Over three years after her children’s book “A Flag for Juneteenth” debuted, Baldwin author Kim Taylor has reached another milestone: The Brooklyn Public Library has named the book one of the 250 most influential books in U.S. history.
The honor places Taylor’s work alongside books that have shaped the nation’s literary and cultural landscape, including “The Color Purple,” by Alice Walker, “Charlotte’s Web,” by E. B. White, and “Where the Wild Things Are,” by Maurice Sendak.
The Brooklyn library created the list as part of its commemoration of the nation’s 250th anniversary.
“I’m thrilled about this,” Taylor said. “I know that being on this list will hopefully bring my story to more readers.”
The news came as a surprise, she said. When her publisher, Taylor Norman, of Neal Porter Books, an imprint of Holiday House, called to tell her, Taylor said her first reaction was disbelief.
“I feel incredibly honored to have had the opportunity to bring the story of Juneteenth to so many people,” she said. “This is an incredibly important part of American history and one that is not generally taught in schools.”
For Taylor, 63, the recognition is about more than literary prestige — it’s another opportunity to introduce young readers to a chapter of American history she believes deserves greater attention.
The honor marks the latest milestone in what Taylor described as an unexpected journey since “A Flag for Juneteenth" was published in January 2023. “I did not expect the book to get as much attention as it has,” she said. “It’s my first book. I’ve never written a children’s book or illustrated anything.”
Since its publication, the book has taken Taylor to libraries, bookstores and schools across the Northeast, including appearances in Connecticut, Washington, D.C., and, soon, Ohio. The experience, she said, has made her more comfortable speaking in public.
But the most meaningful part hasn’t been the accolades — it has been meeting young readers and their families.
One of Taylor's favorite memories is of an early reading at a small Brooklyn bookstore. Although many of the children in attendance were younger than the book's intended audience, she said they were immediately drawn to the pictures she created.
“The illustrations are all quilted illustrations that I did,” she said. “The book looks very textured, so they love the illustrations and they love touching the book, thinking that they might be able to feel the texture.”
One interaction from that day has stayed with her ever since. A grandmother from France, who was staying with her family in Brooklyn for the summer, bought a book for Taylor to sign.
“She asked me to write, ‘May you only know freedom.’” Taylor recalled. “It was such a beautiful thing to write.”
The words have stayed with her ever since. She said she often thinks of them whenever she reads “A Flag for Juneteenth” to children.
“I always think to myself, ‘May you only know freedom in your lifetime,’” she said.
Children, she said, often surprise her with the thoughtful questions they ask after readings. Many ask about freedom, and many are curious about why the characters in the story don’t have faces. That artistic decision was intentional.
“I want my young readers and my older readers to connect with the characters and feel empathetic toward them,” Taylor said. “I want them to see themselves in the characters.”
Some children ask what happens to the main character and her family after the story ends — a response, Taylor said, that tells her the book has made a lasting impression.
“I think that’s fantastic,” she said. “That’s exactly the kind of response I’m looking for.”
The book has also become a classroom resource for teachers and librarians. Taylor said that teachers have written to tell her they use “A Flag for Juneteenth” as an introduction to the holiday and its history. Many libraries have incorporated the book into StoryWalks, while others pair readings with quilting projects or invite children to create their own “freedom flags.”
“I’m thrilled that it’s not just about reading the story,” Taylor said. “I love that there’s an art aspect to so many of the readings.”
She regularly receives online alerts when the book is featured, allowing her to see classroom projects and library programs across the country. One of the moments that meant the most to her was a video of the book being read in American Sign Language by a member of a deaf organization.
Taylor, who works as a speech-language pathologist at Lexington School for the Deaf in Queens, said she was especially moved to share the video with her own students. “Wow, how powerful and how beautiful,” she said.
She believes the book continues to resonate, she said, because it introduces Juneteenth in a way young children can understand. Since the date was designated a federal holiday in 2021, she said, families and educators have shown a growing interest in teaching its history. After many readings, children create “freedom flags,” and decorate them with symbols of their families and cultures.
“They really connect with that word,” Taylor said.
Even as the book has reached readers nationwide, Taylor said, support from Baldwin has remained especially meaningful. She read from the book, signed copies and met local families at the Baldwin Civic Association’s inaugural Juneteenth celebration at the hamlet’s Community Garden.
“It has meant the world to me to receive support from Baldwin,” Taylor said. “People I’ve never met have come up to me and said they heard about my book. That kind of support is a wonderful feeling.”
She is working on a new children's book about two young African American girls from different backgrounds who meet one summer and learn to appreciate each other’s different backgrounds. She hopes to continue writing stories that celebrate African American history and culture while resonating with readers of all backgrounds.
“We’re all human beings, and we all have the same aspirations, the same desires and the same need for a life of joy,” she said.
Looking back on the unexpected success of her debut children’s book, Taylor said she hopes readers continue to take away one message above all else. “All of us want the same things,” she said. “Freedom is important for everyone.”
