Fly High: The Story of Bessie Coleman

Recommended Ages: 9-12

Written by Louise Borden and Mary Kay Kroeger. Illustrated by Teresa Flavin.

As a child, Bessie Coleman dreamed of an education, not working in the cotton fields of Texas to help her family survive. Determined to make something of herself, she found ways to learn despite the harshest conditions. After long days in the fields, she would double-check the foreman's numbers to ensure his math was accurate. This was just the start of her journey, marked by perseverance and hard work. Bessie’s dedication paid off when she became the first African-American woman to earn a pilot’s license. She was somebody.