Freedom’s Eve // A Story of Watch Night

A luminous picture book that celebrates little-known American legacy, familial love, tradition, and the cherished ancestors who paved the way.

Tonight is a big night. Its Watch Night!

This year, Eve-Lynn gets to lead the celebration just like her ancestor Lil Eve did on December 31, 1862the night they called their Freedoms Eve. And while Eve-Lynn is excited, worry wraps round her.

Eve-Lynn holds her family quilt close to calm her nerves, but in a moment of jittery anticipation, she rips the beloved fabric made by her ancestor. With the help of her Gramsy, Eve-Lynn stitches the quilt back together, leaving a piece of herself within its patchworkmaking for a Watch Night shell never forget.

Pamela Courtneycombined her love for writing, teaching, and musiccreating MyLMNOP, a literacy and music program for early learners. She is the author ofA Season for Fishin: A Fish Fry Tradition. Pamela lives in Natchitoches, Louisiana, where she enjoys cooking unique, pepper-hot Louisiana fare for her nieces and nephews.
Keisha Morrisearned her BFA in illustration at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and has illustrated several picture books, includingWhen the Rain Came Downby Leslie Helakoski,The Truth About Mrs. Clausby Meena Harris, andAll Aboard the Schooltrainby Glenda Armand. When she is not drawing, she loves spending time with her wife, daughter, and cats.

• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
• Publish Date: October 13, 2026
• Pages: 40
• Language: English
• Type: Hardcover
• EAN/UPC: 9780374392826
• Dimensions: 203.2 X 254.0 X 25.4 mm | 0.8 pounds
• BISAC Categories: Kids