celebrations. They remind us that the most important elements of any holiday celebration are the people we gather with and the stories we choose to share.
By investing in quality children’s literature about Juneteenth, you’re not just planning one celebration—you’re building a foundation for annual family traditions that will grow more meaningful over time. These books will become treasured parts of your family’s library, ready to spark conversations and create connections year after year.

At Milestone Mingle, we believe every family deserves celebrations that feel both accessible and profound. These Juneteenth books, available at Target, provide the perfect foundation for creating memories that honor both history and hope.

Because at the end of the day, it’s not just a party, it’s a Milestone Mingle.