Juneteenth Cookbook

The Juneteenth Cookbook invites children and families to learn about Juneteenth through Black American food and cultural traditions. The holiday marks the end of slavery in the United States and has been observed in the Black community for more than 150 years.

Alliah L. Agostini, author of the children's book The Juneteenth Story, which won the 2022 Black Kid Lit Award for Best Historical title, brings the holiday into the kitchen with historically accurate recipes and educational activities for the whole family. Illustrations accompany easy, quick recipes, and readers follow young Alliah and her grandparents as they trace the holiday's origins through what people ate. The recipes are kid-friendly versions of some of the most popular foods served at Juneteenth celebrations.

The fun continues beyond the kitchen. Activities include making an African medallion necklace, designing Juneteenth gear with block printing, and exploring the music of the holiday through Alliah's Cookout DJ 101 tutorial. The book also suggests field trips, either on-site or virtual, for families, community groups and classes, which bring parts of the road to emancipation and Juneteenth's history to life.