Freedom Celebration: A Juneteenth Party (I Can Read Level 3)

Gloria and her relatives celebrate Juneteenth and share the history and significance of this freedom celebration in a Level 3 I Can Read.

The Morris family celebrates Juneteenth together every year with a barbeque including red food and drinks. Gloria and Grandma Daisy explain why Juneteenth is called Freedom Day and why we celebrate this important date.

Angela Dalton’s explanation of Juneteenth through the lively voice of young Gloria makes this I Can Read an accessible, engaging introduction to this national holiday. Keisha Morris’s pitch-perfect illustrations of both our past and present perfectly capture this freedom celebration. This Level Three I Can Read book focuses on history and family with some complex themes and is written for early independent readers.

What makes Juneteenth a freedom celebration for everyone?

• A Gentle Introduction to History: Follow along as Gloria and her Grandma Daisy explain the story of Juneteenth—from the history of slavery to the importance of Freedom Day—in a way that is honest and accessible for young minds.
• Level 3 for Early Readers: With more complex story plots and challenging vocabulary, this book is perfectly designed to build reading confidence for kids who are beginning to read on their own.
• Holiday Traditions: Discover why red foods and drinks are an important part of the Morris family’s annual barbeque, connecting the past to a joyful present-day celebration.
• Spark Important Conversations: This book provides a perfect starting point for parents and educators to talk with children about freedom, history, and justice.

Angela Dalton is a children’s book author living in Oakland, California. Her picture books include To Boldly Go: How Nichelle Nichols and Star Trek Helped Advance Civil Rights, Ruby’s Reunion Day Dinner, Show the World!, and her award-winning debut, If You Look Up to the Sky. Visit her online at angeladalton.com.

Keisha Morris is a storyteller and illustrator who grew up in Charlottesville, Virginia, and currently resides in Maryland. She earned her BFA in illustration at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and enjoys creating characters whose personalities jump off the page. Keisha is the illustrator of When the Schools Shut Down, written by Yolanda Gladden and Dr. Tamara Pizzoli; The Truth About Mrs. Claus, written by Meena Harris; Words of Wonder from Z to A, by 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee winner Zaila Avant-garde; All Aboard the School Train by Glenda Armand; and many others. Keisha made her author-illustrator debut with Between Two Windows. When she is not drawing, she loves spending time with her wife, daughter, and two fur babies, Elphie and Ollie! Visit her online at keishamorris.com.