Jayylen’s Juneteenth Surprise

Written by Lavaille Lavette, Illustrated by David Wilkerson

This is such a cool way of teaching about Juneteenth. I think that if a child read this, they could fairly understand the significance of the holiday and what it means for Black American culture. Jayylen is a bit confused when his grandpa comes in playing a weird instrument that is strapped to his chest (a frottoir). But, as Jayylen’s family teach him the importance of the day, he grows more excited and ends up throwing him and his family a Juneteenth celebration none of them would forget!

It was great! I definitely learned a lot about the holiday and the culture. I felt it was talked about and taught very simply and well. Unlike some little golden books, this one is a bit more advanced. So while Amazon says the age range is 2-5, I would probably say closer to Kindergarten or First grade.

Reviewed by Chelsea Johnson, Librarian, William Penn Elementary
Review shared in October 2023
Rating: ★★★★✩ (4 stars)
Interest Level: 1st-3rd Grade

Jayylen’s Juneteenth Surprise
Written by Lavaille Lavette, Illustrated by David Wilkerson
A Golden Book
24 pages
Release Date: May 2, 2023
ISBN: 9780593568149
A review copy was provided by the publisher.