Fly High!: The Story of Bessie Coleman

by Louise Borden, Mary Kay Kroeger, Teresa Flavin (Illustrator)

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 Bessie became the first African-American to earn a pilot's license. She was somebody.

Genres: Picture Books, Biography, History, Nonfiction, African American, Childrens, Aviation

40 pages, Perfect Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

There were already two Louises in my family when I was born: my mother and my grandmother, Nana, who lived with us when I was growing up. So early on, I was given the name Leezie. This is a name that my family still calls me. Years later, my niece was born and also named Louise. Then there were four of us with the same name! Louise is a fine name to have except that people often spell it incorrectly. Sometimes my mail is addressed to Louisa, or Louisie, or Lewis, or Lois. Leezie is also tough for people to spell. Names and their pronunciations have always interested me, so writing about a teacher named Mrs. Kempczinski was a natural thing for me to do.

I grew up in a house at the top of a steep street in Cincinnati, Ohio, the kind of street that is a big challenge when you are pedaling uphill on your bicycle. My two sisters and I used to ride our bikes down, down our street, and then to the local dimestore to buy candy bars or meet up with our friends. But coming home, we had to pedal up our long hill. (This was before mountain bikes!) Pedaling slowly up my street may be where I learned perseverance, something all writers need when they are working alone at their desks.

Writing picture books came much later—after studying history in college, getting married, and raising three children. Even though I didn't grow up to be a composer, I like to think that my picture books are almost songs because the sound of words and the poetry of my style are so important in the texts that I write. I work very hard at my desk, revising and revising and revising, trying to find just the right words that will be beautiful or fun to read.

Reviews

[Linda Lipko]

Picking cotton in the hot weather in the fields of Waxahachie, Texas was not where young Bessie Coleman wanted to be. She had dreams that would someday lead her away from the toil. She walked four miles to and from a one room schoolhouse where she learned to love numbers. She loved to read as well, and twice a year a wagon containing books came to the small town. Her mother used money earned from ironing clothes to buy books for Bessie.

Bessie's father abandoned them, leaving them with very little but the love the family had for each other. Growing up was difficult because Bessie had dreams of leaving. Attending school at the Colored Agricultural and Normal University, helped to set Bessie's dreams even higher.

Bessie moved to Chicago where she could find various jobs. Knowing someday she could be somebody, In 1919, the war brought soldiers home to Chicago who talked about the trenches of France. Bessie heard tales of women in France who could fly planes. Now, she knew her goal was to become a pilot.

Bessie did indeed learn to fly. The planes she used were dangerously made of unsafe materials. Bessie learned to fly in air shows. Wherever she went, her message was that people could escape from poverty and they could make something of themselves. Bessie took lessons in France, Germany and Holland. She continued to hone her skills until she was a well-known aviatrix.

Her mantra to all was "You can be somebody! Just like me!"

Sadly, it was in Jacksonville, Florida where Bessie took a shabby, old plane for a test ride. When it crashed, Bessie fell from the sky, and no longer could tell people to be somebody. But, her example lived on, and her story of a poor cotton picking little girl who walked far to school, and who set a goal of becoming someone lives on today.

[Willow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I've loved every book by Louise Borden that I've read, and this is no exception!

[(NS) Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bessie Coleman was born in Waxahachie, Texas, a rural community of poor cotton pickers. Bessie loved school, especially reading and learning about numbers. She knew that with schooling she could be anything that she wanted to be. She worked hard, picking cotton, walking miles to collect laundry, and learning her numbers. When she was twenty-three, she moved to Chicago. There she became a manicurist to earn money. She read the newspaper, and listened when customers told tales about French lady pilots in World War I. She wanted to be a lady pilot. She approached Robert Abbott, a publisher for the newspaper, The Chicago Defender. He told her she would have to learn French, and he would help her find a flying school. In 1920, she went to France, learned to fly, and became the first African American pilot. She spread her message, "You can be somebody. You can fly high, just like me." The story ends with Bessie dying in a plane crash doing what she loved the best.

This colorful, beautiful, simply written book shows how Bessie Coleman was an inspiration. The descriptive story and visual pictures, help the reader to put themselves in the time and place of Bessie Coleman's life. We learn that with strong determination and hard work we can make any dreams come true!

Students in forth grade and up would enjoy this story.

[Jaclyn Giordano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fly High! The Story of Bessie Coleman by Louise Borden and Mary Kay Kroeger is a picture book biography intended for readers in grades one through five. I gave it four stars. “Someday I’ll be a pilot, small step by small step…She would fly high and be somebody.” This text chronicles the life of Bessie Coleman, the first African American to earn a pilot’s license. The story follows Bessie through her life, from picking cotton in Texas, to working in Chicago, to her time in France earning her pilot’s license, and back home to the United States as she put on flying shows and attempted to open a school for teaching pilots. The Author’s Note at the end gives Bessie even more of a real face, a real name, a real life idea to all readers. The illustrations are colorful and bright, helping the reader connect to the brightness and positivity of Bessie’s perseverance and determination to turn dreams turning into reality. The theme of never giving up, no matter what the obstacles, will really connect to readers who have hopes and aspirations to be successful and happy doing what they love.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well-written account of the life of Bessie Coleman. I must admit that I'd never heard of her before, so I was fascinated by her adventurous spirit and determination to achieve her dreams. The illustrations are colorful and complement the story nicely, giving the reader an idea of life back then.

I would recommend this for older children due to the fact that the book describes Bessie's untimely, tragic death. Otherwise, parents can just edit that according to a child's ability to understand.

I read this book while shopping for a present for our girls during a visit to the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. I probably should've purchased this picture book, but selected another instead.

[Sue · Rating 1 out of 5]

There is a lot of emphasis early in this book on the family's Christianity that was one of those things that just made me think hmm this was definitely written by a white woman. Sure enough. No other biographies of the pilot emphasize Christianity. It just feels very paternalistic, like the author trying to insert her own identity into the story. I'd recommend seeking other sources on Bessie Coleman's life.

"[Susan/Bessie's mom] couldn't read or write..[she] knew how to plant seeds, pick cotton, and teach her children to love God." Yikes.

[MaryBeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bessie Coleman had perseverance!! That is for sure. She had a dream of learning and becoming a pilot. She was able to do both! Interesting story!

[Alex Baugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

February is Black History Month and I thought I would begin the month with a look at the life of Bessie Coleman. Bessie was the first female African American pilot AND the first African American to hold an international pilot license. Those are certainly achievements that deserved to be honored and celebrated.

And that is precisely what Louise Borden and Mary Kay Kroeger do in this picture book biography of Bessie. Born in 1892, Bessie was the 10th child of 13, growing up in a small house in Waxahachie, Texas. She was able to attend school, but only when there was no cotton to pick. But Bessie learned her arithmetic well and was able to make sure her family wasn't cheated when the cotton was weighed.

But Bessie wanted more and when she was 23, she moved to Chicago, where her brother was a Pullman porter. She took a job giving manicures at a barber shop and listened to all the talk among the men. That's where she heard about French female pilots from the soldiers returning from the Great War. They must be somebody, she thought and from than on, she worked hard to save money to go to France and learn to fly.

And she did just that. In 1921, Bessie earned her international pilot license and began stunt flying all over the United States and even dreamed of opening her own flying school, but that was a dream not to be realized. First, she was in a crash with laid her up for months. Then one day, in 1926, while taking a very shabby plane out for a test run, she was killed along with her mechanic. Bessie was only 34 years old.

Fly High! is an ideal Black History Month introductory biography for young readers. It is written in free verse, in language that is simple and direct, but not condescending to the reader. But most importantly, it is the story of one woman's courage and determination against all odds to realize her dream of flying. And it is an inspirational story - education was a luxury back in the early part of the 20th century for many kids who had to earn money to help support their family, but Bessie persevered - walking miles and miles to school, when she could attend, and to pick up and return the laundry her mother did to earn money.

Accompanying the text and adding so much to the story of Bessie Coleman's story, are plenty of beautiful, timely, folk-art inspired gouache paintings in bright pastel shades by Teresa Flavin. And like the text, they are simple and direct, bringing it altogether.

All unconventional dreams carry a risk and Bessie's dream of flying was no different. But Bessie was a trail blazer and her untimely death in the prime of her life shouldn't detract from that. She had an indomitable spirit was so admirable and that we should always celebrate and Borden, Kroeger and Flavin have done a commendable job showing why.

This book is recommended for readers 9+
This book was borrowed from Contee Cullen Branch of the NYPL

[(NS) Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

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. <>

I would recommend this book to children who are in upper elementary because the vocabulary is difficult and the book is long. It is also a touchy subject because Bessie does in a shocking manner (from a plane crash) and that might upset younger children. The pictures are nice and the theme of equality for all add to the book's quality. I enjoyed the book overall.

[CH - Marvin Childress · Rating 3 out of 5]

Authors: Louise Borden and Mary Kay Kroeger; Illustrated: Teresa Flavin; Picture Book; Grades: 2-4

Fly High! is the story of Bessie Coleman, the first African-American to earn a pilot's license...who also happened to be a woman. It chronicles her life from a little girl growing up in Texas, through moving to Chicago in 1915, and later to France in 1920, where she ultimately received her international license to fly in 1921. The story ends with her untimely death after falling from an airplane.

This is a good story, simply because of its truth. It reads like an entertaining biography, and does not feel like one may expect it too. It lends insight to her life outside of flying, which makes it a fun read. I would use this as a biography/research book during a time when students research people in history and conduct a fair where they dress as their characters and present small monologues.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

"i found a brand new world in the written word" Bessie Coleman

i've read one previous kids book about Bessie Coleman, story was "black woman gets pilots license, crashes planes, dies" boring , i didn't see anything inspiring about a failure.
NOW i know why she's a hero. Coleman grew up,passionate about reading - read to her family. discovered airplanes, went to france for flying lessons ('cause a negro woman in the u.s flying? hahaha) walked nine miles each way for them. came back to the us, returned to france became even better returned to u.s. and barnstormed. unfortunately being a woman and black she got only second hand planes (quick, name all the famous black womwn NASCAR drivers!).

then pretty much forgotten, at least by writers of my gender and color.

great book!

[Ch_katiemcginnis]

Bessie Coleman, born poor yet optimistic about her future to be somebody important, has inspired thousands of African Americans. This fine biography tells of her humble childhood and her fame as the first African-American pilot. This book illustrated by Teresa Flavin, follows Coleman's life in chronological order seperated by her travels and includes headings for each area of her life. Students ages 8-12 will find this book inspiring and teachers can use it as a read-aloud or in a small group during black history unit, a woman's unit, or an aviation unit.

[Ben Truong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fly High! The Story Of Bessie Coleman is a children's picture book written by Louise Borden and Mary Kay Kroeger and illustrated by Teresa Flavin. It is a cursory biography about the early life of Bessie Coleman, who would one day become the first African-American female to hold a pilot's license.

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 American civil aviator. She was the first woman of African-American descent and the first of Native American descent, to hold a pilot license. She achieved her international pilot license in 1921.

The text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. Perseverance is the theme of this rhythmic text about Bessie Coleman. It shows her struggles as a student and then later in adult life when she wanted to fly planes. Flavin's illustrations are wonderfully drawn and depicted the narrative rather well.

The premise of the book is rather straightforward. It really shows the perseverance of Bessie Coleman, she loved and wanted to go to school, but her job at the cotton field took precedent. As she struggles to find a purpose in life, she finds flying. However, no one in the United States would take on a colored student. So, she perseveres and saves up enough money to move to France to learn flying and become the first colored female to do so.

All in all, Fly High! The Story Of Bessie Coleman is a wonderful, but informative biography of Bessie Coleman and her incredible perseverance to make her dreams come true.

[Madelyn Glover · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bessie Coleman grew up in Texas with a love for school and learning. She eventually uses her love for learning to learn French. She decides to learn French and eventually moves to France to become a pilot. She becomes the first African-American woman to get her pilot's license. This story takes the reader through Coleman’s life and shows her hard work and persistence.

The author does a good job of explaining Bessie’s life story. I also liked the illustrations.

In the story, Bessie walks four miles everyday to school. I would go to an interactive online map that shows the school we are at. Before showing the class, I would find the places that are four miles away from the school. For example, I would find common restaurants or stores the kids would know and ask them to imagine walking from the said place to school everyday. For a math lesson, I would have the students create paper airplanes. After creating the paper airplanes, I would take the whole class outside to fly them. I would have the students line up, and one by one, launch their airplanes. I would use yardsticks to have the students measure and record how far their plane went.

[Kristina J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary:
This biography tells the story of Bessie Coleman, who was the first African American woman to receive a pilot's license. Coleman was told there were no places for her to go to flight school in the U.S. and was even turned away from flight school in the U.S. Therefore, she learned French and traveled overseas to make her dream take flight and then came back home to inspire others.

Commentary:
Bessie's story is exactly the type of book I want to read to children when they feel like they have been told "no" by their world. Bessie's legacy shows that the sky is not the limit. It is just the start. The theme of courage, determination, and breaking barriers (ChatGPT, 2025) really shines through this book.
Application:
There are multiple ways to use this book, during Women's History or an aviation lesson. Have students create "wings of inspiration," and have them write about a goal that lifts them up. The students should use vocabulary such as "dream," "fly," and of course, "determined" in English and Spanish. Recommended for ages 9 - 12 years old ( Amazon, 2025) and I would agree that it is good for grades 3-7.

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still collecting picture-book biographies of strong women, especially in atypical professions for my NBC renewal lesson. This is a peach...Bessie Coleman walked to her one-room, segregated school. She picked cotton. She moved to Chicago...and she traveled to France to learn to fly. She followed her dreams, she stepped over countless obstacles. She sought out mentors, and she flew.

And her dream ultimately killed her...she died in a crash at the age of 32. Would she have regretted her choices? Would she have wanted to live a longer, safer, more sedate life, doing manicures in a barber shop in Chicago? Somehow I doubt it.

But the question remains -- what could she have contributed if she hadn't died so young?

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

A native Texan who had to leave Texas to try to get ahead. Who ended up leaving the US to learn to fly. And who used her drive and determination to inspire others to be all they could be.

Interesting to see that she worked as a manicurist in a barber shop -- all her customers were men! We certainly don't think usually of men getting their nails done today..

Read with The Hallelujah Flight for a story of other black people who used flight to inspire people (and they were originally inspired by Bessie!).

[Charlotte Bernhard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listed for ages 9-12. This book introduces the very cool story of Bessie Coleman and offers plenty of opportunity for deeper discussions on American racism, sexism, and class dynamics that created so many barriers for Bessie to overcome. Bessie Coleman wanted to go to school instead of working in cotton fields. Throughout her life, she had to work extra hard— harder than white men— and eventually earned her pilot’s license. She was the first African American to do so!

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Biographical nonfiction
Reading level: Primary level (2-3)
This book was so inspirational! I loved to hear about how hard Bessie had worked to be somebody someday. Sometime I need a reminder if you want to somebody someday it will not be easy, but you still should work hard to be somebody. Bessie truly did live a legend and inspired so many people.

[Shelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I think this was an informative look into the life of Bessie Coleman there was something lacking in the narrative that would engage young readers and listeners in the same way that other picture book biographies do. I wasn’t left wanting to read more about her and found some of the language a bit too repetitive for intermediate children, which seem to be the target audience of this book.

[Talea · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter loved that she was able to fight the odds and live the life she wanted. My son started asking questions about why was it only white men that were allowed to fly in America. That led to hours worth of researching and learning. I love finding stories about strong women, and this one, by far, has been one of the best in my daughter's age group.

[Justin Dolezal · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book from my final project. Amazing book about resiliency. Bessie Coleman the first African American to obtain a pilots license after coming from working in the cotton fields for most of her childhood. Absolutely going to have this book in my classroom to teach about the many topics that are presented in this book.

[Keri Rohr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fly High! is a biography for grades 3-5. I like how this story of Bessie Coleman not only talks about her time as a pilot but starts when she was very little. The biography talks about her hardships growing up but the strength that she had through it all. This was a good read.

[Kris Dersch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story that all of us should know better. A bit wordier than I like picture book biographies to be, but then again it's a big story. Might have done better with more back matter and fewer details in the text. Researched in conjunction with the family and it shows. Definitely recommend.

[Ms. Brewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

4th Grade Review
"I rated this book 5 stars because it is about Bessie Coleman and how she flew a plane." The three words this student used to describe this book were surprising, informative, and exciting. -O.C

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an amazing person Bessie Coleman was! The sheer determination, everything she had to overcome, and what her accomplishments meant for the world… This book is a bit wordy for little ones, but Coleman is such an important figure for people to know about!

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can definitely tell one of the authors is an elementary school teacher because the text is easy to understand. I learned some neat things about the first black pilot, Bessie Coleman! How inspirational, but what a tragedy.

[Sabrina Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank u

[Thomas Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Predictable ending, for us and for Bessie. But sad. Good book though! And something good for people to learn about!

[Madison Eller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book can allow students to see that if you have a lot of motivation, it can get you to where you want to go. So, do not give up on your dreams!