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27th out of 65 books
—
19 voters
Talkin' About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman
by
Nikki Grimes,
Barry Moser , Earl B. Lewis , B. Moser
Soar along with Bessie Coleman in this inspirational tale of a woman whose determination reached new heights.
Elizabeth "Bessie" Coleman was always being told what she could & couldn't do. In an era when Jim Crow laws and segregation were a way of life, it was not easy to survive. Bessie didn't let that stop her. Although she was only 11 when the Wright brothers took th...more
Elizabeth "Bessie" Coleman was always being told what she could & couldn't do. In an era when Jim Crow laws and segregation were a way of life, it was not easy to survive. Bessie didn't let that stop her. Although she was only 11 when the Wright brothers took th...more
Hardcover, 48 pages
Published
November 1st 2002
by Orchard Books
(first published 2002)
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Talkin’ About Bessie uses a series of “interviews” to tell the story of Bessie Coleman, an African-American aviatrix from the early 1900’s, when few women and fewer African American men or women flew airplanes. Each page spread contains a beautiful watercolor illustration y E. B. Lewis, and a brief “interview” of someone’s recollections of Bessie at various points in her life. Through the words of parents, teachers, siblings, flight instructors, laundry customers and pastors, we learn details ab...more
Nov 30, 2011
Sharne' Cherry
added it
1. Biography
2. Talkin about Bessie is an autobiography about the late Bessie Coleman. As an African American women, she made history in the area of aviation. The language used tells the era, it also tells the type of education the person speaking has. It also takes a fictional approach to telling Elizabeth's biography. The theme of the book is Elizabeth never took no for an answer and did whatever she had to do to accomplish goals set forth for her.
3.a.Illustrations
b. The illustrations in this b...more
2. Talkin about Bessie is an autobiography about the late Bessie Coleman. As an African American women, she made history in the area of aviation. The language used tells the era, it also tells the type of education the person speaking has. It also takes a fictional approach to telling Elizabeth's biography. The theme of the book is Elizabeth never took no for an answer and did whatever she had to do to accomplish goals set forth for her.
3.a.Illustrations
b. The illustrations in this b...more
Talkin About Bessie is a biography for primary aged children. It won the 2003 Coretta Scott King Illustrator award and the 2003 Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book. This book is about aviator Elizabeth Coleman who decided to become an aviator after her older brother John Coleman teased that. African. American women would never fly and eventually she taught others. The story is told from the point of view of those who knew her primarily family. The language used tells the era, it also tells the...more
Previous to reading this book, I had not even known of Bessie Coleman’s existence. It is a shame that I had never learned about this amazing and important woman. I am so glad that Nikki Grimes and E. B. Lewis came together to produce this enlightening and engaging picture book. This book pays tribute to the vivacious and determined spirit of the first black, female licensed pilot. Through soft, muted, (presumably) watercolor illustrations, E. B. Lewis gives us a glimpse of the world during the e...more
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Bessie Coleman. Bessie Coleman. Well, Bessie Coleman, the "Queen of the Air", was the first African-American to obtain a pilot's license, and the first American of any race or gender to get an international pilot's license. (This was necessary because black aviators wouldn't teach a woman, and white flight schools wouldn't take a black student, so what was she to do but go overseas?) And she did it a few years before Earheart as well.
I had picked up another book about her, Nobody Owns the Sky,...more
I had picked up another book about her, Nobody Owns the Sky,...more
Jul 24, 2009
Shel
added it
Grimes, N. (2002). Talkin’ About Bessie: The story of aviator Elizabeth Coleman. New York: Orchard Books.
0439352436
Bessie Coleman is quite the amazing historical figure. The day she realized she wanted to become a pilot, she quit her job. She then learned French so she could go to flight school in France. After an accident that grounded her in a hospital, her first plan was to get back up in the air. Bessie is a wonderful role model of dedication.
This Coretta Scott King Award winning biographica...more
0439352436
Bessie Coleman is quite the amazing historical figure. The day she realized she wanted to become a pilot, she quit her job. She then learned French so she could go to flight school in France. After an accident that grounded her in a hospital, her first plan was to get back up in the air. Bessie is a wonderful role model of dedication.
This Coretta Scott King Award winning biographica...more
Grade/Interest Level: Upper Elementary (3rd-5th)
Reading Level: 710L
Genre: Picture Book, Biography, Historical Fiction
Main Characters: Bessie Coleman
Setting: Early 20th Century
POV:Third Person (Family and Friends)
Summary: This book is a biography on Elizabeth "Bessie" Coleman during the time of Jim Crow laws and segregation. Being also African American was not easy for Bessie as she was constantly told of what she could and couldn't do. After the historic flight of the Wright brothers, she decide...more
Reading Level: 710L
Genre: Picture Book, Biography, Historical Fiction
Main Characters: Bessie Coleman
Setting: Early 20th Century
POV:Third Person (Family and Friends)
Summary: This book is a biography on Elizabeth "Bessie" Coleman during the time of Jim Crow laws and segregation. Being also African American was not easy for Bessie as she was constantly told of what she could and couldn't do. After the historic flight of the Wright brothers, she decide...more
Published: 2002, Orchard Books
Age: 7 and up
This is the story of Bessie Coleman, the first black woman aviator. It is told as if her friends, family, and others are at her funeral and they are each reminiscing about her. They speak chronologically and in free verse. On each page is a sepia tone portrait and name of the person speaking. On the facing pages of the poems are full page watercolor illustrations by E.B. White that show Coleman at moments in her life from a toddler to the time she died....more
Age: 7 and up
This is the story of Bessie Coleman, the first black woman aviator. It is told as if her friends, family, and others are at her funeral and they are each reminiscing about her. They speak chronologically and in free verse. On each page is a sepia tone portrait and name of the person speaking. On the facing pages of the poems are full page watercolor illustrations by E.B. White that show Coleman at moments in her life from a toddler to the time she died....more
What a life Bessie Coleman lived! I learned that she started off picking cotton and she was not a fan of manual labor. She knew she wanted to do something extraordinary with her life, she just wasn't sure what. When she decided she would become a pilot, she had an uphill battle ahead of her. Her first challenge was being African American. At that time, it was near impossible for black people to go to college in America. Being female also made things more complicated. To add to her battle, the be...more
From the wonderful cover showing Bessie Coleman with her flying gear on, this book is a wonderful account of a phenomenal African-American woman, born in 1892. Very cleverly staged, this book is a fictionalized account of Bessie’s life, as told by relatives, teachers and news reporters, each with their own page and illustration, while Bessie, in her photograph on a mantel behind them, looks and listens. We learn about her life, from her beginnings in Texas and picking cotton, to Chicago and a j...more
Talkin’ About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman was created with watercolors. The cover image of Elizabeth Coleman was well-done, but I was not a fan of the work inside of the book. Every image was painted blurry; there were no solid lines throughout the pages. As a reader, this effect threw me off, and while I enjoyed the text, I did not like the story as much due to the illustrations. The text was great and the topic was interesting; I had never heard of Elizabeth Coleman before p...more
May 08, 2011
Cheryl/Aradanryl
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
african-american,
aviator,
black-history-month,
black-american,
race-relations,
racism,
character-building-hard-work,
character-building-perserverance,
character-building-problem-solving,
character-building-self-acceptance,
childrens-literature,
childrens-nonfiction,
biography,
biography-fictionalized,
biography-woman
Beautiful testimonial to this incredible woman. This was presented almost as though it was a eulogy and the author made it work incredibly well. Although the author does make it clear that the "voices, styles of speech and characterizations were imaginary devices used to bring Bessie's true story to life", it provides the reader a real sense of Ms. Coleman's bravery and determination to rise about her circumstances. I gained an deep appreciation for this remarkable woman.
The gorgeous illustrati...more
The gorgeous illustrati...more
Talkin About Bessie is a biography for primary aged children. It won the 2003 Coretta Scott King Illustrator award and the 2003 Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book. This book is about aviator Elizabeth Coleman who decided to become an aviator after her older brother John Coleman teased that. African. American women would never fly and eventually she taught others. The story is told from the point of view of those who knew her primarily family. The language used tells the era, it also tells the...more
grades 4-6
guided/independent
fluent
historical fiction picture book
civil or human rights/geography/segregation/poverty/gender
metaphor/simile/told as series of monologues/period and cultural language
challenges us to push beyond our limitations and pursue our dreams
Elizabeth Bessie coleman lived in the south during the early 1900's
she wanted to be first African American barn storming pilot
overcame the obstacles of poverty, gender, discrimination with
determination/triumph/self esteem/faith
guided/independent
fluent
historical fiction picture book
civil or human rights/geography/segregation/poverty/gender
metaphor/simile/told as series of monologues/period and cultural language
challenges us to push beyond our limitations and pursue our dreams
Elizabeth Bessie coleman lived in the south during the early 1900's
she wanted to be first African American barn storming pilot
overcame the obstacles of poverty, gender, discrimination with
determination/triumph/self esteem/faith
This is an excellent biography of Bessie Coleman, the first African American female pilot. I like the way Nikki Grimes chose to tell it: people in Bessie's life are gathered in Chicago to mourn her death, and each one tell a story about her. Kids may find the African-American dialect challenging, but before tackling novels with dialect, this would be good practice. The illustrations by E.B. Lewis are beautiful. I'd like to have this in my library.
While this book is on the longer side, it gives a very interesting story of a very interesting historical figure. The plot for each page involves someone Bessie knew sharing a memory of her in the wake of her funeral. The illustrations on the opposite page tie into that specific memory and help the text come alive.
The author gives a many-sided portrait of the first African American pilot Bessie Coleman. The artwork shows the portrayal of Bessie and the different speakers used throughout the book. The story moves in order and builds emotional to the last page. The pictures really illustrate Bessie’s life and her family as well.
Jun 13, 2012
Kara Smith
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
biography,
picture-book
This is a picture book that displays the life of the first African American female aviator. I really enjoyed this book because it was told from the point of view from those who knew Elizabeth Coleman best. It is a Coretta Scott King book award recipient and would be great to teach when covering Civil Rights or Women Studies.
Book about Elizabeth Coleman, the first African-American woman aviator. Interesting written as a series of 'interviews' with folks who knew her - all based on truth, but not direct quotes. Definitely a book for mid-late elementary as my 6, 4,and 2 year old didn't enjoy it very much.
This is a picture book that displays the life of the first African American female aviator. I really enjoyed this book because it was told from the point of view from those who knew Elizabeth Coleman best. It is a Coretta Scott King book award recipient and would be great to teach when covering Civil Rights or Women Studies.
Long for a read aloud but the writing style and illustrations would interest my kids. Great option to leave out for black history for higher kids to read.
Interviews from people in Bessie's life. Need to preread because the "N" word is use twice. Can work with segregation, Jim Crow laws and women rights.
1 like · like · see review
This is the life of a woman everyone should know about. This book is not for kids too young--lots of text, so they will get distracted.
I thought this book was cool on how it had different perspectives from her school teacher, family members, new reporters, etc.
A biogrpahy told through the voice of family, friends, and fans of Elizabeth Coleman, pioneer African-American female aviator.
Loved how the story was "written" by many people who were close to Elizabeth Coleman. Beautiful illustrations.
This book is very good. It talks about her and what she experience of herself about being a slave
This is a story about an aviator Elizabeth Coleman.
2003 Coretta Scott King Award (illustrator winner)
CORETTA SCOTT KING ILLUSTRATOR AWARD (2003)
CORETTA SCOTT KING AUTHOR NOMINEE (2003)
CORETTA SCOTT KING AUTHOR NOMINEE (2003)
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