Borden, L. and Kroeger, M. K. (2001) Fly High,! The Story of Bessie Coleman. Illustrated by Teresa Flavin, Published by Margaret K. McElderry Books, ISBN: 0-689-82457-2. 

Bessie Coleman moved to Chicago because there were jobs up north and a better life. It was there she became interested in learning to fly. She persevered, learned to fly just like the men and earned her international license. She returned to the United State to perform stunts in air shows and preached that everyone was created equal and a person could be “somebody”.

Illustrations were rendered in gouache on colored paper and the artist studied the period dress and airplanes from this era.

Rating: 5Q/3P

Curriculum Use 

Black History Month  

Women’s Studies  

MWood