I thought that this book was great, powerful, and emotive. It was very informational and the pictures were just as powerful. 10/10

Free At Last is a poem by Sorjourner Kincade Rolle that has been turned into a beautiful book for children about how Juneteenth came to be. I did not know about Juneteenth, so I definitely enjoyed this poem. This is such an important piece of history to learn about Juneteenth, the day slaves in Galveston, Texas learned that they were finally free. This poem is written in free verse and is beautifully illustrated by Alex Bostic. The images were detailed, and fit the time of the poem perfectly. Free at Last is an incredible way for young readers to learn about the new nationally recognized holiday as well as to evoke discussions about the injustices the slaves endured.

Absolutely beautiful book. I can't speak on enough how much I loved this one and the artwork within. The kids were extremely intrigued and I think enjoyed this one, but it was definitely one for all ages.

I thought the illustrations were really beautiful, like Heather said, the switch from dark to light was really powerful. I didn't love the poem, it didn't keep any particular rhythm and it threw me off.

Free At Last is a stunning work of poetry that briefly and powerfully explores the history of Juneteenth and how the tradition was passed down. The end note is very helpful in contextualising the poem. The art is absolutely gorgeous and suits the story beautifully making for a wonderful overall picture book. Highly recommended!

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

Free At Last is a poem by Sorjourner Kincade Rolle that has been turned into a beautiful book for children about how Juneteenth came to be. This is such an important piece of history to learn about and is told in a beautiful poetic way!The illustrations are absolutely amazing - so detailed and befitting of the times that the book is set in. This would make a great book to read in a class and raise discussions from it!
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This was a beautiful way to describe what people did or where they chose to go when they were freed from slavery. Its also an approachable way to touch on the tough topic of slavery.


I just reviewed Free at Last by Sojourner Kincaid Rolle. #NetGalley

What started out as a poem to celebrate Juneteenth has now found its way into a children's - picture book and what a wonderful thing this is.

This will be perfect for littles and for older children as well who may know nothing about Juneteenth and what is means, and why we ALL should be celebrating it. The whole family [or class, or whatever gathering you may be at] will enjoy reading this poem and talking about the gorgeous illustrations - I found I was as moved by them as I was by the poem and I am sure others will find this to be the case for them as well.

I highly recommend this book!! So well done.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sojourner Kincaid Rolle, Alex Bostic - Illustrator, and Union Square & Co/Union Square Kids for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wrote this review for my Instagram @miloureadsbooks
While this topic is very American, it is important to discuss in the rest of the world too. Even though your country might not have traded enslaved people, there probably is still racism to be dismantled. Plus, let we not forget about modern slavery, where people with little documents, social connections, or money, have no choice but to work in atrocious circumstances. In the words of Opal Lee: None of us are free until we’re all free, and we aren’t free yet.
This Juneteenth poem has become famous over the last years and is now finally illustrated with gorgeous art. It shows all the different options enslaved people had after becoming free, like moving to Canada or simply working on the next plantation for little money. It is infused with hope, but also with the harsh reality that it did not magically solve everybody's problems

I absolutely loved this book. It was informative, beautifully drawn, and so well written. I teach high school but I have some childrens books in my classroom and I noticed my students pick them up to read. I can't wait to get this book into my classroom, especially when we study Juneteenth.

This is a wonderful poem with illustrated with beautiful art. It is a must-read for those interested in Juneteenth. I throughly enjoyed reading this with my children!

With poetic text and vivid illustrations, this book evokes the varied responses of enslaved people to Lincoln's words in the Emancipation Proclamation. In addition, the author's note gives more information about her thoughts about writing and sharing the poem. As children learn about the past, this book can provide needed information and a look at emotional responses to emancipation. It should also raise further questions to investigate. A fine addition to children's books about American history.

When you read Free at Last, you jump right into Black American History. The poem that has been turned into a children's book lyrically tells the history behind Juneteenth. The illustrations were stunning and contributed nicely with the author's words. Readers will be drawn to this important book.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an arc in exchange of an honest review.

The illustrations really added nuance to the poem! So heartfelt and moving. The last couple of pages almost made me cry.

Free At Last is a poem by activist Sojourner Kincaid Rolle and has been turned into a children's book. Paired with beautiful illustrations, the book tells the story through poetic verse of Juneteenth, the day slaves in Galveston, Texas learned that they were finally free.

Juneteenth's origins comes from Texas, and having been born and raised here, I am sad to say that it's only been recent that I have become aware of its significance. The increased awareness brought on by the Black Lives Matter social justice protests of 2020 in response to George Floyd's murder has fortunately brought Juneteenth to the forefront of society's consciousness. Free at Last is an incredible way for young readers to learn about the new nationally recognized holiday.

This was a fantastic poem with stellar art. I believe it's a must-read, a new classic in its own right, but even more so when you consider the works on Juneteenth. Please do pick up this book!

Free at Last is a very beautiful poem that has been converted to a children's book and is about Juneteenth, the celebration of the day slaves were freed after the Civil War in the United States. I like that this poem is free verse and doesn't have a set rhyme scheme. The illustrations are lovely and highlight the poem. Very nice book that should be read in elementary schools!

Thank you to netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

This poem is so beautiful and moving. Richly illustrated with vivid and emotional prose, this is a wonderful book that celebrates the joy of freedom and the rich culture that has been created in the years since our ancestors first became free.

This book takes a poem by Sojourner Kincaid Rolle and adapts into a children's book. The book clearly explains what happened on Juneteenth and its importance in the Black community. Beautiful illustrations, and provides a great way to introduce the kids in your life to this important day.

Sojourner Kincaid Rolle's moving poem to celebrate Juneteenth is now a beautifully illustrated book for children, and for all who appreciate an excellent picture book. In this time of attacks on history-telling and Black history as part of American history in particular, "Free at Last" is all the more important. The artist, Alex Bostic, does more than justice to the poetry by Rolle.