The Horn Book Guide

PICTURE BOOKS

Johnson, Angela

All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom

40 pp. | Simon | May, 2014 | Trade ISBN 978-0-689-87376-8 $17.99 | Ebook ISBN 978-1-4814-0647-5

(1) K-3 Illustrated by E. B. Lewis. In exquisite, lyrical text, Johnson reimagines Juneteenth--the date slaves in Texas finally learned of their emancipation--from the perspective of one fictional family. The words build to a crescendo of emotions as these now-free people prepare for a new life. Lewis's soft watercolors mirror the emotion of the text--the sun reflects off the grateful faces, eyes face the future with clarity.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2014