Celebrate National Aviation Day
National Aviation Day is celebrated on August 19th, the birthday of Orville Wright. The day of tribute began with a proclamation by President Roosevelt in 1939. Roosevelt wanted to honor and encourage the dedicated people whose efforts were making the dreams of the earliest aviators become reality. The continuing developments in the field of aviation have changed the world so completely that humans have not only walked on the moon but now have the opportunity to walk on parts of the earth that would have been impossible to reach not so very long ago. The earth has also come closer to being the "global community" predicted by many due to the advent of easier air travel. Of course, aviation now encompasses many aspects of flying: transportation (of both humans and goods), weather research, cartography, intelligence gathering, law enforcement, and the pure pleasure extolled by glider pilots. Browse through the following selections and share the excitement of human endeavors to understand and conquer the very skies the birds inhabit.
Contributor: Sheilah Egan
Reviews
The AH-64 Apache Helicopter
Ole Steen Hansen
Illustrated by Alex Pang
The Apache helicopter is one of the most effective attack helicopters in the world. Designed to fly quietly and be used at night, these weapons systems combine advanced technology with fearsome armaments. Apaches have been used in warfare to support ground troops, attack enemy armored forces and fortifications. They can travel at high speed and are equipped with advanced radar capacities. It is the mechanical structure and construction of the Apache that the author addresses in this illustrated book, focusing his attention upon both the blueprint of the Apache and the way it is used in combat. The text is accompanied by a large number of photographs of Apaches in action as well as detailed drawings of their construction. Readers will be able to better understand how Apaches fly, what their armaments are, how heavily armored they are, and what tactics their crews use. This is a book that will be enjoyed by youngsters with a mechanical bent or who have an interest in military hardware. It is also a book that has a fairly controlled vocabulary thus allowing reluctant readers to have a high-interest text. 2006, Capstone Press, $22.60. Ages 8 to 10. Reviewer: Greg M. Romaneck (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-7368-5250-6
ISBN: 978-0-7368-5250-0
Airplane
Harold Faber
The last part of the nineteenth century was truly a prolific age of invention. The telephone, electric lights, the phonograph, typewriters, the gas powered car, electric motors, the camera, the zipper and, of course, powered human flight were all invented during this time period. Topics covered in this "Great Inventions" series range from vaccines to gunpowder and weaponry. This book deals with aviation history. Chapters include the early days of human flight; the Wright brothers and their experiments in powered aviation; how World War I impacted the aviation community; the life of the "Lone Eagle," Charles A. Lindbergh; the development of commercial aviation; the great contribution of aviation in World War II; the jet age; the space age; and the future of aviation. In an attempt to cover the great wealth of aviation history, sky blue boxes of additional information are scattered throughout the book. Information about zeppelins, the internal combustion engine, women aviators, notable transatlantic flights, aviation stamps, the first flight attendants, the first pilot's license issued in the United States, the use of the atomic bomb, breaking the sound barrier, the fastest airplane, general aviation, and helicopters is touched upon in these blue boxes. The back matter contains a glossary, a time line of major aviation events, a list of pioneers in aviation and each one's significance, a bibliography, a list of web sites, and a lengthy index. This series includes the titles The Airplane, The Automobile, Clocks, The Cotton Gin, Electricity and The Lightbulb, Gunpowder and Weaponry, The Printing Press, The Steam Engine, The Telephone, and Vaccines. 2006, Marshall Cavendish/Benchmark, $37.07. Ages 10 to 14. Reviewer: Sally J. K. Davies (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-7614-1876-8
ISBN: 978-0-7614-1876-4
Amelia Earhart: Legendary Aviator
Brenda Haugen
Living at a time when opportunities for women were limited, Amelia Earhart captured the hearts of the world while she set world aviation records and encouraged women everywhere to follow their dreams. The first woman to fly solo over both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Earhart vanished while attempting to fly around the world. While no trace of Amelia Earhart, her navigator, or her plane was ever found, she remains forever a symbol of courage and adventure and an aviation role model for men and women alike. The book is thoroughly researched, based largely on primary source material and sprinkled liberally throughout with quotes from Amelia and her associates. It includes historical photographs and fascinating sidebars packed with interesting, related facts. This book tells her fascinating story in a way that allows readers to feel that they come to know Amelia Earhart personally. A feature that makes this book stand out from the many written about her is a six-page time line that chronicles events in Earhart's life with events happening around the world at the same time. With extensive source notes, suggestions for further reading, relevant web site addresses, and a list of places to visit to learn more about Amelia Earhart, this is not only a well told story but also a great research source. An Accelerated Reader test is available. 2007, Compass Point Books, $31.93. Ages 10 to 13. Reviewer: Pat Trattles (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7565-1880-6
ISBN: 0-7565-1880-6
Amelia Earhart: Legendary Aviator
Jameson Anderson
Illustrated by Rod Whigham and Charles Barnett III
Amelia Earhart was never afraid to try new things. She built her own roller coaster in the backyard when she was only seven years old. During the winter she loved to speed down the hills on her sled--lying on her belly like the boys. When she saw her first air show in 1920, she was hooked and soon began taking flying lessons. During her aviation career she set many world records and became a well-known and well-respected aviator. She disappeared while attempting a flight around the world in 1937. Part of Capstone Press' "Graphic Library" series, Amelia Earhart's story is told here in graphic novel format. With a carefully controlled vocabulary, simple sentence structure, and straight forward presentation of information, it is ideally suited for the reluctant or below grade level reader. A table of contents, glossary, bibliography, an index, and additional information sections providing key facts about Amelia Earhart's fascinating life, round out the presentation. An Accelerated Reader quiz is available. 2007, Capstone Press, $25.27. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Pat Trattles (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-7368-6496-2
ISBN: 978-0-7368-6496-1
ISBN: 978-0-7368-7532-5
ISBN: 0-7368-7532-8
Astronaut
Peggy J. Parks
The word astronaut comes from the Greek words that mean star sailor. Astronauts are scientists and engineers who devote their lives to exploring space. In the early days of space travel, the spacecraft were only used once. The spacecraft would land in the ocean and, after retrieving the astronauts, would be hauled off to a museum. Today, astronauts travel on space shuttles that are reusable. They are sent into space with booster rockets. Three kinds of astronauts participate in each mission: the commander, the pilot, and mission specialists. Most astronauts say they wanted to visit space from the time they were children. It is important for students who want to become astronauts to study as much math and science as they can. In addition to a college degree, prospective astronauts need to have experience in their field. Pilot astronauts must accumulate 1000 hours of flight time piloting a jet aircraft. Aspiring astronauts must apply to NASA to be accepted into their astronaut training program. The training takes almost two years. An important part of their training is being able to adjust to weightlessness. Dr. Ellen Baker's career as an astronaut provides insight into the highlights and risks of this profession. Part of the "Exploring Careers" series. 2006, Thomson Gale, $23.70. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Kristin Harris (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0737730161
ISBN: 9780737730166
The Berlin Airlift
Michael Burgan
From the "We the People" series, here is a close-up of the first sally in the Cold War between the Allies and the Soviet Union. World War II ended in Europe in 1945, with the control of Germany--and Berlin in particular--divided among Great Britain, the United States, France, and the Soviet Union. Later in 1947, fearful of a Soviet threat, President Truman announced the Truman Doctrine, whereby the United States would support free people resisting communism. The Marshall Plan would help Europe rebuild through a mighty relief effort. These plans were thrown into high gear when the Soviet Union blockaded the passage of food and supplies by land and sea to the western parts of Berlin controlled by the democratic Allies. The United States and Britain retaliated, not by military force, but by flying food, coal, clothing, etc., into the blockaded areas. The so-called Berlin Airlift lasted from1948 to 1949 when the Soviets gave up. By the end of this Cold War tactic, the Western Allies had a West Berlin, and were part of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization comprised of 11 democratic nations. This is not a dry history text. Readers, for example, discover that the U.S. pilot "Uncle Wiggly Wings" cheered up kids by dropping candy to them as he wiggled his plane's wings. Or they learn that left-footed and right-footed shoes were brought on separate flights to prevent pilfering. The story is clearly told, with photos, map, timeline, glossary, special facts page, bio page, references, and index. 2007, Compass Point Books, $25.26. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Carol Raker Collins, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7565-2024-3
ISBN: 0-7565-2024-X
Bessie Coleman
Eric Braun
This brief, easy-to-read biography of Bessie Coleman, the first African-American woman to earn a pilot's license, focuses on Coleman as an aviation pioneer and inspiration to other pilots. From her childhood in a one-room log cabin to her death in a plane crash in 1926, the text provides a straightforward chronological approach to Coleman's life. Each two-page spread consists of a black-and-white photograph on one page (only a few of which are of Coleman herself; the rest are related archival photos) and three to four sentences of text on the facing page. Section titles include "Young Bessie," "Learning to Fly," and "Stunt Flier." A timeline appears at the bottom of each page, and is gradually filled out as the details of Coleman's short life emerge. A glossary, index, and brief bibliography (including both print and online sources) round out this biography. Part of the "First Biographies" series. 2006, Capstone Press, $15.93. Ages 5 to 7. Reviewer: Norah Piehl (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-7368-4229-2
ISBN: 978-0-7368-4229-7
Bravo Zulu, Samantha!
Kathleen Benner Duble
When her parents must go away for a month to help her aunt move, Samantha is forced to live with her grandparents during the best part of the summer. Not only does she have to be away from her friends and the swimming pool but, worst of all, she has to spend every day with her grumpy grandfather, the Colonel who has not cracked a smile since he retired from the Air Force. After a few days with him, Sam realizes the Colonel must be up to something and determines to find his secret. With the help of a neighborhood boy, Sam discovers the Colonel is making his own airplane, and Sam is sure her grandma would not approve. Duble adds excitement to the story as the granddaughter and grandfather butt heads over the importance or random crazy facts versus aviation facts. Tying this theme in at the end, Duble also adds a creative and feminist twist. However, the feminist appeal is undercut with a distracting and unnecessary romance between the two twelve-year-olds. In spite of the many women who have had dominant roles in the history, the reader is left to suppose that even if young girls like aviation, they are still only socially acceptable if they are able to have romance in their lives, even at so young an age as twelve. Though tainted with a potential interpretation of Sam caving in to a manipulative old man, the overall effect is more positive, and Duble does demonstrate positive qualities of good relationships, as Sam and the Colonel learn to get along and help each other with their weaknesses. 2007, Peachtree, $14.95. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Heidi Quist (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-56145-401-X
ISBN: 978-1-56145-401-3
The Flight of the Silver Turtle
John Fardell
The summer holidays bring Marcia and her guardian Professor Harleigh-Broadbeam, with their friend Sam, to Edinburgh where Professor Ampersand resides with his wards Zara and Ben. The professors are planning to collaborate on some projects. In Professor Ampersand's house, there are a number of inventions; his latest invention is an environmentally friendly motorbike with a sidecar. While taking a test ride to the beach in Ampersand's electric vehicle, the group encounters Amy McAirdrie who is working on a project of her own--building an airplane. Interest pulls the group into pitching in to help complete the amphibious flying boat. Meanwhile, unknown to the professors, kids, and Amy, there are some people watching the activity surrounding the hangar. On its maiden flight, the plane is high jacked with Marcia, Sam, Zara, and Ben on board. Spies, mysterious messages, secret operation units, and more add to the fast paced adventure and suspense as this story quickly unfolds with the characters from The 7 Professors of the Far North. 2006, G.P. Putnam's Sons, $15.99. Ages 9 to 12. Reviewer: Carrie Hane Hung (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-399-24382-8
ISBN: 978-0-399-24382-0
Hurricane hunters!: Riders on the Storm
Chris L. Demarest
This book opens with a black-and-white line drawing of a WC-130 Hercules plane used by the military's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, also known as the Hurricane Hunters. The story follows a storm as it grows into hurricane classification. The storm is watched by beach visitors, the National Hurricane Center in Miami, the shore fisherman, anxious property owners, emergency repair crews, and the Hurricane Hunters from Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi. The book shows how all these people track the progress and power of the storm and prepare for its arrival long before it hits the mainland. As the homeowners are boarding up windows, the Hurricane Hunters launch an information-gathering probe called a dropsonde into the hurricane to track the strength and direction of the storm. They even go into the eye of the storm and drop a probe. The data from these probes will help predict the pattern of the storm. The book's illustrations are very dramatic pastel drawings, which work very well to portray the action and excitement of these powerful storms and the storm hunters. The back matter contains an author's note on hurricanes and the front has a labeled diagram of a WC-130 Hercules, the airplane featured in this story. Chris L. Demarest has produced a series of six books with Margaret K. McElderry Books. All his books feature people with thrilling and dangerous careers with titles that include Alpha Bravo Charlie: A Military Alphabet; Mayday! Mayday! A Coast Guard Rescue; Hot Shots; Smoke Jumpers One to Ten; Hurricane Hunters! Riders on the Storm; and Firefighters A to Z. 2006, Simon & Schuster, $17.95. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Sally J. K. Davies (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2007; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Children's Catalog, Nineteenth Edition, 2006; H.W. Wilson; United States
Choices, 2007; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States
ISBN: 978-0-689-86168-0
ISBN: 0-689-86168-0
The Roaring 20: the First Cross-country Air Race for Women
Margaret Whitman Blair
Dubbed "The Powder Puff Derby" by Will Rogers, the Women's Cross-Country Air Race of 1929 not only represented a step toward gender equality in this country, but it paved the way for aviation as we know it. I had never heard of this event before reading about it. The only early American aviatrix with whom I was familiar was Amelia Earhart. Earhart does indeed feature in the book, but along with her are nineteen other bold, inspirational women who risked their lives to follow their dreams and challenge the stereotypes of a nation. Along the way, they also formed a strong community with one another. The Roaring Twenty, through quotes, prose, photos, and historical artifacts, follows the ground-breaking, eight-day race from it's beginning in Santa Monica, California, to its finish in Cleveland, Ohio. Along the way, readers get to know some of the individual participants, a thing or two about early aviation, a great deal about our nation in the Twenties, and, in the end, how these women helped to change the world as we know it. The book is divided into chapters, and ends with biographical information about the participants, a women's aviation time line, a resource guide, and bibliographic information. 2006, National Geographic, $21.95 and $32.90. Ages 11 to 15. Reviewer: Courtney Angermeier (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0792253892
ISBN: 9780792253891
Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon
Catherine Thimmesh
Many years ago, I worked on the unmanned space program at NASA Goddard. It was an amazing experience and even more exhilarating was the opportunity to actually go to a shuttle launch in Florida. It was with great interest that I read this new book Team Moon, which gives an incredible behind-the-scenes look at the work and the number of people involved in getting the first men on the moon. The book is filled with wonderful details that range from making spacesuits to building the lunar module, but not really in a scientific way--more as a conversation. Even though we know the outcome of the Apollo 11 mission, there is quite a bit of suspense as we experience all of the trials and tribulations faced by both the astronauts and the people at ground control. For those of us who watched it on television, there were not quite the same heart-stopping moments--we did not really know that a frozen slug was causing the fuel in the moon lander to heat up to the point where it could become unstable. However, we did share in the joy of Neil Armstrong putting his foot down on the moon. We saw it live and the black-and-white and color photographs that fill the pages of this book further document this historic event. Today's kids will gain some understanding of the effort it took to put that first man on the moon, and they will have a better appreciation for the incredible challenge that everyone involved in this space program faced in those early years. The author's note is particularly interesting because she just selected a handful of some of the people who were involved in the Apollo 11 mission. They range from those who were in executive control positions, to those who sewed and tested the spacesuits, to others around the world who manned antenna outposts to pick up signals from the spacecraft. For those who really want to know more, there is an excellent list of sources, chapter notes, and a list of places. mainly web sites. where one can find additional information. In addition, there is a fairly extensive index and glossary. All in all, Thimmesh's book is an excellent choice for anyone interested in the story of America's effort to put a man on the moon. 2006, Houghton Mifflin, $19.95. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Best Books for Young Adults, 2007; YALSA; United States
Best Children's Books, 2006; Kirkus; United States
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2007; Bank Street College of Education; Outstanding Merit; United States
Books for Holiday Gift-Giving, 2006; Association for Library Service to Childrern; United States
Children's Catalog, Nineteenth Edition, 2006; H.W. Wilson; United States
Choices, 2007; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States
Kirkus Book Review Stars, May 15, 2006; United States
Notable Children's Book, 2007; ALSC American Library Association; United States
Notable Children's Books in the English Language Arts, 2007; Children's Literature Assembly
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, April 17, 2006; Cahners; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Cybils Finalist 2006 Non-Fiction Middle Grade and Young Adult United States
The Golden Kite Award Honor Book 2006 Nonfiction United States
Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children Honorable Mention 2007 United States
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award Winner 2007 United States
Subaru/SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books Winner 2007 Middle Grades Science Book United States
ISBN: 0-618-50757-4
ISBN: 978-0-618-50757-3
The U.S. Air Force and Military Careers
Wilson Camelo
If you would like to read a comprehensive, interesting and factual book about the U.S. Air Force, this is the book for you. There are eleven chapters in this book. The reader gets a realistic look at life in the air force of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Requirements for enlisting, being accepted in ROTC, the Air Force Academy and other training opportunities are explained. To enlist, airmen must have a high school or equivalent diploma. Officers must have a four-year degree. Physical, mental, and scholastic requirements are high. One chapter, entitled, "Life on an Air Force Base," describes the base as being similar to a small American town. Everything is available: hospitals, schools, chapels, shopping centers, entertainment facilities, and outdoor activities, including golf courses and swimming pools. Salaries appear marginal; however benefits make salaries commensurate with their civilian counterparts. Jobs considered dangerous, like flying, and hard-to-fill positions receive extra special-duty pay. At the end of the book, there is a time line starting in 1902 and ending in 2005, which gives a realistic look at how far the air force has come. Chapter notes summarize each chapter. The glossary explains words and phrases that may be unfamiliar to the reader. A "Further Reading" section includes additional books on the air force as well as helpful Internet addresses. A copy of this book should be in every middle and high school library. Recruiters would find this easy-to-read and factual account of the air force helpful when speaking with recruits. 2006, Enslow Publishers, $31.93. Ages 12 up. Reviewer: Jennie DeGenaro (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-7660-2524-1
ISBN: 978-0-7660-2524-0
U.S. Air Force Spy Planes
Carrie A. Braulick
This book includes about a paragraph of text per page accompanied by spectacular photographs. The descriptions give an up-close look at the planes. The U.S Air Force spy planes fly to near and far-away countries, day and night, to keep track of what our enemies are doing. The main spy plane is the U-2. The Predator, a smaller plane, has no pilot inside. Ground crews use controls to fly the Predator. To stay safe from enemy weapons, the U-2 flies up to fifteen miles above land. U-2 cameras take photos from up to one hundred miles away. Predators carry cameras that work in the dark. The Predator, built in 1944, was the air force's first unmanned spy plane. Some U-2 missions last up to seven hours and pilots carry high-energy food in tubes to eat during the mission. U-2s don't carry weapons, but Predators carry powerful missiles, which can blast holes in enemy vehicles. Spy plane sensors can send pictures to military control centers in less than a second. U-2 pilots fly so high that it is difficult to breathe, so they wear pressure suits with oxygen pumped in. U-2s assist in natural disasters by helping rescuers find injured people. At the end of the book is a glossary that defines words, several books are recommended for further reading, and helpful Internet sites are explained. This would make a fine addition to elementary and middle-school libraries. Part of the "Blazers, Military Vehicles" series. 2007, Capstone Press, $19.93. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Jennie DeGenaro (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7368-6453-4
ISBN: 0-7368-6453-9
U.S. Marine Corps Combat Jets
Martha E. H. Rustad
To learn about different planes the Marines fly, read this book. A Harrier combat jet is the Marine Corps plane that can hover in midair and fire a missile as an enemy plane approaches and then speed off. The Marine Corps pilots fly these planes on combat missions. They also fly the F/A-18 Hornet. Both planes help Marines who are fighting on the ground and both can be refueled in the air. Harriers need only small spaces to take off and land. The design of the Harrier controls the plane and helps it fly faster. Harriers are the only airplanes that can fly sideways and land vertically just like helicopters. Hornets can fly as fast as 1,290 miles an hour. Using missiles, machine guns, and bombs, Harriers can attack enemy aircraft on the ground or in the air. Hornets have been flown on missions since 1986. To see in the dark, pilots use night goggles. These pilots are well-trained to fly at high speeds and to fire weapons at enemy targets. Marines are often the first soldiers to arrive at battles to help keep America safe. The photography is outstanding and allows the reader a good, close-up look. The "Glossary" explains words the reader may not know. The "Read More" section recommends several books for further reading about Marines. The "Internet Sites" section has been researched; facthound.com will locate the best sites for you. There are fourteen titles in this set. 2007, Capstone Press, $19.93 Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Jennie DeGenaro (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7368-6457-2
ISBN: 0-7368-6457-1
Wind Flyers
Angela Johnson; Illus. by Loren Long
Told through the eyes of the great-great-nephew of a Tuskegee Airman, this story reveals how an early passion for flying propelled one young man into a successful career in the air. When the narrator's great-great-uncle was little, he jumped off of a chicken coop and later off of a barn because he loved the feeling of flying. At eleven, he paid seventy-five cents for a ride with a flying barnstormer and cried when they had to come down "because then he knew what it was like to go into the wind, against the wind, beyond the wind." As an adult, Uncle joined the 332nd Fighter Group, which was formed in 1942 because of pressure from the NAACP and other groups on the U.S. Government to enable African American Army Air Force pilots to fly and fight. Uncle's squadron, which fought in WWII, gained acclaim for being "the only escort group that never lost a single bomber to enemy fire." This beautifully illustrated picture book makes an important piece of American and family history interesting and accessible for young readers. Loren Long, who recently re-illustrated Watty Piper's The Little Engine that Could, brings the same sense of whimsy and a similar palette of striking colors to this title as to the earlier one, making the story both informative and warmly inviting. This is a picture book that should be in every library that caters to kids. 2007, Simon & Schuster, $16.99. Ages 3 to 8. Reviewer: Michelle H. Martin, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-689-84879-X
ISBN: 978-0-689-84879-7
Women of the Wind: Early Women Aviators
Wanda Langley
This book reminds me of David McCullough's feature on aviators of the 1920s that appeared in the "New York Times Magazine" in 1986. McCullough's article left you hungry to know more about the men and women pilots of that time. Ideally, this book should do the same, but it does not. Langley devotes a chapter to each of the nine different women aviators from the familiar Amelia Earhart to the less familiar African-American, Bessie Coleman. Accompanied by a few photographs, each profile recites each pilot's accomplishments. The author relies so much on third-person narration and in cataloging each woman's entire life, that readers do not get too close to each pilot. Plus, part of this book's understood premise is that these women were doing something extraordinary; but there is too little context about the early days of aviation or about the traditional roles for women for young readers to appreciate their achievements. This book is nicely laid out with sources, a bibliography, an index, and web sites. 2006, Morgan Reynolds, $26.95. Ages 12 up. Reviewer: Michael L. Cooper (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-931798-81-8
ISBN: 978-1931798-81-5
The Wright Brothers and the Airplane
Xavier Niz
Illustrated by Steve Erwin, Keith Williams, and Charles Barnett III
I am always thrilled when I can review a book from the Graphic Library series, as they are perfect for both boys and girls who want to learn in an interesting way. What child does not like learning from a book that is in graphic style? This particular book is part of the Inventions and Discoveries Series. When I review books from "The Graphic Library" series, I never fail to learn something new. Did you know that Leonardo Da Vinci was one of the earliest inventors to study flight? He actually attempted to design a flying machine, but it was the Wright Brothers who were able to fly their glider setting a record when it flew 622.5 feet in 21 seconds. There were other aviators who claimed they were the first to invent the airplane, and the Smithsonian Institute actually declared that Samuel Pierpont Langley invented the plane. After years of fighting, Orville was able to get the Smithsonian officials to agree that he and his brother were the airplane's true inventors. The graphic format is a favorite of mine as it offers high-interest nonfiction novels. It amazes me how much information is given to the reader in just 32 pages. This book would be perfect in a classroom or school library. It also lends itself to the science and social studies classroom libraries. Graphic format makes it perfect for students who are reluctant readers and never seem to finish a book on their own or for young adults who want to read anything they can get their hands on. The full-color graphics make an enormous impact on the story. The author inserts a box on most pages that includes narration giving extra facts to the reader to help with comprehension. Vocabulary has been well selected, and this book is an excellent resource that could be used for writing a summary, a book report, or a full research project. At the end of the book, the author includes more facts about the Wright Brothers, a glossary, a list of internet sites, additional books for more information, and a bibliography. I highly recommend this book. 2007, Capstone Press, $25.26. Ages 10 to 14. Reviewer: Kathie M. Josephs (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7368-6845-7
ISBN: 0-7368-6845-3
Added 07/30/07
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