Filling an important void, this picture book delivers stories from a history about which most U.S. children remain woefully ignorant: that of Black Canadian women.Most American kids know stories of Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, and Sojourner Truth. But who were their equivalents in Canada? This strikingly illustrated collective biography captures some of the incredible life stories of unsung Canadian heroes who broke racial, social, political, and other boundaries to make life better for other Black Canadians. The Colored Women's Club, for instance, founded in 1902, "focused on supporting Black communities in Montreal" through services like soup kitchens and clothing giveaways. The organization now provides scholarships for black youth, having remained active since its establishment. Readers meet musicians, educators, gay rights activists, and entrepreneurs who paved the way for other Black Canadian visionaries. Moyer's unusual, eye-catching illustrations feature brightly colored backgrounds with focal characters whose figures appear in black and white. But while their faces are depicted using black-and-white photographs, paintings, or sketches, they all feature stylized dots and striations on them that resemble tribal markings. These distinctive characteristics invite readers to slow down and carefully consider the faces of these powerful women who dared.A crucial re-education in a likely unfamiliar history and an immersion in noteworthy art all at once. (Collective biography. 10-14)

This timely nonfiction book focuses on the biographies of ten Black Canadian women whose stories are often overlooked or untold. Written for middle-grade readers, the biographies are brief but informative, and the powerful collage illustrations depict the women as warriors. This text can easily be a springboard for deeper discussion around African enslavement and racial oppression outside the U.S.

Filling an important void, this picture book delivers stories from a history about which most U.S. children remain woefully ignorant: that of Black Canadian women.Most American kids know stories of Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, and Sojourner Truth. But who were their equivalents in Canada? This strikingly illustrated collective biography captures some of the incredible life stories of unsung Canadian heroes who broke racial, social, political, and other boundaries to make life better for other Black Canadians. The Colored Women's Club, for instance, founded in 1902, "focused on supporting Black communities in Montreal" through services like soup kitchens and clothing giveaways. The organization now provides scholarships for black youth, having remained active since its establishment. Readers meet musicians, educators, gay rights activists, and entrepreneurs who paved the way for other Black Canadian visionaries. Moyer's unusual, eye-catching illustrations feature brightly colored backgrounds with focal characters whose figures appear in black and white. But while their faces are depicted using black-and-white photographs, paintings, or sketches, they all feature stylized dots and striations on them that resemble tribal markings. These distinctive characteristics invite readers to slow down and carefully consider the faces of these powerful women who dared.A crucial re-education in a likely unfamiliar history and an immersion in noteworthy art all at once. (Collective biography. 10-14)

Gr 4-8 The importance of collectives is central to this illustrated nonfiction work, dedicated to communities within transnational (mostly Canadian) black history. Moyer focuses on grassroots organizations, ranging from the international Black Cross Nurses group in the early 20th century to the more recent creation of Blockorama, which makes "a space for the black LGBTTI2QQ community within Toronto's Pride Parade." This record of long-lasting communities emphasizes the results of cooperation over hero narratives. When Moyer introduces individuals, she highlights how they facilitate networks, like Rosa Pryor, the first female black business owner in Vancouver, who used her restaurant to build a social hub, or border-crossing Mary Miles Bibb's support of black journalists and readers through her 19th-century newspaper. It is a testament to the book's strength that after reading each profile, readers will want to know more; librarians would be wise to have a list of further reading handy. Each spread features bold stylized illustrations that mix photorealistic drawings with inventive linework, silhouettes, and eye-catching complementary blocks of color. VERDICT This is a must-have for Canadian classrooms and libraries, and an important addition for U.S. collections as well. Katherine Magyarody, Texas A&M University, College Station