Juneteenth Is by Natasha Tripplett (review)

Reviewed by: Juneteenth Is by Natasha Tripplett Kate Quealy-Gainer Tripplett, Natasha Juneteenth Is; illus. by Daniel J. O'Brien. Chronicle, 2024 [36p] Trade ed. ISBN 9781797216805 $17.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R 4-7 yrs For our young narrator, Juneteenth begins with the smell of her dad's slow-cooking brisket and an early walk to the parade to find the best spot to see the young drummers, dancers, and singers march by. Then it's off Granddaddy's, where cousins clamor and play, uncles and aunties give out warm hugs, and everyone indulges in a feast of family recipes: "Juneteenth is being thankful to be together." Her thoughts take a more somber tone when she sees the pictures on Grandaddy's wall of her family and ancestors: "Juneteenth is remembering lives long before our memories. Sweat on our brows, cotton in our fingers, the straw that broke our mighty back." The subsequent spreads move into dreamlike scenes showing historical Black figures, from the Civil Rights movement to the Black Lives Matter protests, marching together; Nanny Burroughs, Ruby Bridges, Tommie Smith, walk alongside the young girl and her grandfather, eventually moving into the backyard, where the family poses for a photo with a triumphant: "Juneteenth is all of us. We are America." The balance between the celebratory tone and the history lesson is impressively struck, with our young narrator a mix of giddy joy and quiet reverence as she takes in the holiday happenings. The flatness of the digital illustrations doesn't quite meet the exuberance of the text, but the smiling faces, affectionate body language, and varying shades of brown skin nonetheless highlight the depth and breadth of the family's love. Pair this with Taylor's A Flag for Juneteenth (BCCB 12/22) for a jubilant storytime.