Trailblazers: The Black Pioneers Who Have Shaped Canada

by Tiyahna Ridley-Padmore

Trailblazers introduces readers to Canada’s Black history through the under-told stories of over forty incredible Black change makers.

Some of these trailblazers, such as Josiah Henson, have saved lives through their bravery. Some, such as Viola Desmond and Bromley Armstrong, have improved laws through their advocacy. Others, such as Albert Jackson and Bernice Redmon, have broken down barriers by being the first in their fields and inventing new ways of doing things.

With each short story carefully written in poetic form and accompanied by beautiful illustrations, this tribute brings complex topics and historical facts to life. Engaged readers will finish Trailblazers feeling enlightened, inspired, and ready to blaze their own trails.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Poetry

96 pages, Hardcover

First published November 10, 2020

About the author

My name is Tiyahna. I like to read and I have a lot of opinions. Also, I wrote a book.

Reviews

[Trinity Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contains informative poems filled with detailed stories of different black Canadian pioneers, that are fun easy and fun to read. Definitely a must read.

[Candice Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible piece. I love how the writer took so many meaty and tough parts of our history and somehow eloquently chopped them up into digestible pages while not at all lightening the importance of each of these people in our history. Also, illustrations are superb.

[Jarrett Carson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic, well put together book! Every page highlights the story of an important black leader/pioneer who is often never mentioned when we discuss Canadian history. They all played a different role to help shape Canada and continue to do so. I read it to my two daughters every night before bedtime, they have already memorized many of the black pioneers names and the important roles they played/play in Canadian history. Our whole family loves this book with a passion.

[Katie Chung · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book should be required reading in schools! It’s so informative and easily digestible for anyone of all ages. The poems make it fun to read and the illustrations are beautiful. I learned so much from this book. Highly recommend it!

[O · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an exceptional book, not only is it beautifully illustrated and accessible for children with fun poems, the research is so impressive! I’ve lived 30 years as a Black woman in Canada and hadn’t heard most of these stories of Black accomplishment and success; thank you education system. The only time we covered people who looked like me was to talk about slavery (and only in the US). Needless to say, I felt really proud reading these stories! Black people have helped build this country and children should grow up knowing that there are legacies of Black innovation, talent, success, love and hope from coast to coast. Like the book says, “Canada didn’t just let you in — you actually helped to build it”. That’s an important lesson for all of us to learn, in a way that’s so easy and charming.

[Rueben benoit · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book that I wish had been around when I was growing up. It shares short biographies of 40 Black leaders in Canadian history. I love how diverse all the stories are but how they all work together to form a more complete view of Canadian history. Its's all written rhyme form (excellent writing!) and offers a much needed change form the typical American-centric book.

[Kal Sallouha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book with great visuals. Highly recommend it for anyone (child or adult) who wants to explore the rich history of Canada that is often not taught.

[Ben Truong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trailblazers: The Black Pioneers Who Have Shaped Canada is a children's picture book written by Tiyahna Ridley-Padmore and illustrated by Merryl-Royce Ndema-Moussa. It is a collection of tributes written in prose and poetry to over forty Canadian Black trailblazers that are influential to Canadian history, but sadly mostly untold.

Ridley-Padmore's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, informative, and lyrical. It is a collection of over forty poems – one for each candidate in chronological order throughout Canadian history. Ndema-Moussa's caricature illustrations was quite the surprise as caricatures are traditionally depicts people with certain striking characters that are exaggerated in order to create comic or grotesque effect, but instead Ndema-Moussa praised the subject matter with his illustrations.

The premise of the book is rather straightforward. The book highlights more than two scores of trailblazers, ranging from historical figures such as 17th-century explorer Mathieu da Costa, the first documented free Black person to arrive in Canada, to contemporary ones such as Michaëlle Jean, the first Black Governor General of Canada. It is a phenomenal launching pad to inform and educate readers about these untold stories of Black Canadian, which hopefully encourage further research.

As an aside, I read this book with my three nieces. Eldest niece gave this book (★★★★★) and liked the book so much that she asked to keep it (which I agreed to). She learned that Black history could be learned year-round and not just during February, and hopes to write a book similar for East-Asian Canadians one day. Middle niece also gave this book (★★★★★) and liked the illustrations – especially the Black heroines and the easy to read poems. Youngest niece may be a tad too young for this book, but I think she gives high praise for the book too as she keeps on trying to eat it – as an infant, I think that is high praise. So, who am I to disagree with all three of them?

All in all, Trailblazers: The Black Pioneers Who Have Shaped Canada is a wonderful collection of Black Canadians that have shaped Canada, but have been mostly forgotten by the educational system.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s about time! As a mother of two biracial Canadian children, I found it very difficult finding literature that represented my children or captured the stories of the many black Canadians who helped shaped Canada.
Thank you for this brilliant, well researched and written piece of literature that will be used to educate and represent so many Canadians! 👏👏

[Sarah Bartley-James · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been a fantastic tool to help teach my daughter about the amazing contributions of Black Canadians. She loves reading through the different historical people and the writing is fun and the drawings are fantastic. I would highly recommend!

[Safia Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be required reading!

Such an extraordinary, well-written and well-researched piece of work. I initially bought Trailblazers as a gift for my nephew but I just love it so much that I refuse to part ways with it - will have to pick up another! It's simple enough for children but also engaging, inspirational and informative for adults reading on their own.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful, wonderful book. So well written, researched and beautifully illustrated. I treasure each time I get to read through it with my kids.

[Marie-Anne Sirois · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly blown away by the amazing quality of Tiyahna’s work! I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next. 10/10 highly recommend!

[Pernelle Marin · Rating 3 out of 5]

C'est un petit livre illustré, qui présente qquns des personnages historiques les plus marquants de l'histoire black au Canada. Un passé souvent méconnu, on connaît le passé ségrégationniste des USA mais on parle rarement de celui du Canada, toujours considéré comme le "gentil" pays. Ce petit livre remet les pendules à l'heure en nous présentant via des petits poèmes des personnages intéressants et inspirants. Un bon livre pour les plus jeunes, que les rimes vont bercer.
En tant qu'adulte j'aurai aimé en savoir plus, mais je ne suis pas le public principal

[Catherine Nguyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic book that allows us to discover 40 Black Canadian pioneers through a collection of beautiful illustrations and captivating poems. Complete with a timeline of important moments in our history, tips on how to become a trailblazer and a relevant glossary, this book should be read in schools all over the country.

[itisi_riri · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books to read with my kids.

Definitely needs to be on everyone's bookshelves.

[Anne Carpenter]

Well written, informative and beautifully illustrated. Stories and history lessons all in one. Highly recommended.

[Jann PW · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so needed, so important, and so beautiful! During my schooling in Quebec I remember learning about civil rights leaders in the United States and then never speaking about Black history in any other context. Like nearly everyone else, all my learning about Canada' Black history was self-directed. I wish so badly that I could have grown up with these incredible stories about our contributions to Canada, but I'm thrilled that today's kids don't have to wish. This book should be shared with everyone, of any background. These stories are important for all. It's also such an enjoyable and entertaining read, and the artwork is gorgeous. The way the poems tackle difficult concepts in an age appropriate and accessible way is really impressive. I can't get enough of Trailblazers!!

[Michelle Plett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trailblazers is a beautifully written book educating Canadians and beyond of the role Black people played in shaping our country.

Not only is it a wonderful read, but it’s also gorgeously illustrated. I don’t have children and it’s a coffee table book in my home, leaving space for all who visit to understand the pivotal role played by this group of people.

A must-have in every home.

[Letoya Martineau-Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book brought me to tears.

I read a lot African-American lit and am always excited whenever Black Canadian authors enter the scene. To read this book with my son and daughter was such a beautiful and overwhelming experience. We had so much fun reading the rhymes, learning about Canada's history and looking up each trailblazer on Google after seeing the illustration.

Marie-Joseph Angelique, Josiah Henson, Calvin Ruck, Rose Fortune, there are so many people that that I should have known about earlier. This book is definitely one of my favourites.. I can't stop flipping through it and will definitely keeping telling everybody I know to get a copy.

[MYLA FRANÇOIS · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so glad that I purchased this book. It’s a really relevant book that allows us to learn more about black pioneers in Canada, something we didn't really have in Here. It’s also a good learning book for teenagers since they don't learn this in their history class. Good job with book. Highly recommended!

[Kathryn Desplanque · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really important and necessary book and we are so so lucky to finally have it

[Lindsey Marcon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great and informative book about black history in Canada. It is an important read for people of all ages to learn more about black Canadian history. I really like the layout of this book and the graphics throughout. It's unfortunate we didn't have more stories like this available sooner! Great job to the author and illustrator, thank you for this book :D

[Mel Wi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The poems are very clever and incredibly informative! I definitely recommend this for yourself or your children.

[Tanya Ridley]

I have read snippets of it and I am so very proud of you!!!
I cannot wait to purchase a copy for myself and the kids!
P.S.
Don't let negative comments get to you. You have written a book that is extremely important and very relevant to the world we are living in today. Cultural diversity is what makes this country amazing!

[Katie Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Love the rhyming. My 3 year old reaches for this book frequently due to the rhyming. As an adult I find it very interesting and it is history I don't actually know myself. It might just become my signature gift. I ordered 3 more.

[Nicole King · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is the cutest book for young and old. A great gift. It is not written in encyclopedia format. It displays Black Canadian History with poetry and gives the reader something to want to look further into through research.

[Rowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and great poetry.

[Ruddy Idikay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an exceptional book and a must have if you have young children.

[Raphael I. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book written by a beautiful author, most recommendable as a x-mas gift for anyone who loves to read.