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Celebrate Juneteenth and radiate #BlackJoy through traditional food and cultural activities.

A commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States, the Juneteenth holiday has been observed in the Black community for over 150 years. In The Juneteenth Cookbook, Alliah L. Agostini, author of the popular children’s book The Juneteenth Story—which won the 2022 Black Kid Lit Award for Best Historical title—brings the tradition to your home through historically accurate recipes and educational family activities.

With captivating illustrations of 18 quick and easy recipes, follow along with little Alliah and her grandparents as they explore the historical origins of the holiday through food. Make, share, and enjoy kid-friendly takes on some of the most popular Juneteenth celebration foods, including:

• Red Velvet Ice Cream Sandwiches
• Frances Price’s Calico Potato Salad
• Saucy Pulled Chicken Sliders with Bangin’ Barbeque Sauce
• Freedom Fizz (homemade red pop)
• Hot Links & Chow Chow Relish
• Corn Muffins with Hot Honey Butter
• Mac 'n' Please
• Sweet Potato Pie Bars
• And more!

All recipes use simple and accessible ingredients, which can be easily substituted for a variety of diets and preferences. Each recipe can also easily be multiplied for larger groups, and the instructions are written with families in mind so everyone from toddler to grandparent can participate in crafting the ultimate Juneteenth celebration spread! Alongside all the delicious recipes, you’ll also learn a brief history of barbeque and it’s importance to the Juneteenth holiday and Black culture in America.

Keep the celebration going with five fun and educational activity sections that include crafting projects (creating an African medallion necklace and designing your own Juneteenth gear with block printing); table and field games (playing mancala and having relay races); on-site or virtual field trips (visiting museums and historic locations or joining Juneteenth celebrations in culturally important American cities); and dancing to the music of the holiday with Alliah’s Cookout DJ 101 tutorial. These activities are perfect for families, community groups, or classes and bring elements of the road to emancipation and Juneteenth’s history to life.

Comprised of 90 percent cooking and 10 percent family and community engagement, The Juneteenth Cookbook brings kids and families a sensory-rich, hands-on exploration of this important and historic American holiday.

BIO

Buffalo, NY native Alliah L. Agostini has marketed everything from iconic brands to scrappy start-ups, but motherhood helped her return to her first love: children's literature. She writes to spread joy, truth, and to help more children see themselves reflected on the page.

Alliah is the author of Oprah Winfrey: A Little Golden Book Biography; the award-winning The Juneteenth Story: Celebrating the End of Slavery in the United States,  and Junior Library Guild Selection BIG TUNE: Rise of the Dancehall Prince, which has received starred reviews from Kirkus and Publisher's Weekly. 

A proud member of KidLit in Color, Black Creators HQ, the Picture Book Sunrays, and SCBWI, she and her work have been featured on Essence.com, the TODAY Show, Morning in America, GoodHousekeeping, CNN, NPR, and more. 

Alliah resides in New Jersey  with her husband and two children. She has an A.B. and an M.B.A. from Harvard.

Taffy Elrod is a chef, cooking instructor, and food writer with a passion for making good food accessible to everyone. Chef Elrod loves sharing her enthusiasm for delicious food that knows no boundaries and empowering everyone to enjoy their food more every day.

After cooking and teaching all over New York City and the tri-state area for 15 years, she opened a pizzeria restaurant with her husband in the Hudson Valley, where she currently teaches virtually, writes, and develops recipes.

She is building a culinary community based on her belief that access to good food and the knowledge to prepare it is a human right. She draws on her diverse heritage and her years of professional experience to create her own unique culinary style with an emphasis on fresh, vibrant, approachable ingredients and time tested techniques. Chef Taffy loves sharing her passion for all aspects of food and cooking and answering those nagging questions you've always wanted to ask. Good food, nourishing food, beautiful food, simple food, fun and exciting food all have a place at her table.

[H]  Becker & Mayer  /  April 02, 2024

0.5" H x 11.4" L x 8.9" W (1.25 lbs) 72 pages

For ages 8 to 11