What do you think?
Rate this book
Nobody Owns the Sky: The Story of "Brave Bessie" Coleman
The story of Bessie Coleman becoming the first licensed African American aviator is sure to inspire readers to follow their own dreams.
As a young black woman in the 1920s, Bessie Coleman's chances of becoming a pilot were slim. But she never let her dream die and became the first licensed African-American aviator. Reeve Lindbergh honors her memory with a poem that sings of her accomplishment. With bold illustrations by Pamela Paparone, Nobody Owns the Sky will inspire readers to follow their dreams.
As a young black woman in the 1920s, Bessie Coleman's chances of becoming a pilot were slim. But she never let her dream die and became the first licensed African-American aviator. Reeve Lindbergh honors her memory with a poem that sings of her accomplishment. With bold illustrations by Pamela Paparone, Nobody Owns the Sky will inspire readers to follow their dreams.
32 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1996
2 people are currently reading
251 people want to read
About the author
Reeve Lindbergh
65 books60 followersChildren's author, novelist, and poet Reeve Lindbergh is the daughter of world-renowned aviator Charles Lindbergh and his wife, the talented writer Anne Morrow Lindbergh.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
March 18, 2018
Written by the daughter of aviator Charles Lindbergh, this beautifully poetic and historic tale is of "Brave Bessie" Coleman, who became the first licensed African-American aviator in the world.
September 29, 2021
A story in rhyming text written by the daughter of famous aviator Charles Lindbergh, the story briefly tells the history of the first Black female aviator, Bessie Coleman. In one page it talks about her early life picking cotton and then moves on to her inspiration for flying, and then feeling frustrated by the racism and sexism of the day. She went to France to learn to fly and returned to the U.S. to barnstorm. The author includes Bessie Coleman's death simply "But in Jacksonville, Florida everyone cried. /Because Bessie's plane failed, and she fell, and she died. /'Farewell to brave Bessie!' they sighed." The illustrator did a good job showing a cloud of smoke and people crying. There's a refrain going throughout the story that nobody owns the sky and that leads you to follow your dreams. Even after Coleman was killed, the story continues showing kids who were inspired to fly.
This isn't the greatest book on Bessie Coleman. It's very very brief and simple but if you have a small child interested in flying, this might do the trick to just introduce Bessie Coleman. The author, being from a famous family, saw injustice in the way Bessie Coleman was barely mentioned in the media at the time although she was a contemporary of Charles Lindbergh. The Lindberghs got so much press they couldn't really live normal lives.
For 1997, this isn't a bad book. I knew who Bessie Coleman was and how she died but nothing about her early life so I at least learned a little something.
This isn't the greatest book on Bessie Coleman. It's very very brief and simple but if you have a small child interested in flying, this might do the trick to just introduce Bessie Coleman. The author, being from a famous family, saw injustice in the way Bessie Coleman was barely mentioned in the media at the time although she was a contemporary of Charles Lindbergh. The Lindberghs got so much press they couldn't really live normal lives.
For 1997, this isn't a bad book. I knew who Bessie Coleman was and how she died but nothing about her early life so I at least learned a little something.
September 28, 2021
Bessie Coleman is a fantastic subject for a picture book. While the rhyming text didn't always work well as a read aloud, the colorful illustrations and inspiring story was enjoyed by both my daughter and I.
March 23, 2013
Still an Inspiration for Young and Old, Black and White - In a Glorious Rainbow of Colors and Hope
As someone who has taught children for over 12 years, not counting the many more I spent raising my own, biographies - good biographies - are among the best books one can read to young ones or provide them with the opportunity for them to read it themselves, if they are able. Who says you cannot own the sky? Bessie Coleman was a young African-American woman had to go to France to earn her pilot's licence, the first African-American woman to do so. Most people in the US believed that neither women nor African Americans had the intelligence to fly an aeroplane. Bessie proved them wrong! She amazed crowds all over the world with here outstanding stunt flying. She was an inspiration for children and adults of all "races." She died in a crash, when her aircraft malfunctioned during a particularly dangerous stunt. Maybe the aircraft hit the ground, but Bessie did not; her soul went straight to heaven. Her story is told beautifully in a superb children's book, "Nobody Owns the Sky," by Reeve Lindbergh, the gifted daughter of none other than Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh. (My former students may remember the book, when I brought it in last year as part of my surreptitious observation of Black History Month.) The story narrates her life beautifully; Ms. Coleman's death is told in a way that is sympathetic to the young audience for whom this book is intended, neither whitewashing what happened nor making her death something scary. Ms. Lindbergh's style of rhymes works for me; Jane Yolen used it well in her biography of Katherine Wright, the sister of the famous Wright brothers. "Nobody Owns the Sky" offers children much to think about, especially when the book is used during Black History Month or Women's History Month. Sadly, racism in aviation did not end with Bessie Coleman. That would not come until the exploits of the Tuskegee Airmen, several decades later, whose heroism, like that of Bessie Coleman, provides an enduring legacy.
As someone who has taught children for over 12 years, not counting the many more I spent raising my own, biographies - good biographies - are among the best books one can read to young ones or provide them with the opportunity for them to read it themselves, if they are able. Who says you cannot own the sky? Bessie Coleman was a young African-American woman had to go to France to earn her pilot's licence, the first African-American woman to do so. Most people in the US believed that neither women nor African Americans had the intelligence to fly an aeroplane. Bessie proved them wrong! She amazed crowds all over the world with here outstanding stunt flying. She was an inspiration for children and adults of all "races." She died in a crash, when her aircraft malfunctioned during a particularly dangerous stunt. Maybe the aircraft hit the ground, but Bessie did not; her soul went straight to heaven. Her story is told beautifully in a superb children's book, "Nobody Owns the Sky," by Reeve Lindbergh, the gifted daughter of none other than Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh. (My former students may remember the book, when I brought it in last year as part of my surreptitious observation of Black History Month.) The story narrates her life beautifully; Ms. Coleman's death is told in a way that is sympathetic to the young audience for whom this book is intended, neither whitewashing what happened nor making her death something scary. Ms. Lindbergh's style of rhymes works for me; Jane Yolen used it well in her biography of Katherine Wright, the sister of the famous Wright brothers. "Nobody Owns the Sky" offers children much to think about, especially when the book is used during Black History Month or Women's History Month. Sadly, racism in aviation did not end with Bessie Coleman. That would not come until the exploits of the Tuskegee Airmen, several decades later, whose heroism, like that of Bessie Coleman, provides an enduring legacy.
November 15, 2009
Quick - name a female aviator!
Yes, yes, Amelia Earhart. Now name another one. Can't do it, can you? Well, how about Bessie Coleman - first African-American woman to have a pilot's license, and first American of ANY race or gender to have an international pilot's license - and she did it two years before Amelia, too! (She had to go overseas to get that license, because flight schools in the US wouldn't take a black aviator, and black aviators in the US wouldn't train a woman.)
Aviators in general make great picture book heroes, doing something that was brand new and scary and didn't involve deliberate violence. And Bessie Coleman - wow! She ought to be better known!
So why only three stars? Because, honestly, I don't think this book offers a good treatment of her.
The artwork is so-so, but I could live with that. What I can't live with are the words. I have nothing against a rhyming book. However, this book has a very set jaunty rhythm with a rhyme scheme that runs A-A-A-A-A-A for every verse. The end result is that major issues such as racism, sexism, and Bessie Coleman's eventual *death* come out sounding like... like humor! The nicest thing I can say about it is that it's clunky:
Bessie's life was not long, but she flew far and wide
In Chicago she showed off a Richthofen Glide
Her air shows in Boston left crowds starry-eyed;
But in Jacksonville, Florida, everyone cried
Because Bessie's plane failed, and she fell, and she died
"Farewell to Brave Bessie", they sighed
It goes on like that for the whole book. And the little coda that takes her specific accomplishments and turns them into a general paean about flying like birds is... well, I'm not a great fan of it.
I'm going to try Talkin' 'bout Bessie instead. Maybe that'll give me what I was looking for here.
Yes, yes, Amelia Earhart. Now name another one. Can't do it, can you? Well, how about Bessie Coleman - first African-American woman to have a pilot's license, and first American of ANY race or gender to have an international pilot's license - and she did it two years before Amelia, too! (She had to go overseas to get that license, because flight schools in the US wouldn't take a black aviator, and black aviators in the US wouldn't train a woman.)
Aviators in general make great picture book heroes, doing something that was brand new and scary and didn't involve deliberate violence. And Bessie Coleman - wow! She ought to be better known!
So why only three stars? Because, honestly, I don't think this book offers a good treatment of her.
The artwork is so-so, but I could live with that. What I can't live with are the words. I have nothing against a rhyming book. However, this book has a very set jaunty rhythm with a rhyme scheme that runs A-A-A-A-A-A for every verse. The end result is that major issues such as racism, sexism, and Bessie Coleman's eventual *death* come out sounding like... like humor! The nicest thing I can say about it is that it's clunky:
Bessie's life was not long, but she flew far and wide
In Chicago she showed off a Richthofen Glide
Her air shows in Boston left crowds starry-eyed;
But in Jacksonville, Florida, everyone cried
Because Bessie's plane failed, and she fell, and she died
"Farewell to Brave Bessie", they sighed
It goes on like that for the whole book. And the little coda that takes her specific accomplishments and turns them into a general paean about flying like birds is... well, I'm not a great fan of it.
I'm going to try Talkin' 'bout Bessie instead. Maybe that'll give me what I was looking for here.
February 14, 2017
This is such a tremendously biography! Its poetic rhyming verses pull readers in and keeps the text hopping. The book does an amazing job situating Bessie Coleman's life within the racial and gender circumstances of the time she lived in, without letting those circumstances overwhelm the power of her dream of becoming a pilot. Ultimately, Nobody Owns the Sky (such a great title, which makes for great conversations on its own!) shows the ways in which one individual can change the world simply by being themselves. The very last page is particularly compelling. By courageously venturing into uncharted territory, Bessie Coleman makes it possible for all kinds of children to dream of being pilots, and the illustration shows kids of all genders and skin-tones playing with airplanes and zooming around with their hands out. Bessie's ultimate crash and death leads well to a discussion of the the different types of courage a person can possess, and the ways in which one person's life, however short, can change history.
December 6, 2016
Subtitled "The story of 'Brave Bessie' Coleman, this is a very good children's book, written in rhyme, on an early aviation pioneer, the first Black female licensed pilot. Beautifully illustrated. Written by Reeve Lindbergh, daughter of famed aviator Charles Lindbergh, who, in 1987 upon learning of Ms. Bessie Coleman's story in the 60th anniversary year of her father's famous flight, wanted to give Coleman's legacy the publicity it deserved.
I sought out and purchased this as a gift for a youngster with whom I volunteer as a court appointed special advocate for children in foster care. The Amelia Earhart story had been discussed in a classroom history lesson, and, being Black, he wondered about Blacks in aviation. He was amazed to hear of Bessie Coleman, thus the gift of this book. Also got him a book on paper airplanes, though I am concerned that the paper planes book is marketed as "boy stuff..." Really...
I sought out and purchased this as a gift for a youngster with whom I volunteer as a court appointed special advocate for children in foster care. The Amelia Earhart story had been discussed in a classroom history lesson, and, being Black, he wondered about Blacks in aviation. He was amazed to hear of Bessie Coleman, thus the gift of this book. Also got him a book on paper airplanes, though I am concerned that the paper planes book is marketed as "boy stuff..." Really...
October 1, 2013
This books tells of the story of "brave bessie" coleman and how she began to fly. I liked this book because it allows children to think about why it may not have been typical for a girl like Bessie to be able to fly during her time period. The book stated that she was a woman and that she wasn't white as two reasons why she wouldn't be able to even consider flying. I also like that the book is written in English and Vietnamese so it does give room for children of other cultures to identify another written language. The book is written in poem style and also rhymes which is very age appropriate for elementary students.
July 20, 2010
This book is a great tool for both the social studies and language arts classrooms. While the historically significant story of Bessie Coleman is taught, students are also led to inquire why she was not able to fly in the United States. Racial barriers could be discussed with students. Bessie is also a great example of an inspirational woman that would not give up on her dream. With regard to language arts, students will see a wondeful example of poetry and rhyme. They will also be able to discuss symbolic language, such as the meaning of the title itself.
November 5, 2008
OK, I admit I may be confusing the book with the life of Bessie Coleman, who I consider one of the most brilliant, brave and amazing African-American women who ever lived. She learned to fly at a time (very early 20th century) when neither the economy nor the social mileu would have permitted such a thing. She overcame incredible obstacles. Sadly, she died in a plane crash but not before she proved that African American women can do whatever they dream of doing.
January 4, 2019
Bessie Coleman was a badass, and not enough people have heard of her. The first black aviator in the world. She was also half Native American. She went to France and learned to fly when no one in the US would teach her. I also absolutely LOVE that this was written by Charles Lindbergh’s daughter, who said it was ridiculous that her parents got so much attention while no one noticed Coleman. Good for her for doing something about it.
April 19, 2010
Reeve Lindbergh, daughter of the pioneer aviator, honors the memory of a young African American woman named Bessie who refused to let her flying dreams die despite obstacles. Another great addition to a history unit!
April 10, 2011
The illustrations in this book are awesome for students make strong predictions. This is an awesome book to use in the class as a social studies lesson. The book reflects on the historical figure Bessie Coleman an African American pilot in the 1920's.
May 1, 2018
This was a rhyming story about Bessie Coleman written by Charles Lindbergh's daughter. That's kind of an interesting mix. Anyway, the illustrations and the poetry are both pretty well done. It's an approachable text for younger readers though it is fairly long.
February 17, 2013
Nobody owns the sky... so a young African American (1/2 Native American) woman rises above the challenges to become the first licensed black aviator in the world. Short, rhyming text. Leaves you wanting to know more. Author is the daughter of aviator, Charles Lindbergh. Lovely illustrations.
November 22, 2008
good book for little girls
Read
April 24, 2012This is a great book to use for a social studies lesson. The book can be used to introduce the lesson on Bessie Coleman.
June 18, 2012
Great non-fiction with rhymes
March 20, 2013
This book is great for social studies and language arts. Bessie Coleman was the first African American woman to fly planes. Beautiful illustrations!!! Sad ending that was surprising.
April 29, 2015
inspiring. read aloud with my 8 year old friend and she loved it. and i liked the illustrations.
December 14, 2015
A great way to down play this woman's accomplishments and not tell her story at all is to put it into a rhyming poem! Just awful!
May 10, 2017
Peolpe can learn a lot from this book
February 26, 2020
Nobody Owns the Sky: The Story of "Brave Bessie" Coleman is a children's picture book written by Reeve Lindbergh and illustrated by Pamela Paparone. It is a homage to a brave and dedicated aviation pioneer summoned in lyrical verse and paint-drenched, joyous illustrations.
February, at least in my part of the world is Black History Month, which I plan to read one children's book, particularly a biography, which pertains to the subject everyday this month. Therefore, I thought that this book would be apropos for today.
Bessie Coleman was an early American civil aviator. She was the first woman of African-American descent, and also the first of Native-American descent, to hold a pilot license. She earned her pilot license from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale on June 15, 1921, and was the first black person to earn an international pilot's license.
Lindbergh's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. Lindbergh relates Coleman's life story in the broadest of strokes, couching it in bouncy if sometimes heavy-handed rhymed verse. Paparone's lustrous, appealingly primitive acrylic art effectively conveys a sense of the 1920s.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. In 1922 Bessie Coleman, born in Texas in 1893 to a Native American father and an African American mother, became the first licensed black aviator in the world. Her tale is one of extraordinary perseverance; among other obstacles, she was denied admission to U.S. flying schools and ended up traveling to France to get her pilot's license.
All in all, Nobody Owns the Sky: The Story of "Brave Bessie" Coleman is a wonderful biographical picture book about a pioneer aviator – Bessie Coleman.
February, at least in my part of the world is Black History Month, which I plan to read one children's book, particularly a biography, which pertains to the subject everyday this month. Therefore, I thought that this book would be apropos for today.
Bessie Coleman was an early American civil aviator. She was the first woman of African-American descent, and also the first of Native-American descent, to hold a pilot license. She earned her pilot license from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale on June 15, 1921, and was the first black person to earn an international pilot's license.
Lindbergh's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. Lindbergh relates Coleman's life story in the broadest of strokes, couching it in bouncy if sometimes heavy-handed rhymed verse. Paparone's lustrous, appealingly primitive acrylic art effectively conveys a sense of the 1920s.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. In 1922 Bessie Coleman, born in Texas in 1893 to a Native American father and an African American mother, became the first licensed black aviator in the world. Her tale is one of extraordinary perseverance; among other obstacles, she was denied admission to U.S. flying schools and ended up traveling to France to get her pilot's license.
All in all, Nobody Owns the Sky: The Story of "Brave Bessie" Coleman is a wonderful biographical picture book about a pioneer aviator – Bessie Coleman.
April 15, 2021
Bessie Coleman is definitely someone more people should know about. She was the first African American to earn her pilot's license and she flew in air shows all over the country doing stunts that earned her the nickname "Brave Bessie." This picture book is a nice introduction, but would benefit from a bibliography so kids who are interested could find out more about Ms. Coleman. The illustrations are nice, but the rhyming text was sometimes forced enough to draw the reader out of the story and just seemed a little ridiculous. It was just okay.
July 10, 2023
First African-American to earn her pilot’s license (in France; she was not allowed to in the US at the time). I like the idea of this better than the execution but it is the only PB biography we got about Bessie Coleman and she is definitely worth reading about. Good for author Reeve Lindbergh, daughter of Charles Lindbergh, for realizing the inequality between the news coverage of her father’s achievements and that of Bessie Coleman and for wanting to help make Bessie’s name stand out in the history of aviation as she so well deserved.
February 13, 2018
This works as a read-aloud to 2nd-4th graders, but she dies tragically in the end, so sometimes the teachers/parents are shocked.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2019
The rhyme scheme is a little Seuss-like and makes this story of a woman of color overcoming adversity and dying doing what she loved seem trivial.
January 10, 2021
Great biography that focuses on the first African American Woman pilot. A uplifting (excuse the pun) book that shows that against all odds you can accomplish your dreams.
March 7, 2022
Reeve Lindbergh is daughter of Charles and Ann Morrow. She beautifully created this poem to honor Bessie and inspire us to dream big and grab our spot in the skies!
April 17, 2022
Really liked this picture book. Now, I want to know more about "Brave Bessie"
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews