All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom

This picture book tells the story about what a girl saw and did as soon as the African American found out that they had been freed. She woke up like she did every other morning. The little girl never thought that today would day that would change the rest of her life. She went with her family and friends to work in the fields like every other day, but later on they received word that they were freed. The little girl explains the joy that everyone felt and how many cried, sang, and prayed. She talked about how her and her family went to the beach later one and were able to eat and laugh being free people. They did not have anyone to report to any longer. These people could begin their true lives which was “all different now.”

The phrase, “All Different Now” is repeated multiple times through the book referring back to the title of the book and the fact that these slaves’ lives were going to be “all different now.” The illustrations of the book really intrigued me. The pictures were not very clear, but when the African American found out they were freed, the reactions of the individuals are very clear. They are excited, joyful, and in disbelief. In the illustrator’s note, the reason why the pictures are unclear is because it is supposed to resemble that what these people were experiencing was so close to a dream. It had to be such a blur and overwhelming day for them. The colors of the illustrations also reflect the events occurring in the book. The sky was gray when they had to go to work in the fields, but as soon as the people found out that they have been freed, the colors of the illustrations become brighter and yellow. I would want to use this book in my classroom to allow students to connect with how African Americans must have felt when they found out that they were freed. Also, I use a picture from the book to have my students analyze and look at to make predictions about what they think is going to happen in the book. The illustrations truly make this book come to life and the emotions fly off the pages.

All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom

Author: Angela Johnson

Illustrator: E.B. Lewis

Year Published: 2014