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Home , Bessie Coleman, Hindenburg disaster, Samuel Langley

F o c u s o n H i s t o r y Dreams Really Do Come True The History of Flight by Angela Leeper

ong before space, air was the inventors, such as Samuel Langley, them achieve the first manned, final frontier. This year marks had already built and were experi- controlled airplane flight. Lthe one hundredth anniversary menting with their own airplanes. The dream of flight did not end of the ’ first airplane But unlike Langley, who had on December 17, 1903, but rather flight, on December 17 supporters, these two unknown went in different directions, as new on the sand dunes of Kitty dreamers imagined com- Hawk, North Carolina. mercial travel by airplane, This anniversary, however, breaking the sound barrier, is only one event in and walking on the moon. flight’s longer history. Some fliers, such as Amelia Flight started with a dream that has been centuries in the making. Perhaps the most famous vision is the Greek myth of Icarus, a boy who meets One of the many ways with tragedy when he flies humans have been able to too close to the on fly—in a hot-air . wings made of wax. The From The Amazing Air dream of flight continued Balloon, written by Jean Van in the Renaissance, when Leeuwen and illustrated by dreamers (aka inventors) Marco Ventura. such as Leonardo da Vinci designed spectacular flying machines. The Wright brothers are often credited with the first flight, but it was another pair of brothers— the Montgolfiers in Earhart, Jacqueline —who first made the Cochran, and Bessie dream of flying a reality. Coleman, broke gender Their discovery that hot barriers. Coleman, the first air rises led to the first African American woman hot-air balloon flight, in 1783. to fly an airplane, tran- What the dream was still missing, bicycle shop owners, working all on scended racial barriers as well. though, was control. their own, realized how their Besides presenting an opportu- Again, the Wright brothers are predecessors had failed with their nity to celebrate a milestone in often mistakenly credited with flight attempts. The Wrights’ flight, the centennial of the Wright inventing the airplane. Other determination and ingenuity helped brothers’ accomplishment gives

6 B o o k L i n k s S e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 3 students a chance to celebrate how Rinard, Judith E. The Story of Flight. O’Brien, Patrick. The Hindenburg. dreams shape the world. The books 2002. 64p. Firefly, $16.95 2000. 40p. Holt, $17 (0-8050- below will provide insight into the (1-55297-642-4); paper, $8.95 6415-X). achievement of human flight. (1-55297-694-7). Gr. 3–6. Combining the history Gr. 4–7. Published in conjunc- of with Count Zeppelin and General Aviation History tion with the Smithsonian National ’s personal interest in Air and Space Museum, this highly their development, O’Brien re- Hunter, Ryan Ann. Take Off! Illus. visual book begins with ballooning counts the glory days of this form of by Edward Miller. 2000. 32p. and ends with an imagined flight to air travel and its abrupt end with Holiday, $15.95 (0-8234-1466-3). Mars. This title is a good starting the Hindenburg disaster. The text Preschool–Gr. 2. A simple point for a study of flight. and watercolor-and-gouache illustra- introduction to flight history, Take tions, which resemble snapshots Off! also describes the type of work Zaunders, Bo. Feathers, Flaps, and from the time period, work together airplanes do, airplane navigation in Flops: Fabulous Early Fliers. Illus. by to create a mythical aura and feeling the cockpit and control tower, Roxie Munro. 2001. 48p. Dutton, of impending doom. famous airplanes, and aviation of the $17.99 (0-525-46466-2). future. The real appeal of the book Gr. 3–5. After a playful, brief Seymour, Tres. Our Neighbor Is a lies in the bright, geometric illustra- introduction to the history of flight, Strange, Strange Man. Illus. by tions that show an array of airplanes Zaunders delivers seven witty Walter Lyon Krudop. 1999. 32p. and jets from many time periods. profiles of significant early aviators, Orchard, $15.95 (0-531-30107-9). Also see Hunter’s Into the Air: An including the Montgolfier brothers, K–Gr. 3. Melville Murrell built Illustrated Timeline of Flight (Na- Bessie Coleman, and Beryl the first human-powered airplane in tional Geographic, 2003). Markham. Also see Harvey Weiss’ 1876 in rural Tennessee, and this Strange and Wonderful picture book uses few words and O’Brien, Patrick. Fantastic Flights: (Houghton, 1995). oversize gouache paintings to tell his One Hundred Years of Flying on the story through the eyes of a young Edge. 2003. 40p. Walker, $17.95 Early Inventors and Fliers neighbor boy. (0-8027-8880-7). Gr. 2–6. From the Wright Bellville, Cheryl Walsh. Flying in a Stanley, Diane. Leonardo da Vinci. brothers’ first flight to the advent of Hot Air Balloon. 1993. 48p. 1996. 48p. HarperCollins, $16.95 the space shuttle, important events Carolrhoda, $22.60 (0-87614- (0-688-10437-1); HarperTrophy, in the are spot- 750-3). paper, $6.95 (0-688-16155-3). lighted on double-page spreads that Gr. 3–5. In addition to offering a Gr. 3–7. This noteworthy feature O’Brien’s engaging text and brief history of the Montgolfiers’ picture-book biography chronicles detailed watercolor and gouache invention, Bellville narrates her the life of Leonardo da Vinci as both paintings. Pair this with Aviation participation as a passenger in a hot- artist and inventor. Stanley remarks Legends Paper Airplane Book by Ken air balloon rally in Minnesota and upon his unsuccessful attempts at Blackburn and Jeff Lammers (Work- then as a member of a balloon chase flying, and speculates that if da man, 2001), which contains models crew. Color photographs present Vinci had dedicated more time to of a dozen historically important spectacular views from a balloonist’s his flying theories, he might have planes to cut out and create. perspective in this title from the been the first person to fly. Pair this Photo Books series. with another detailed picture-book Pallotta, Jerry, and Fred Stillwell. The biography of da Vinci, Robert Airplane Alphabet Book. Illus. by Rob Curlee, Lynn. Ships of the Air. 1996. Byrd’s Leonardo: Beautiful Dreamer Bolster. 1997. 32p. Charlesbridge, 32p. Houghton, $14.95 (0-395- (Dutton, 2003). $16.95 (0-88106-907-8); paper, 69338-1). $6.95 (0-88106-906-X). Gr. 3–6. This history of air- Van Leeuwen, Jean. The Amazing Gr. 1–4. Employing Pallotta’s ships—from the Montgolfiers’ first Air Balloon. Illus. by Marco signature format, this alphabet book flight in 1783 to the Hindenburg Ventura. 2003. 32p. Penguin identifies early airplanes and aviators disaster—explains the science of Putnam/Phyllis Fogelman, $16.99 and their claims to fame. It also hot-air balloons and dirigibles. (0-8037-2258-3). singles out innovative designs in Curlee intrigues readers with actual Gr. 1–4. Periodlike oil paintings early aviation, including flaps, flight adventures, such as a flight illustrate this fictionalized account instruments, and refueling in the to the North Pole, and his crisp of the first manned hot-air balloon air. acrylic illustrations are striking. ascent in America, in 1784. As 13-

B o o k L i n k s S e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 3 7 year-old Edward Warren makes the Busby, Peter. First to Fly: How sand dunes of Kitty Hawk in 1903, first ascent in Baltimore, he realizes Wilbur and Orville Wright Invented who dream of a two-person flight, a the possibilities life holds for him. the Airplane. Illus. by David Craig. flying bus, transatlantic journeys, Endpapers carry reproductions of 2002. 32p. Crown, $19.95 (0-375- and moon walks as they watch the newspaper accounts on which this 81287-3). Wright brothers experiment with narration is based. Gr. 4–6. Archival photographs kites, gliders, and engines. A time and eye-catching oil paintings line of aviation milestones concludes Wallner, Alexandra. The First Air illustrate the Wright brothers’ the book. Voyage in the : The Story flight experiments and first of Jean-Pierre Blanchard. 1996. 32p. manned flight. Notable features Edwards, Pamela Duncan. The Holiday, $15.95 (0-8234-1224-5). include explanations of how the Wright Brothers. Illus. by K–Gr. 3. Written as a first- Wrights’ , kites, and Cole. 2003. 40p. Hyperion, $15.99 person narrative by Blanchard, who airplane functioned; a diagram of (0-7868-1951-0). flew a hot-air balloon from their Flyer; and information on Gr. 1–3. Cumulative text à la Philadelphia to Woodbury, New their patent process and influence “The House That Jack Built” Jersey, in 1793, this account of the on aviation today. provides the highlights of the aeronaut’s trials, his numerous Wright brothers’ aviation careers and European balloon flights, and his Carson, Mary Kay. The Wright shows how they were inspired by record-setting American flight Brothers for Kids: How They Invented the movements of birds. Through- reveals his intense enthusiasm for the Airplane: 21 Activities Exploring out the story, a troupe of mice offers ballooning. the Science and History of Flight. comic relief and historical and 2003. 160p. Review, scientific detail. The endpapers The Wright Brothers $14.95 (1-55652-477-3). sport a time line of the Wrights’ Gr. 4–8. In addition to informa- accomplishments and other aviation Borden, Louise, and Trish Marx. tion on the Wright brothers, this milestones. Touching the Sky: The Flying Adventures comprehensive account includes of Wilbur and Orville Wright. Illus. by profiles of aeronauts who influenced Freedman, Russell. The Wright Peter Fiore. 2003. 64p. Simon & them, and 21 activities, most of Brothers: How They Invented the Schuster/Margaret K. McElderry, which extend the flight-related Airplane. 1991. 144p. Holiday, $18.95 (0-689-84876-5). concepts introduced throughout. $19.95 (0-8234-0875-2); paper, Gr. 3–6. Marked by Fiore’s Modern and period black-and-white $12.95 (0-8234-1082-X). precise watercolors, the authors’ photographs round out this selec- Gr. 5–10. Comprising 94 conversational free verse tells of tion. enthralling, rarely seen photographs, the excitement surrounding the many taken by Wilbur and Orville Wright brothers’ flying demon- Collins, Mary. Airborne: A themselves, this photobiography strations in New York City and Photobiography of Wilbur and Orville and Newbery Honor Book provides Germany in 1909, six years after Wright. 2003. 64p. National spectacular coverage of the inventors’ their first flight. An aviation time Geographic, $18.95 (0-7922- early influences and dedicated, line and maps appear at the back 6957-8). pioneering work in aviation. of the book. Gr. 4–8. Sixty excellent photo- Through interesting, detailed graphs help document this solid narrative and explanations of the Burleigh, Robert. Into the Air: The biography of the Wright brothers. Wrights’ experiments, Freedman Story of the Wright Brothers’ First Presenting Wilbur and Orville both delivers an excellent blend of history Flight. Illus. by Bill Wylie. 2002. individually and as a team, Collins and science. 48p. Harcourt/Silver Whistle, $16 covers the numerous experiments the (0-15-202492-1). brothers performed in order to Glass, Andrew. The Wondrous Gr. 2–6. Written in a comic- understand the principles of flight, Whirligig: The Wright Brothers’ First book format, Into the Air turns the and also follows the development of Flying Machine. 2003. 32p. Holi- Wright brothers into superherolike their aeronautical Wright Company. day, $16.95 (0-8234-1717-4). characters. The highly appealing Gr. 1–4. Glass’ exuberant artwork format, with plenty of humorous Drummond, Allan. The Flyers. highlights this historically based tall one-liners, turns their story into a 2003. 40p. Farrar, $16 (0-374- tale of young Orville and Wilbur’s suspenseful adventure. Also see 32410-7). attempt to build a life-size version of a Burleigh and Wylie’s Amelia K–Gr. 3. Whimsical watercolors flying toy. An author’s note outlines Earhart, below. illustrate a group of children on the the facts behind the story.

8 B o o k L i n k s S e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 3 Krensky, Stephen. Taking Flight: The Wright worked as a teacher and then Story of the Wright Brothers. Illus. by social manager for her famous Larry Day. 2000. 48p. Simon & brothers. While this Schuster, $15 (0-689-81225-6); biography Aladdin, paper, $3.99 (0-689- chronicles the 81224-8). Wright brothers’ Gr. 2–4. This title from the first flight and Ready-to-Read series describes the subsequent success, drama of the Wright brothers’ it also portrays the achievements and is a good intro- Wright sister as an duction for younger readers. Ac- intelligent, caring, companied by Day’s fitting water- and equally accom- color illustrations, the narrative text plished woman. also imparts much information on the Wright brothers’ influences. Old, Wendie. To Fly: The Story of the Wright Brothers. ized version of true events tells of a MacLeod, Elizabeth. The Wright Illus. by Robert Andrew Parker. boy named Tom Tate who be- Brothers: A Flying Start. 2002. 32p. 2002. 48p. Clarion, $16 (0-618- friended the Wright brothers and Kids Can, $14.95 (1-55074-933-1). 13347-X). became the second person to fly on Gr. 3–5. No ordinary biography Gr. 2–5. Divulging more details their . Many well-composed of the Wright brothers, this account about the Wright brothers’ personal illustrations add to the story. features a scrapbooklike layout that and professional lives than many will appeal to reluctant readers. other books for this age group, this Sullivan, George. The Wright Brothers. Well-written text framed by archival fascinating Orbis Pictus Award 2002. 128p. Scholastic Reference, photographs, quotes and sketches by winner recounts their early dreams paper, $4.50 (0-439-26320-4). the inventors, and caricatures of of flying, numerous theories and Gr. 3–5. In this title from the In Orville and Wilbur depicts their influences from other aeronauts, kite Their Own Words series, Sullivan influences, bicycle and flight and glider experiments, the creation seamlessly interweaves information experiments, aviation failures and of an engine, and first airplane about the Wright brothers with successes, and impact on the evolu- flights. Impressionistic watercolors excerpts from primary sources. tion of flight and space travel. complement the text.

Maurer, Richard. The Wright Sister: Shea, George. First Flight: The Story Katharine Wright and Her Famous of Tom Tate and the Wright Brothers. Brothers. 2003. 128p. Roaring Illus. by Don Bolognese. 1997. Brook, $18.95 (0-7613-2564-6). 48p. HarperTrophy, paper, $3.99 Gr. 6–up. “One of the indispens- (0-06-444215-2). able members of the amazing Gr. 2–3. From the I Can Read Wright partnership,” Katharine Chapter Book series, this fictional- Spectators cheer as Wilbur Wright soars high above the ground in his “flying machine,” in Louise Borden and Trish Marx’s Touching the Sky, illustrated by Peter Fiore.

B o o k L i n k s S e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 3 9 Series Connections—The Wright Brothers

• Buller, Jon, and Susan Schade. The Wright • Old, Wendie. The Wright Brothers: Inventors of the Brothers Take Off. 2003. 32p. Grosset & Dunlap, Airplane. 2000. 128p. Enslow, $20.95 (0-7660- $14.89 (0-448-43240-4); paper, $5.99 (0-448- 1095-3). From the Historical American Biographies 43899-7). From the Smart about History series. series. Gr. 5–9. Gr. 1–4. • Ryan, Bernard. The Wright Brothers: Inventors of • Ford, Carin T. The Wright Brothers: Heroes of the Airplane. 2003. 128p. , $29.50 (0-531- Flight. 2003. 32p. Enslow, $17.95 (0-7660-2002-9). 12254-9). From the Great Life Stories series. From the Famous Inventors series. Gr. 2–5. Gr. 6–8.

• Martin, Michael J. The Wright Brothers. 2003. 128p. • Sproule, Anna. The Wright Brothers: The Birth of Lucent, $27.45 (1-56006-847-7). From the Impor- Modern Aviation. 1999. 64p. Blackbirch, $27.44 tance Of series. Gr. 7–up. (1-56711-328-1). From the Giants of Science series. Gr. 5–9. • McPherson, Stephanie Sammartino. Wilbur and Orville Wright: Taking Flight. 2003. 112p. Lerner, • Wadsworth, Ginger. The Wright Brothers. 2003. $25.26 (1-57505-443-4). From the Trailblazers 48p. Lerner, $23.93 (0-8225-0199-6). From the Biographies series. Gr. 4–7. History Maker Bios series. Gr. 2–4.

Black-and-white photos are inter- Borden, Louise, and Mary Kay spersed throughout, and a time line Kroeger. Fly High: The Story of Bessie and list for further reading appear at Adler, David A. A Picture Book of Coleman. Illus. by Teresa Flavin. the end of the book. . Illus. by Jeff Fisher. 2001. 40p. Simon & Schuster/ 1998. 32p. Holiday, $16.95 Margaret K. McElderry, $16 Van Steenwyk, Elizabeth. One Fine (0-8234-1315-2); paper, $6.95 (0-689-82457-2). Day: A Radio Play. Illus. by Bill (0-8234-1517-1). K–Gr. 4. Written in free-verse Farnsworth. 2003. 32p. Eerdmans, Gr. 1–4. With brief text Adler poetry, this picture-book biography $16 (0-8028-5234-3). highlights the major events in the depicts the driving forces that Gr. 3–5. Students can reenact life of the “First Lady of the Air,” helped Bessie Coleman become the history through this picture book, from the first time she saw an first licensed African American which contains a radio play, com- airplane to the attempted around- pilot. This inspirational story is plete with narration and sound the-world flight that claimed her accented by gentle gouache illustra- effects, of the Wright brothers’ first life. He shows Amelia Earhart as a tions. controlled flight. Accompanying the pioneering woman, and also her dialogue, which is filled with humanitarian side as a nurse’s aide, Brown, Don. Ruth Law Thrills a lighthearted banter, are sepia-toned medical researcher, and social Nation. 1993. 32p. Houghton, $16 oils that suitably illustrate the time worker. (0-395-66404-7); paper, $6.95 period. (0-395-73517-3). Atkins, Jeannine. Wings and Rockets: K–Gr. 3. In November 1916, Yolen, Jane. My Brother’s Flying The Story of Women in Air and Space. in frigid weather, with only a Machine: Wilbur, Orville, and Me. Illus. by Dušan Petricic. 2003. compass, clock, speedometer, and Illus. by Jim Burke. 2003. 32p. 208p. Farrar, $17 (0-374- rough maps, Ruth Law captured Little, Brown, $16.95 (0-316- 38450-9). the country’s attention by at- 97159-6). Gr. 4–8. Short stories, “drama- tempting to fly nonstop from Gr. 1–4. The Wright brothers’ tized with imagined thoughts and Chicago to New York City. personalities and accomplishments dialogue” and illustrated with pen- Although Law did have to land are seen through the eyes of their and-ink drawings, call attention to and refuel, she set an American younger sister, Katharine. Free-verse eight women who broke the gender nonstop cross-country flying poetry describes Katharine’s silent barrier in air and space, including record of 590 miles. Charming but steadfast inspiration, encourage- Katharine Wright, Bessie Coleman, watercolor illustrations highlight ment, and support. and Amelia Earhart. Law’s adventure.

10 B o o k L i n k s S e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 3 Burleigh, Robert. Amelia Earhart: depicts Earhart’s childhood and Lindbergh, Reeve. Nobody Owns the Free in the Skies. Illus. by Bill Wylie. aviation career while focusing on the Sky: The Story of “Brave Bessie” 2003. 48p. Harcourt/Silver Whistle, independence she valued through- Coleman. Illus. by Pamela Paparone. $16 (0-15-202498-0); paper, $5.95 out her entire life. The author 1996. 32p. Candlewick, paper, (0-15-216810-9). dedicates a considerable portion of $5.99 (0-7636-0361-9). Gr. 3–6. Employing the same the book to Earhart’s last, uncom- K–Gr. 3. Bold acrylic illustra- format as Burleigh and Wylie’s Into pleted flight and the mysteries and tions and lyrical, rhyming text offer the Air, above, this title features theories that evolved from her snapshots of Bessie Coleman’s life. Amelia Earhart as the “heroine” of a disappearance. Moments in her childhood and comic-book-style biography. The illustrations conclude with a ticker- tape parade honoring Earhart’s solo , while the text goes on briefly to mention her attempted flight around the world and subsequent disappearance.

Cummins, Julie. Tomboy of the Air: Daredevil Pilot Blanche Stuart Scott. 2001. 80p. HarperCollins, $16.99 (0-06-029138-9). Gr. 4–7. Interspersed with historic black-and-white photo- graphs, this text is as much a chronology of early flight as it is a biography of Scott, who achieved many aviation firsts. Evoking the prejudices against female aviators and flying’s extreme dangers, Cummins also shows Scott’s competitive and flamboyant nature, which made her a popular stunt flier in her heyday, as well as an aeronautical “ambassador” later in life.

Grimes, Nikki. Talkin’ about Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman. Illus. by E. B. Lewis. 2002. 48p. Orchard, $16.95 (0- 439-35243-6). Gr. 3–8. These fictionalized, poetic monologues told from the point of view of Bessie Coleman’s family and acquaintances are written in a conversational style and convey her determination to succeed as a pilot. Lewis’ Award–winning watercolors provide a historical framework.

Lauber, Patricia. Lost Star: The Story of Amelia Earhart. 1990. 112p. Scholastic, paper, $4.50 (0- 590-41159-4). Gr. 4–7. This biography

B o o k L i n k s S e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 3 11 young adult life are noted, but it is Earhart and go for Weitzman, David. Jenny: The Bessie’s overwhelming determina- an evening flight after a White Airplane That Taught America to Fly. tion to fly in an age of racial and House dinner together. Rendered in 2002. 40p. Roaring Brook, $17.95 gender bias that echoes throughout shades of grays, blacks, and purples, (0-7613-2565-4). this charming picture book. Also see Selznick’s illustrations effectively Gr. 2–4. In this fictionalized Lynn Joseph’s Fly, Bessie, Fly (Simon evoke nostalgic black-and-white story, three grandchildren hear an & Schuster, 1998). photographs. account of their great-grandmother’s experiences as a pilot of a Moss, Marissa. Brave Jenny, an aircraft made Harriet. Illus. by C. F. famous by Charles Payne. 2001. 32p. Harcourt/Silver Whistle, $16 (0-15-202380-1). Gr. 1–4. This fictionalized first-person narrative of Harriet Quimby, the first woman to obtain a pilot’s license and fly across the English Channel, describes her momentous flight and how its impact was Bessie Coleman in eclipsed by another her pilot’s uniform earth-shattering event— in Nikki Grimes’ the Titanic disaster. Talkin’ about Mixed-media illustra- Bessie, illustrated tions depict the expanse by E. B. Lewis. of sky and sea.

Nathan, Amy. Yankee Doodle Gals: Women Pilots of World War II. 2001. 96p. National Geographic, $21 (0-7922-8216-7). Gr. 6–9. A lack of American military Lindbergh and Amelia airmen during World Earhart. Precise black- War II opened the door and-white drawings show for 1,102 Women Airforce Service Szabo, Corinne. Sky Pioneer: A parts of the craft and the plane Pilots (WASPs). With profiles of Photobiography of Amelia Earhart. being built. individuals responsible for the 1997. 64p. National Geographic, WASP program and WASPs them- $16 (0-7922-3737-4). Lindbergh and More selves, this title gives vindication Gr. 3–7. Stunning black-and- and recognition to these women white photographs, engaging text, Borden, Louise. Good-Bye, Charles who served their country but were maps of Amelia Earhart’s around- Lindbergh. Illus. by Thomas B. soon forgotten after World War II. the-world flight, and interspersed Allen. 1998. 40p. Simon & quotes from Earhart herself make Schuster/Margaret K. McElderry, Ryan, Pam Muñoz. Amelia and this an exceptional work in which $16 (0-689-81536-0). Eleanor Go for a Ride. Illus. by Brian Szabo chronicles this aviator’s K–Gr. 3. In this charming picture Selznick. 1999. 40p. Scholastic, daring feats, famous firsts, and book based on a true story, a young $16.95 (0-590-96075-X). never-ending pursuit to raise boy in small-town Mississippi has Gr. 1–4. In this fictionalized awareness of the need for women’s the surprise of his life when Charles account of an actual event, Amelia equality. Lindbergh, who often stopped in

12 B o o k L i n k s S e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 3 out-of-the-way places to avoid balanced look at the life of historical picture book Joe-Joe’s First crowds, lands in a field by his Lindbergh, from his grueling solo Flight (Knopf, 2003), about an house. Allen’s colored-pencil illus- transatlantic flight to his Nazi African American boy’s imaginative trations capture the magic of the sympathies and anti-Semitism. The victory over racial prejudice in event. chapters tracing his historic flight aviation. would make compelling classroom Burleigh, Robert. Flight. Illus. by read-alouds. Also see Barry Hulls, John. Rider in the Sky: How Mike Wimmer. 1991. 32p. Denenberg’s An American Hero: The an American Cowboy Built England’s Philomel, $16.99 (0-399- True Story of Charles A. Lindbergh First Airplane. Illus. by David 22272-3); Puffin, paper, $6.99 (Scholastic, 1996). Weitzman. 2003. 112p. Crown, (0-698-11425-6). $16.95 (0-375-81106-0). Gr. 1–4. Using Charles Homan, Lynn M., and Thomas Gr. 7–9. Illustrated with many Lindbergh’s autobiography The Reilly. The Story. period photos as well as drawings, Spirit of St. Louis as the basis for his Illus. by Rosalie M. Shepherd. design plans, and posters, this title text, Burleigh vividly creates that 2002. 32p. Pelican, $14.95 follows Samuel Cody, a showman first solo transantlantic flight. (1-58980-005-2). cowboy who settled in England and Wimmer’s emotional double-page K–Gr. 3. Although the fictional in 1908 achieved the first English paintings convey the suspense and framework is somewhat contrived, airplane flight. Cody’s experiences isolation of flying solo. this story of an African American provide an effective contrast with grandfather who tells of his World the Wright brothers’ efforts. Giblin, James Cross. Charles A. War II experiences in the Tuskegee Lindbergh: A Human Hero. 1997. Airmen fighter group does a good Angela Leeper is an educational consultant, 224p. Clarion, $21 (0-395- job of explaining who the airmen writer, and editor in Wake Forest, North Carolina. For a list of related articles from past 63389-3). were and what they achieved. Also issues of Book Links, please turn to “Need to Gr. 6–up. Giblin gives readers a see Natasha Anastasia Tarpley’s Know” on p.63.

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