Alliah L. Agostini​

BIG TUNE: Rise of the Dancehall Prince
 An exuberant picture book written by Alliah L. Agostini and illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice is about a boy with big dancing dreams who learns the meaning of courage and community. 

It’s the weekend, first in June; speaker’s blasting out big tune!
Cousins, aunties, uncles, friends pack the house, and fun begins.

Shane is shy but loves to dance—and all year long, he’s picked up cans
to earn some money toward his goal: high-tops with a pump-up sole.

But then the speaker blows—it’s done! Will this stop his family’s fun?
Can Shane come through to save the day and bring back Big Tune Saturday?

Set within a vibrant Caribbean American neighborhood and told to a rhythmic beat, Big Tune is a story of Black boy joy that touches on determination, confidence to express who you are, selflessness, and community gratitude.

Publisher: Farrar, Straus & Giroux
Publication March 28, 2023
Type: Hardcover
ISBN: ​‎ 9780374389949

Available for purchase here.
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The Juneteenth Story: ​Celebrating the End of Slavery in the United States

With colorful illustrations and a timeline, this introductory history of Juneteenth for kids details the evolution of the holiday commemorating the date the enslaved people of Texas first learned of their freedom​.

On June 19, 1865—more than two years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation—the enslaved people of Texas first learned of their freedom. That day became a day of remembrance and celebration that changed and grew from year to year.

Learn about the events that led to emancipation and why it took so long for the enslaved people in Texas to hear the news. The first Juneteenth began as “Jubilee Day,” where families celebrated and learned of their new rights as citizens. As Black Texans moved to other parts of the country, they brought their traditions along with them, and Juneteenth continued to grow and develop.

Today, Juneteenth’s powerful spirit has endured through the centuries to become an official holiday in the United States in 2021. The Juneteenth Story provides an accessible introduction for kids to learn about this important American holiday.
Publisher: becker&mayer! kids
Publication May 3, 2022
Type: Hardcover
ISBN: ​‎ 9780760375143
Available now:

About Alliah

Born and raised in Buffalo, New York, Alliah L. Agostini has marketed everything from tampons to scrappy start-ups, but motherhood helped her return to her first love: children's literature. She writes to spread joy, truth, and to help more young readers see reflections of themselves on the page. Alliah is the author of non-fiction picture book The Juneteenth Story: Celebrating the End of Slavery in the United States, the Kirkus-starred rhyming picture book BIG TUNE: Rise of the Dancehall Prince, Oprah Winfrey: A Little Golden Book Biography, and more.

Alliah and her books have been featured on TODAY with Hoda & Jenna, Good Housekeeping, Amazon Editors' Picks, Scary Mommy, PBS.org, CNN, Washingtonpost.com, and more. She lives in New Jersey where she enjoys impromptu dance parties and making up jokes with her husband and two children. She has an A.B. and M.B.A. from Harvard.

Learn more about Alliah at http://www.alliahagostini.com
Follow her on Instagram or Twitter: @alliago