A deeply felt celebration of the resilience of the human spirit.
Wynter and Pumphrey tell the story of Juneteenth.
What would you wear, how would you eat, how would you sing, dance, and celebrate, after so many years of being forced to wear rags, to eat scraps, and to hide your messages in song? Directly addressing audiences, Wynter’s spare yet powerfully immersive words invite readers to imagine both the horrors of enslavement and the joy of emancipation, while the backmatter lays out the facts about the holiday commemorating June 19, 1865, when Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce the end of slavery. Pumphrey’s acrylic illustrations weave back and forth in time, juxtaposing stark images of silhouetted people in chains and picking cotton with uplifting scenes of the newly liberated dancing and even taking flight, along with depictions of modern-day Juneteenth parades and concerts. Author and illustrator walk a fine line, acknowledging the harsh realities of slavery while never overwhelming readers with gruesome details. Pumphrey nimbly incorporates lyrics from spirituals into his artwork. Beginning and ending on notes of hope—with scenes of a formerly enslaved family enjoying their freedom at sunrise and sunset—his visuals pulse with energy and life. Children will be filled with wonder; adults will be impressed by the sheer talent on display. All will come away enlightened and moved by this loving tribute.
A deeply felt celebration of the resilience of the human spirit. (lyrics to “Lift Every Voice and Sing”) (Informational picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: May 6, 2025
ISBN: 9780063081147
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: March 8, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A good-enough introduction to a contested festivity but one that’s not in step with the community it’s for.
An overview of the modern African-American holiday.
This book arrives at a time when black people in the United States have had intraracial—some serious, some snarky—conversations about Kwanzaa’s relevance nowadays, from its patchwork inspiration that flattens the cultural diversity of the African continent to a single festive story to, relatedly, the earnest blacker-than-thou pretentiousness surrounding it. Both the author and consultant Keith A. Mayes take great pains—and in painfully simplistic language—to provide a context that attempts to refute the internal arguments as much as it informs its intended audience. In fact, Mayes says in the endnotes that young people are Kwanzaa’s “largest audience and most important constituents” and further extends an invitation to all races and ages to join the winter celebration. However, his “young people represent the future” counterpoint—and the book itself—really responds to an echo of an argument, as black communities have moved the conversation out to listen to African communities who critique the holiday’s loose “African-ness” and deep American-ness and moved on to commemorate holidays that have a more historical base in black people’s experiences in the United States, such as Juneteenth. In this context, the explications of Kwanzaa’s principles and symbols and the smattering of accompanying activities feel out of touch.
A good-enough introduction to a contested festivity but one that’s not in step with the community it’s for. (resources, bibliography, glossary, afterword) (Nonfiction. 5-8)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4263-2849-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: National Geographic Kids
Review Posted Online: Oct. 27, 2017
Amid inconsistencies of format and information, the illustrations end up giving the most clarity about this festival.
Diwali, the festival of lights, a five-day celebration that has many different forms, is celebrated in different ways across India and in many other countries.
This board book cursorily presents the different rituals associated with this celebration of the Hindu New Year, including getting the house ready to welcome Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth; decorating the house with rangoli and diyas; and celebrating with family, friends, fireworks, and good food. The text is simple and gives only very basic information. “On the fifth and final day of Diwali, we celebrate brothers and sisters. The lifelong bond between siblings is special, and we honor that.” The illustrations show four different sets of siblings celebrating each other in different ways, none of which are mentioned in the text, making it difficult for younger readers to understand the complexity of the celebration. Sreenivasan’s illustrations are colorful, detailed, and authentic, and they carry the book. They feature happy and smiling dark-haired people with a range of skin tones, diverse in ethnicity and dress. In bright, vivid colors, intergenerational families and friends from different regions come alive, dressed up in their colorful best, celebrating and enjoying the festival together in different ways. The board format of this title does not match the age range and conceptual level of the text.
Amid inconsistencies of format and information, the illustrations end up giving the most clarity about this festival. (Board book. 4-8)Pub Date: Aug. 28, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-5344-1990-2
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Sept. 1, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2019
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