It's July 1876, and make no mistake, Winslow Homer's arrival in the small southern town is creating a real stir. Why, every day Mr. homer and his sketchbook travel down the red clay road, and some folks don't take kindly to the Yankee artist's poking his nose where it doesn't belong. Especially down the red clay road. But young Cilla just grows more curious. What could be down the red clay road that she hasn't already seen? What Could Mr. Homer be seeing and sketching that has folks so angry? Cilla follows him and finds out for herself, and soon understands. In this remarkable story, based on true accounts of Winslow Homer's 1876 visit to Petersburg, Virginia, author Amy Littlesugar and artist Ian Schoenherr unveil the inspiration behind Dressing for the Carnival, one of this country's greatest and most controversial paintings.

Jonkonnu is a book that makes us rethink what freedom -- and art -- mean to us all.