Additional information
by Chris Singleton (Author), Ryan G. Van Cleave (With), Adriana Pérez Perales (Illustrator)
Black History Heroes: Mae Jemison: Shooting for the Stars: The First Black Woman in Space shows the power of grit, perseverance, and character in a dynamic biography for kids.
★ "This empowering and engaging middle grade biography series about Black changemakers gets off to a strong start.....Strongly recommended for juvenile nonfiction collections."--School Library Journal, starred review
A 2025 NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Book
From Stanford and Cornell to the Peace Corps and from a trip on the space shuttle to an appearance on Start Trek, Mae Jemison's life continues to feature the hard work and dedication to science, healthcare, and care for others that brought her to the highest levels of a career in science.
An inspiration to millions, the life of Mae Jemison is indeed proof that Black history matters.
Black History Heroes shares the lives and inspirations of black men and women who changed the world, yesterday, today, and for tomorrow. Written by former pro-baseball player, inspirational speaker, and author Chris Singleton.
★ "The book beautifully chronicles Boseman's struggles and triumphs....Readers will be enraptured with this magnificent tribute to the life of Chadwick Boseman, who was a true hero that anyone could look up to."--Booklist, starred review of Black History Heroes: Chadwick Boseman
Author Biography
Chris Singleton is an inspirational speaker and former professional baseball player. He travels the country sharing a message of unity and love to more than 50,000 students annually. Chris's speech on overcoming hate with love has been seen or shared millions of times and has led to him being featured on Lifetime, ESPN E:60, USA Today, CNN, and Fox News. Chris is a proud father to his three children, CJ, Caden, and Carter, and a proud husband to his high school sweetheart, Mariana. He lives in Charleston, South Carolina.
Ryan G. Van Cleave is the author of dozens of books for both children and adults. He earned a PhD in American literature with an emphasis in poetry and has taught writing at numerous colleges and universities. As the Picture Book Doctor, Ryan helps celebrities create stories for kids and bring them to life on the page, stage, and screen.
Adriana Pérez Perales is a freelance illustrator from Mexico. Her clients include Oxford University Press, Scholastic, Get Ready Comics, and many others.
