Nobody Owns the Sky: The Story of "Brave Bessie" Coleman by Reeve Lindbergh

Illustrated by Pamela Paparone. 26 pages. Candlewick, 1996.

This rhyming story is a biography of Bessie Coleman, who in 1921 became the first licensed Black aviator in the world. Although people told her she could never fly because she was female and of African descent, she followed her passion learned to fly in France, returning to the United States as a stunt flier and lecturer. She died during an air show, but her life left an inspiring message about commitment to a dream in spite of prejudice.

Ages: 5-9
Cultural Context: multicultural