LET'S CELEBRATE EMANCIPATION DAY & JUNETEENTH

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LET'S CELEBRATE EMANCIPATION DAY & JUNETEENTH

Name: LET'S CELEBRATE EMANCIPATION DAY & JUNETEENTH
Author: Barbara deRubertis
ISBN: 978-1-63592-061-1

From the Holidays & Heroes series

by Barbara deRubertis ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 1, 2018

A solid option for introducing the historical context of the holidays.

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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. (Nonfiction. 7-11)

Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2018

ISBN: 978-1-63592-061-1

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Kane Press

Review Posted Online: June 25, 2018

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2018

Categories:

CHILDREN'S HISTORY | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS

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OFF WITH THEIR HEADS

ALL THE COOL BITS IN BRITISH HISTORY

by Martin Oliver & illustrated by Andrew Pinder ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 1, 2010

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Fans of Terry Deary and Martin Brown’s Horrible Histories and their ilk are unlikely to consider this latest imitation more than an also-ran. Oliver surveys British history from the Isles’ Ice Age formation to the not-exactly-hot-off-the-presses 2005 news that London will host the 2012 Olympics. Though accurate enough in his broad picture, the author’s debatable facts (“…the Romans introduced really useful things such as toilets and even vegetables to the people of Britain”) and awkwardly written generalizations (“The Celtic kings consulted religious advisors to help them rule, known as druids”) drag the bland text down even further. Pinder's pen-and-ink illustrations attempt snark but too often fall flat: “That girl was always getting in my way,” remarks Bloody Mary as Lady Jane Grey’s newly severed head bounces by. This catalog of major British kings, queens, wars, pivotal events and cultural milestones is unlikely to entertain—much less resonate with—American audiences. (index, royal timeline) (Nonfiction. 8-11)

Pub Date: Dec. 1, 2010

ISBN: 978-1-906082-72-7

Page Count: 128

Publisher: Buster/Trafalgar

Review Posted Online: Oct. 11, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2010

Categories:

CHILDREN'S HISTORY

- BOOK REVIEW
THE HOW-TO HANDBOOK
by Martin Oliver ; Alexandra Johnson

- BOOK REVIEW
BOYS ONLY
by Martin Oliver & illustrated by Simon Ecob & edited by Hannah Cohen

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A LAND OF BIG DREAMERS

VOICES OF COURAGE IN AMERICA

by Neil Waldman & illustrated by Neil Waldman ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 2011

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Thirteen prominent American men and women are briefly profiled in this collection. Chronologically ranging from Thomas Jefferson to Barack Obama, each entry features an inspiring quote from its subject and a concise explanation of his or her context in history. Opposite each page of text is a watercolor painting by the author depicting an image or montage of the notable individual and illustrating the work they achieved or how they lived. Each one evokes the emotions the book is meant to inspire: courage, strength and determination. Franklin Roosevelt gazes reassuringly out at readers above a line of hungry people at a soup kitchen; Rachel Carson smiles at readers against a picture of a soaring bald eagle and an inset of her peering into a microscope. The selection includes four women and five male ethnic minorities. Almost all are familiar faces in collective biographies, including Abraham Lincoln, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, but some names may be new to young readers, such as Emma Lazarus and Cesar Chavez. Included in the backmatter are thumbnail biographies of each figure and a list of source notes. The profiles are indeed inspiring, and younger readers will likely learn something new. For deeper research, students will have to look elsewhere but could use this book as an excellent starting point. (Collective biography. 8-11)