Young Trailblazers: The Book of Black Inventors and Scientists: (Inventions by Black People, Black History for Kids, Children''s United States History)

About M. J. Fievre

M.J. Fievre B.S. Ed earned a bachelors degree in education from Barry University. A seasoned K12 teacher a creator of safe spaces and an initiator of difficult conversations she spent much time building up her students helping them feel comfortable in their own skin and affirming their identities. Her close relationships with parents and students led her to look more closely at how we can balance protecting a childs innocence with preparing them for the realities of life. She has taught creative writing workshops to children and teens at the O Miami Poetry Festival and the Miami Art Museum as well as in various schools in Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Bolivia) Port-au-Prince (Haiti) and South Florida. Shes also been a keynote speaker at Tufts University (Massachusetts) Howard University (Washington DC) the University of Miami (Florida) and Michael College (Vermont) and has served as a panelist at the Association of Writers & Writing Programs Conference (AWP). M.J.s publishing career began as a teenager in her native Haiti. She signed her first book contract at 18 years old with Hachette-Deschamps for the publication of a Young Adult book La Statuette Maléfique. Since then M.J. has released nine YA books in French and she is the author of the award-winning Badass Black Girl book series for tweens and teens as well as Young Trailblazers. Kim Balacuit is an illustrator and designer who loves creating things that bring humor and joy into people's lives with bright colors and playful characters. Her background in graphic design animation and illustration have allowed her to work in both children's media and picture books. In her spare time you can find her petting other peoples dogs improving her banana bread recipe or finding the spiciest foods to eat in the tri-state area.