About this item
A moving picture book about the history of Emancipation Park in Houston, Texas - and the origins of Juneteenth.When people visit me, they are free - to run, play, gather, and rejoice.They built me to remember.On June 19, 1865, the 250,000 enslaved people of Texas learned they were free, ending slavery in the United States. This day was soon to be memorialized with the dedication of a park in Houston. The park was called Emancipation Park, and the day it honored would come to be known as Juneteenth. In the voice and memory of the park itself - its fields and pools, its protests and cookouts, and, most of all, its people - the 150-year story of Emancipation Park is brought to life. Through lyrical text and vibrant artwork, Tonya Duncan Ellis and Jenin Mohammed have crafted an ode to the struggle, triumph, courage, and joy of Black America - and the promise of a people to remember.
About the Author
Tonya Duncan Ellis is author of the Amazon bestselling, Readers' Favorite "Five Star" rated, Sophie Washington children's book series, geared toward readers ages 8 to 12, and is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) , the Authors Guild, and the Brown Bookshelf's Highlights Foundation-sponsored, Amplify Black Stories storyteller cohort. She's a 2022 winner of SCBWI's Independently Published Book Launch Marketing Grant, and in 2021, she won the Austin SCBWI Cynthia Leitich Smith Writing Mentor Award. A former journalist and freelance magazine writer, she is a graduate of Centre College of Kentucky and Washington University in St. Louis.Tonya loves to travel and has visited 49 American states, 20 countries, and three continents, but some of her best journeys have been between the pages of a novel. As a girl she could always be found with a book in her hand, and reading is still one of her favorite hobbies. When she's not reading or writing, the author likes to ride her bike, swim, and spend time with her husband and three children. She lives in Houston, TX.The Sophie Washington series stars a sweet and sassy African American preteen from Houston, TX and her diverse group of friends. Each funny and heartwarming story teaches lessons about friendship, responsibility, truthfulness, and perseverance.Over 70,000 children have enjoyed the adventures of Sophie and friends. We hope you join them!Join Sophie's Club for a FREE gift!Sign up at tonyaduncanellis.comFacebook: @tonyaellisbooksInstagram: @tonyaellisbooksTwitter: @TonyaDEllis
