In the fall of 1934, a team of Black athletes earned the opportunity to compete for a major baseball championship. More than a decade before Jackie Robinson broke baseball's colour barrier, this team blazed a trail for others to follow.

This beautifully illustrated children's book tells the true tale of the Chatham Coloured All-Stars, as they rose from a bunch of barnstormers to provincial champions. Children and parents alike will appreciate the cadence of the story, and will find multiple opportunities to discuss issues of racism, intolerance, and ignorance.

Hard Road to Victory: The Story of the Chatham All-Stars will find a home in the classroom as well. Educators will be able to use the book as a jumping-off point in discussing historical events as well as current issues. Enjoy this true story of overcoming societal hurdles that still persist today. (From Peppett Publishing)

Brock Greenhalgh is an author, publisher and public speaker based in Ontario. He has been telling the story of the 1934 Chatham All-Stars baseball team in one form or another for the past 30 years.

Lazar Cupic is a Canadian illustrator. He is a recent graduate of the Integrated Arts Program at Eastwood Collegiate Institute in Kitchener, Ont.

Daniel Veronese is a Canadian artist working on his artistic career in illustration.