As the principal narrator of Story Time with Avant-garde Books, I have had the pleasure of reading tons of wonderful children’s books. Recently, to encourage participation in the upcoming Juneteenth celebrations, I read Alice Faye Duncan’s book, Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free: The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth.
This book stands out for its apt use of figurative language. The author is a master storyteller who helps young children visualize both painful and beautiful events of the past in a way that leads them to appreciate the efforts, strength, and experiences of our ancestors. Also, children learn about the suffering of enslaved people without them depicted as mere victims of their unfortunate circumstances, but clearly captures with les mots justes their resilience and spiritual audaciousness as a people who learned to live and love despite the hatred and violence.
Duncan weaves together the story of Opal Lee in a way that makes you feel personally loved by the protagonist. In the back of the book, readers will find a “Juneteenth Timeline” as well as a short biography of the fearless, civil rights advocate.
The illustrations by Keturah A. Bobo, perfectly capture important moments in American history as well as specifically the life of the “grandmother of Juneteenth”.
I strongly give this book five out of five stars because it not only offers a necessary history lesson about the origin of Juneteenth celebrations, but the book is filled with timeless wisdom about keeping hope, love, and faith as a triad for progress and strength among generations of descendants of African American slaves.
-Corendis C. Hardy, CEO of Avant-garde Books, LLC
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