Juneteenth at BPL!

Juneteenth, the holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States, was officially recognized as a federal holiday in 2021, and is celebrated on June 19.

Join us at Bloomington Public Library as we celebrate Juneteenth with a presentation by poet and children's author Janice Harrington, followed by crafts, games, community resources, and information to help us learn more about this important holiday! The first 200 children to complete and turn in their Juneteenth passport will receive a free book and a treat made possible by the Illinois Prairie Community Foundation, Bobzbay Books, and Miss Kim's Konfections.

Additional onsite community partners include: Illinois Art Station, Normal Public Library, All Our Kids Network, Ecology Action Center, Prairie State Legal Services, Girl Scouts, WBRP, Mid Central Community Action, 40 & Up Jump, and possibly more.

Questions about this program can be emailed to Ms. Alysha at childrensstaff@bloomingtonlibrary.org.

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About the Author
Janice Harrington’s children’s books -- Rooting for Plants, Hurry, Kate, or You'll Be Late!, Buzzing with Questions, Catching a Story, Busy-Busy Little Chick, Roberto Walks Home, The Chicken Chasing Queen of Lamar County, and Going North   -- have won many awards, including the Ezra Jack Keats Award from the New York Public Library, the Cybils Award for the year’s best fiction picture book, and a selection by TIME Magazine as one of the Top 10 Children’s Books of the year.

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This event is made possible by a general grant funded by the Illinois Prairie Community Foundation. Illinois Prairie Community Foundation is a grant-making public charity dedicated to improving the lives of people in its four-county service area (McLean, DeWitt, Livingston, and Logan counties). We bring together the financial resources of individuals, families and businesses to support effective nonprofits in the community.