Juneteenth for Mazie, by Floyd Cooper

Floyd Cooper's book Juneteenth for Mazie beautifully illustrates and celebrates a great day in American history.  Mazie's a little miffed about her lack of freedom.  "I can't go where I want, have what I want, or do what I want," she complains.  Her daddy tells her that tomorrow they can all celebrate, and talk about the time when Great, Great, Great Grandpa Mose "heard 'no' even more" than Mazie does.

Mazie's daddy tells her the story of Mose, who worked and worked and dreamed of freedom until the
day the news of the Emancipation Proclamation reached Galveson, Texas.  That June 19 is celebrated every year as Juneteenth.  Mazie's daddy tells her about the joy of freedom, the struggle of the civil rights movement, of forgiveness, achievement, and celebration.

Cooper's illustrations have a dream-like quality, conveying the slaves' dreams of freedom, and the dream-come-true of the end of slavery.  The faces of characters capture the joy and intensity of freedom, determination, and celebration.  The text is rather stark and a bit thin on content, but is probably just about perfect as an introduction to Juneteenth for the very young, pre-reading child.

The children of the slaves, who never had a living memory of slavery, and the children of the civil rights movement, who never knew a world of whites-only water fountains and legally segregated schools, can keep alive the story of freedom and equality by hearing and telling the stories of their grandparents, and their grandparents, and their grandparents.  Juneteenth for Mazie reminds a new generation to remember--and celebrate!


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!