When Virginia, age 10, asks her grandfather, "who fired the first fireworks for independence?" the answer he gives is as surprising as it is delightful. First Fireworks for Independence takes young readers on a sparkling journey to Virginia, Philadelphia, Boston, New York, Washington D.C., and Charleston, South Carolina.


Discover the story behind the tradition of launching fireworks for July 4 and the mysterious identity of Virginia's grandfather. Award-winning author and presidential historian Jane Hampton Cook presents First Fireworks for Independence to help young Americans to better understand our nation's founding and to prepare them to celebrate America's 250th birthday in 2026.