The inspiring biography of Ira Aldridge, a Black actor who overcame racism to become one of the greatest Shakespearean actors of the nineteenth century.

Glenda Armand is the author of many picture and chapter books. She won Lee & Low's New Voices Award for the manuscript Love Twelve Miles Long. Glenda has had a long career as a teacher and school librarian. She loves reading about history and is passionate about sharing the stories of important but little-known historical figures. She lives in Los Angeles, California. To learn more, visit glenda-armand.com.

Floyd Cooper was a celebrated illustrator and author of nearly one hundred children's books. As a picture book creator, he strived to shed light on chapters of African American history that he felt weren't taught enough in classrooms. His works were selected as ALA Notable Children's Books, nominated for the NAACP Image Award, and honored with the Coretta Scott King (CSK) Award. He was awarded a posthumous Caldecott Honor, a CSK Award, and a Sibert Honor for his illustrations in Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre. Cooper passed away in 2021.