Juneteenth Cookbook: Recipes and Activities for Kids and Families to Celebrate

Ages 8 to 11, Grades 3 to 6

The Juneteenth Cookbook introduces the history of Juneteenth to kids through vibrant recipes, activities, and games drawn from Black American cultural traditions.

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.

About the Author

Buffalo, NY native Alliah L. Agostini writes to spread joy, truth, and to illuminate the breadth of childhood experiences. Alliah is the award-winning author of a number of books for young readers including: The Juneteenth Story, BIG TUNE, Oprah Winfrey: A Little Golden Book Biography, A Juneteenth Celebration Cookbook, and more. She resides in New Jersey with her husband and two children, and has an A.B. and an M.B.A. from Harvard. Taffy Elrod is a professional chef, cooking instructor, recipe developer, food writer, and former restaurant owner with over 20 years experience in the food industry. Chef Elrod’s background in food for health informs her cooking and teaching. Making food and cooking accessible to everyone and empowering others to cook the food that matters most to them inspires Chef Elrod’s work daily and brings her joy. She’s known for her homestyle soups and baked goods that utilize seasonal produce and pantry items in unique and delicious ways, and for pairing professional knowledge with fun and flavor wherever she cooks. Chef Elrod is a Culinary Instructor at the Capital District Educational Opportunity Center in Troy, NY, a freelance recipe developer, and food writer. Her work has been featured on TheSpruceEats.com and in Plate magazine and The Washington Post. Taffy lives in New York’s Capital District with her husband, Pizza Man, along with their cat, Kit Kat. Connect with her at cheftaffyelrod.com and on social media at @cheftaffyelrod. Sawyer Cloud loves sunny days and music. Children’s books she has illustrated include Jade Braves the Dark, Dear Mama’s Loving Arms, Our Favourite Things, Earthbred, and Under the Mango Tree. If not drawing, she would be singing out loud in her room wearing her favorite fairy costume, and sharing the moment with her online friends. She lives in Madagascar with her family and two pets, Arya the dog and Potter the cat. Her dream is to travel and share her stories with the world.