Firsts & Futures: Meet 24 Black Women Who Changed the World
I taught for 25 years, and I can tell you what kids do when a book shows them somebody who looks like them. They sit up straighter. They ask questions. They want to know more.
That's why I made Firsts & Futures: Black Women Trailblazers. It's a coloring and discovery book for kids ages 8 to 12, and it's about 24 women who opened doors so the rest of us could walk through.
Who's inside
Science and invention: Dr. Patricia Bath, Marie Van Brittan Brown, Gladys West
Flight and space: Bessie Coleman, Mae Jemison, Willa Brown
Politics and law: Shirley Chisholm, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Kamala Harris
Sports: Alice Coachman, Wilma Rudolph, Simone Biles
Business: Madam C.J. Walker, Maggie Lena Walker, Oprah Winfrey
Arts: Hattie McDaniel, Misty Copeland, Amanda Gorman
Education: Mary McLeod Bethune, Fanny Jackson Coppin, Marva Collins
Activism: Ida B. Wells, Claudette Colvin, Ruby Bridges
More than a coloring book
I didn't want kids to just color and close the book. Every trailblazer gets a full learning spread:
A short, kid-friendly story about what she did and why it mattered
Words to Discover, three vocabulary words for each woman, all gathered in a glossary at the back
A Trailblazer Challenge, a small real-life activity like designing a safer doorway, writing a campaign slogan, or planning three ways to welcome a new student
Color with Purpose, a prompt that lets kids add their own ideas to the picture
My Power, an affirmation kids can say out loud, like "I can be brave and kind at the very same time."
At the end, kids draw their own future on the My Future First page and earn a Certificate of Completion that says FUTURE TRAILBLAZER. I want them to know they don't have to break a record to make a difference. They just have to start.
Great for home and classroom
Parents, grandparents, homeschoolers, and teachers can all use this one. Kids can color it on their own, read it with a grown-up, or work through a trailblazer a week. It fits right into Black History Month and Women's History Month, but these stories are worth telling all year long.
A tip from a former teacher: the blank pages behind each picture are there on purpose. Slide a sheet of paper under the page if your child loves markers. Crayons and colored pencils work best.
Free gift: Trailblazer Power Poster
Want something for the wall while you wait for your copy? I made a free printable poster with all 24 trailblazers and the power each one showed. Kids write their name, pick one power to practice, and fill in their first step. Hang it in your home, classroom, or library.
Get your copy
Firsts & Futures: Black Women Trailblazers Coloring Book (Ages 8-12) is available on Amazon:
If your child or student enjoys it, an honest review from a grown-up goes a long way in helping other families find it. Thank you for reading, for coloring, and for helping the next generation see what's possible.
Venita M. Tomlinson Retired educator, school librarian, and author
Comments