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RECENT ARTICLES

Interviews, Book Highlights, Profiles and More

PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY REVIEW: BIG TUNE: RISE OF THE DANCEHALL PRINCE

Publisher's Weekly

Starred Review
Portrayals of diasporic Caribbean culture and a child’s selflessness distinguish Agostini’s 1990s Brooklyn-set story celebrating connection and community.

REVIEW: BIG TUNE: RISE OF THE DANCEHALL PRINCE

School Library Journal

This unique picture book’s celebration of Jamaican culture and community is a great addition to every library.

KIRKUS REVIEW: BIG TUNE: RISE OF THE DANCEHALL PRINCE

Kirkus

Starred Review. 
Grounded in a tightknit Jamaican American community, the story deftly incorporates visual and textual references to dance styles, food, and other cultural touchstones. The lush collages reinforce the text. Themes of joy, solidarity, and artistic expression are effortlessly woven throughout the words and images. 
An exuberant celebration of community that leaps off the page.

BIG TUNE: RISE OF THE DANCEHALL PRINCE BY ALLIAH L. AGOSTINI (REVIEW)

The vibrant beat of the rhyming text makes a splendid complement to the energetic art. Rich textures evocative of cutpaper collage and dynamic patterns give enthusiastic life to the more geometric backgrounds, and figures are always in movement, with poses swinging, swaying, and bopping.

A FOUNDER OF JUNETEENTH OFFERS LESSONS ON RESILIENCE

Buffalo News

The question, the end to along conversation, caused Judson Price to offer a quiet laugh, though he was absolutely ready with an answer.
At 91, after everything he has seen in his long life, did a founder of Buffalo’s Juneteenth celebration have one lesson for the rest of us?
He did, a point reflected in the admiration of Alliah Agostini, 39, a granddaughter who describes him as “one of the figures in Buffalo who have been doing the hard work for a long time.”

7 FINDS FROM BLACK-FOUNDED BUSINESSES THAT CELEBRATE JOY

TODAY.com

This colorful children's book is one way to introduce little ones to the history of Juneteenth. It details the evolution of the holiday, from its stat as "Jubilee Day" to the ways in which it is celebrated now.

CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH WITH THESE NOTABLE CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Amazon Editors Picks

I’ve been so happy to see a number of new children’s books about Juneteenth publishing this year, including not only picture books but also poetry, and books for beginning readers.

HOW I’M TALKING TO MY SONS ABOUT RACE IN AMERICA AS A BLACK MOM

Scary Mommy

How I’m Talking To My Sons About Race In America As A Black Mom

7 BOOKS FOR CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH

PBS.org

For families with young children, books can be a great start for important conversations about understanding the history and traditions of Juneteenth.
Here are seven books to have on your shelves for Jubilee Day.

ALLIAH L. AGOSTINI:
A PERSONAL JUNETEENTH MISSION

Buffalo Spree

How does a Harvard business major transform into a children’s book author? For Alliah L. Agostini, born and raised in North Buffalo, the change was natural, albeit carefully considered.  “It makes total sense to me,” says the class of 2000 City Honors graduate and newly published author of The Juneteenth Story: Celebrating The End Of Slavery in the United States (becker & mayer, an imprint of UK’s Quarto books).

DEAL ANNOUNCEMENT: OPRAH WINFREY LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK

Publisher's Marketplace

Alliah's writing a Little Golden Book - about Oprah! Coming Fall 2023.

Learn More

REVIEW: THE JUNETEENTH STORY
CELEBRATING THE END OF SLAVERY IN THE UNITED STATES

Kirkus Reviews

An important look at Juneteenth history, made accessible for young readers.

Blissfully Bookish

Learn more about The Juneteenth's Story's publication path, and Alliah's best advice for authors.

ALLIAH L. AGOSTINI - THE JUNETEENTH STORY

KidLit in Color Blog

Kirstie My interviews fellow KidLit in Color author Alliah L. Agostini about her debut release, The Juneteenth Story. Read more!

WHAT IS JUNETEENTH?

GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

Alliah talked about Buffalo's long Juneteenth history in a recent Good Housekeeping article - check it out!

ALLIAH ON THE BUFFALO HISTORY CHANNEL

The Buffalo History Channel

Alliah was interviewed by Doug Ruffin of the Buffalo History Channel. They chatted about their Juneteenth experiences and Alliah shared more about her upcoming book The Juneteenth Story

DEAL ANNOUNCEMENT: THE JUNETEENTH STORY

Publisher's Marketplace

Coming May 2022 - the nonfiction picture book THE JUNETEENTH STORY, illustrated by Sawyer Cloud.

DEAL ANNOUNCEMENT: BIG TUNE!

Publisher's Weekly

Alliah's first deal announcement celebrates her upcoming 2-book pre-empt deal with Farar, Straus & Giroux for her rhyming picture book BIG TUNE! BIG TUNE will be illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice and released in WInter 2023.

SESAME STREET STAND UP TO RACISM TOWNHALL

CNN

My family had the opportunity to be included in the Sesame Street Stand Up to Racism Townhall Special when the world was starting to see Black families had been struggling with for a long, long time. I talk more about the experience and share a clip here.

WE ASKED BLACK MOTHERS HOW THEY FIND THEIR JOY: THIS IS WHAT THEY SAID

The Washington Post

Becoming a mother has been an experience and a joy like no other. Alliah shared what has brought her joy on her journey as a Black mom

Image by Alla Hetman
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