Toussaint! - by Jay Leslie (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

This vibrant and compelling picture book biography tells the story of Toussaint Louverture, the Haitian hero who led his people to freedom.

Ayiti, the Pearl of the Antilles, was once a pristine paradise. But in the 15th century, colonizers seized the island, dividing it in two and forcing enslaved Africans to labor in its sugarcane fields. For generations, the enslaved endured unimaginable suffering, all the while yearning for freedom.

In 1743, a beacon of hope was born: Toussaint Louverture. Through extraordinary determination and resilience, Toussaint gained freedom for himself. And in 1791, when the call for revolution echoed across Haiti, he rose to lead. Forming international alliances, rallying his community, and working alongside Haitian generals, Toussaint led the charge for liberty--achieving the first and only successful slave revolution in history and inspiring change across the world.

About the Author

Jay Leslie is an author based in Berlin, Germany, but grew up in the United States. She is a graduate of Duke University, with degrees in English, international comparative studies, and religion. In her writing career, Jay has been shortlisted on Chimamanda Adichie's Farafina Trust, and published her first children's book Who Did It First? 50 Politicians, Activists, and Entrepreneurs Who Revolutionized the World. When she's not jotting down story ideas, Jay can be found learning new languages, or backpacking through the Black Forest mountains.

Rocky Cotard is an artist and illustrator born in Mirebalais, Haiti and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. His paintings and style reflect back to his identity and lineage, working to widen its representation across artforms. Some of Cotard's biggest inspirations span from artists like Phillipe Dodard and Ronald Mevs.