Enjoy this Do-It-Yourself Storytime on the theme of Juneteenth whenever is convenient for your family.
BOOKS:
I’m Gonna Push Through
• Written by Jasmyn Wright
• Illustrated by Shannon Wright
• Published by PS 46 Bronx
• Presented by Atheneum Books for Young Readers
A story of empowerment for all children.
https://video.link/w/DDH0c
Here is a curriculum guide to go along with the book:
https://d28hgpri8am2if.cloudfront.net/tagged_assets/5641805/9781534439658_cg_i%27m%20gonna%20push%20through!%20curriculum%20guide.pdf
Juneteenth for Mazie
• Written and illustrated by Floyd Cooper
• Published by Capstone Young Readers
• Presented by Storytime with Little Book Nook
Mazie learns about Juneteenth and what it means to her family.
https://video.link/w/oEH0c
All Different Now – Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom
• Written by Angela Johnson
• Illustrated by E. B. Lewis
• Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
• Presented by Seed of Melanin Kids!
Through the eyes of one little girl, this picture book tells the story of the first Juneteenth, the day freedom came to the last of the slaves in the South.
https://video.link/w/REH0c
PBS has a video to explain Juneteenth to kids:
https://video.link/w/6FH0c
Familyhood Central has some ideas for celebrating Juneteenth:
https://www.familyhoodcentral.com/family-friendly-activities-to-celebrate-juneteenth/
SONGS:
Lift Every Voice and Sing from The Wise Channel
(Referred to by the NAACP as the Black National Anthem. Written in 1900 as a poem and hymn by James Weldon Johnson (1871–1938). Contains religious elements.)
https://video.link/w/UFH0c
Juneteenth Jive with Knux and Kna & Family
A family’s celebration and homage to the day. Includes kids, families, and musicians, with an interview at the end with an older relative.
https://video.link/w/4GH0c
Kye Kye Kule – a traditional call and response children’s song from Ghana that you can sing at your own Juneteenth celebration!
https://video.link/w/rdU0c
Here is a teacher singing the song with her children:
https://video.link/w/UuU0c
RHYMES AND FINGERPLAYS:
Hey, Black Child by Useni Eugene Perkins
Hey Black Child
Do you know who you are
Who you really are
Do you know you can be
What you want to be
If you try to be
What you can be
Hey Black Child
Do you know where you are going
Where you’re really going
Do you know you can learn
What you want to learn
If you try to learn
What you can learn
Hey Black Child
Do you know you are strong
I mean really strong
Do you know you can do
What you want to do
If you try to do
What you can do
Hey Black Child
Be what you can be
Learn what you must learn
Do what you can do
And tomorrow your nation
Will be what you want it to be
Happy Juneteenth
(tune: Happy Birthday to You)
Happy Juneteenth to you, (point to another person)
Happy Juneteenth to me, (point to yourself)
Happy Juneteenth, everybody (spread arms wide)
Happy Juneteenth to us. (wave hands to celebrate)
You can be what you want to be, (point to another person and nod)
I can be what I want to be, (point to yourself and nod)
‘Cos we are all free (spread arms wide)
We can be what we want to be. (clap hands to celebrate)
You can celebrate today, (wave both hands to the right)
I can celebrate today, (wave both hands to the left)
We can celebrate our freedom (spread arms wide)
We can celebrate today. (wave both hands up in the air)
The Juneteenth Flag
Wave a flag, a special flag (pretend to wave a flag)
On the nineteenth day of June
It’s a day to celebrate
And sing a happy tune.
That’s the day we call Juneteenth
Since 1865 (use one hand to close around the wrist of other hand)
When Texas slaves learned they were free (release the hand so both are free)
What a day to be alive!
The Juneteenth flag has a white star
With five points and they say (hold up a hand with five fingers spread out)
It represents freedom for Blacks
Across the USA.
The star’s surrounded by a burst (hold up fists, then spread out fingers)
Just like a nova bright
To show a new beginning
Because freedom is a right.
The curve that arcs across the flag – (hold arms up above head to create an arc)
A new horizon for
All African Americans
With new prospects in store.
And like the US stars and stripes (pretend to salute the American flag)
This flag’s red, white, and blue
Since Blacks who lived both then and now
Are all Americans, too.
This CNN site explains the symbols and colors of the Juneteenth flag and what they mean:
https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/19/us/freedom-day-juneteenth-flag-meaning-trnd/index.html