Celebrate Juneteenth and Malik’s Birthday

Gr 1-3–Malik is excited as his birthday approaches. With his family bustling around—shopping, decorating, making phone calls—he’s sure all the activity is in preparation for his special day. But when his grandfather explains that they’re preparing for a Juneteenth celebration, Malik is disheartened, until he discovers that his family hasn’t forgotten him after all, and they plan to celebrate Juneteenth and his birthday together. The narrative is centered on family and shared celebration, but does not weave historical context and cultural significance into the plot, providing only the briefest explanation of Juneteenth itself. However, extensive back matter presents short explanations of enslavement in the United States, how the Juneteenth holiday was established, and how it is celebrated across the U.S. today with music, parades, food, and community gatherings. Campoy and Ada have crafted a story that fits within the educational scope of the series. While that framing helps provide supplemental facts for classroom use, it also means the narrative itself remains quite simple. Rivera’s cheerful, expressive illustrations add warmth and energy, but ultimately, the book relies too heavily on the back matter. Readers looking for a more dynamic and engaging introduction to Juneteenth may prefer Floyd Cooper’s Juneteenth for Mazie or Alice Faye Duncan’s Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free, which both successfully combine storytelling with a deeper understanding of the holiday’s origins and significance.