Fly High!: The Story of Bessie Coleman - Softcover

Borden, Louise; Kroeger, Mary Kay

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0689864620 ISBN 13: 9780689864629

Publisher: Aladdin, 2004

Synopsis

When Bessie Coleman was a child, she wanted to be in school -- not in the cotton fields of Texas, helping her family earn money. She wanted to be somebody significant in the world. So Bessie did everything she could to learn under the most challenging of circumstances. At the end of every day in the fields she checked the foreman's numbers -- made sure his math was correct. And this was just the beginning of a life of hard work and dedication that really paid off: Bessie became the first African-American to earn a pilot's license. She was somebody.

About this title

From the Inside Flap:

Bessie Coleman was born in rural Texas in 1892. She loved school, especially learning about numbers, and she was a good reader, too. Yet when it was time to pick cotton she had to work in the fields instead of going to school. Nevertheless, she was determined to be somebody when she grew up.

In her early twenties, Bessie moved to Chicago. Perhaps there she could "find a bigger life". In the city, Bessie heard many tales of World War I from returned veterans. She also heard there were woman airplane pilots in France. From then on, she was determined to become a pilot. But she soon found out that no one would teach a woman -- especially a woman with dark skin -- how to fly. To study in France was her only chance, and by working hard and saving her money, she managed at last to get there. Bessie Coleman became the first African-American to earn a pilot's license. She was somebody.

The inspiring story of her difficult early years, her success as a stunt pilot putting on daring air shows in many states, and her dedication to telling young African-Americans wherever she went, "You can be somebody. You can fly high just like me", is as moving and important today as it was then. Simply told with evocative full-color illustrations, this is a special book for today's young people.

About the Author:

Louise Borden graduated from Denison University with a degree in history. She taught first graders and preschoolers and later was a part-owner of a bookstore in Cincinnati, Ohio. In addition to writing children’s books, she also speaks regularly to young students about the writing process. Her books include Good Luck, Mrs. K!, which won the Christopher Medal, and The A+ Custodian. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, and you can visit her at LouiseBorden.com.

About this edition

• Publisher: Aladdin
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0689864620
• ISBN 13: 9780689864629
• Binding: Perfect Paperback
• Number of pages: 40
• Illustrator: Flavin Teresa