To Boldly Go: How Nichelle Nichols and Star Trek Helped Advance Civil Rights

From the author of Ruby’s Reunion Day Dinner,  Angela Dalton, and New York Times bestselling illustrator Lauren Semmer comes To Boldly Go, a vibrant, empowering picture book biography of Nichelle Nichols, who as Lieutenant Uhura on Star Trek was the first to boldly go where no Black actor had gone before.

As Lieutenant Uhura on the iconic prime-time television show Star Trek, Nichelle Nichols played the first Black female astronaut anyone had ever seen on-screen. A smart, strong, independent Black woman aboard the starship Enterprise was revolutionary in the 1960s when only white men had traveled to outer space in real life and most Black characters on TV were servants. Nichelle not only inspired a generation to pursue their dreams but also opened the door for the real-life pioneering astronauts Sally Ride, Dr. Mae Jemison, and more.

This empowering tribute to the trailblazing pop-culture icon reminds us of the importance of perseverance and the power of representation in storytelling. You just might be inspired to boldly go where no one like you has ever gone before!

Angela Dalton is a children’s book author living in Oakland, CA. Her picture books include Ruby’s Reunion Day Dinner, Show the World!, and her award-winning debut, If You Look Up to the Sky. 

Lauren Semmer is an artist, bestselling children’s book illustrator, and designer whose work is featured on everything from kids’ wall art to children’s apparel. She is the illustrator of the New York Times bestselling picture book The ABC’s of Black History by Rio Cortez.