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mrsthakkar's review against another edition
5.0
Lovely book about the history of Juneteenth, along with the significance to American history. We’ll illustrated in colorful and large spreads, that highlight the red foods, the variety of skin colors of African American people and how we are not free until we are ALL free. Highly recommend! #OpalLeeandWhatItMeanstoBeFree #NetGalley #SchoolLibraryLife #AskCurateShare #ThakkarsThinkers
juniper_reads_things's review against another edition
informative
5.0
Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free is the picture book I decided to read for Juneteenth this year. It tells the story of a local Juneteenth celebration, featuring Grandmother Opal Lee and her great-grandson Buddy. Grandmother Opal gathers the children around her to tell the origin story of Juneteenth. She describes the story from 1865, of the Union soldiers who liberated Galveston, Texas which was the last town holding enslaved populations. “Remember my words for safekeeping. Remember what I say. Juneteenth is bigger than Texas, singing, or dancing bands. Juneteenth is freedom rising. And freedom is for everyone.”
I expected the story to end there, but then Buddy asks Opal Lee what Juneteenth was like when she was a kid. Opal Lee grew up during Jim Crow laws, under the threat of the KKK. On Juneteenth, 1939, Opal Lee’s home was burned by racists. There were no arrests.
“And yet the embers burn - that fire still lives in me. I learned a big lesson that Juneteenth day. Freedom is a gold coin. Struggle makes it shine.”
I really enjoyed the story. Upon reading the author’s note, I learned that Opal Lee was a real person! She advocated for the importance of Juneteenth, and collected signatures for a petition to make it a federal holiday. That’s incredible! I didn’t know the story of how Juneteenth became a national holiday. Like many people across the US, I hadn’t really known about Juneteenth until it became a national holiday. I’m so glad to have read this book, because now I know.
I expected the story to end there, but then Buddy asks Opal Lee what Juneteenth was like when she was a kid. Opal Lee grew up during Jim Crow laws, under the threat of the KKK. On Juneteenth, 1939, Opal Lee’s home was burned by racists. There were no arrests.
“And yet the embers burn - that fire still lives in me. I learned a big lesson that Juneteenth day. Freedom is a gold coin. Struggle makes it shine.”
I really enjoyed the story. Upon reading the author’s note, I learned that Opal Lee was a real person! She advocated for the importance of Juneteenth, and collected signatures for a petition to make it a federal holiday. That’s incredible! I didn’t know the story of how Juneteenth became a national holiday. Like many people across the US, I hadn’t really known about Juneteenth until it became a national holiday. I’m so glad to have read this book, because now I know.
mamaofperfectpayton's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
My son and I are learning about Juneteenth and absolutely loved learning about the Grandmother of Juneteenth - Opal Lee. We loved learning about her tragedies and triumphs. She is truly a remarkable person.
ainun_farhan_zahra's review against another edition
4.0
It tells the real life story of Opal Lee, an activist, also known as Grandmother of Juneteenth and reflects on the dark past of black people forced to work as slaves. I didn't know that Opal Lee is a real person before starting the book. That might seem weird but I live faraway from America and though I know bits and pieces of information about the history of slavery, the name Opal Lee never came in front of me before. The story begins with Opal Lee narrating story of how Juneteenth came into existence to her grandson and his friends. She also talks about Jim Crow laws, ignorant people, blinded by prejudices trying to harm her family by burning the house they used to reside in. There's a timeline at the end of the story that sums up the occurrences in short. It is a great book to educate young readers about the value of Juneteenth, why its important and the high cost of freedom. I personally loved it. The history is quite complicated, so I appreciate how it's presented in a child friendly way. The illustrations are well-done as well.. Recommended.
meghan_solo's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
4.5
rainbowbookworm's review against another edition
5.0
Read the picture book as I listened to Bahni Turpin bring it to life. I highly recommend the experience.