All Different Now

Author: Angela Johnson
Publication Date: 2014
Type of Book: Multicultural Author Picture Book

This book shared the story of a young girls personal experience with the first Juneteenth. Juneteenth was the day the last slaves in the South were officially freed. It seemed like a normal day when she woke up in the morning. The routines were still the same and everyone acted like they always did. It wasn't until word came that all slaves were officially free that people started acting differently. People began crying, singing, gathering and talking amongst each other. The people in the book celebrated their new found freedom and the next morning when the girl woke up she realized that this was the start of a new life for her and her family.

I thought that this book did a good job in sharing an important event in history, but it wasn't my favorite picture books i've ever read. I wasn't a big fan of the illustrations. They were drawn with what looked like water colors and I tend to like books that have very clear and crisp illustrations. The colors used were also very muted and plain which didn't do anything to enhance the story.

I think that this story would be best read as a read aloud because it is so short. Teachers can use this story to introduce students to the topic of slavery or use it during a lesson about the day slaves were officially declared free. I would recommend this story for older elementary aged children because the topic is something that they have to be mature enough to understand and handle.

Image Resources:
http://www.amazon.com/All-Different-Now-Juneteenth-Freedom/dp/068987376X