Flight Resources

Burleigh, Robert. Flight. Putnam Juvenile; Reprint edition (January 27, 1997)

Ages 4-8
ISBN-10: 0698114256

Even the awkward style here (a choppy, breathless tone is exacerbated by the relentless use of fragments and single-sentence paragraphs) conveys the excitement of Lindbergh's historic flight at the age of 25, but Wimmer's double-spread paintings steal the show: from the first glimpse of the aircraft through an arch formed by the pilot's determined-looking legs, they capture the feel of the cabin, the beauty of sea and sky, the drama of the nighttime arrival--all in impressionistic paintings peopled with realistic portraits, most notably of the weary hero appealingly sprawled in sleep on the last page. A book that brings new life to one of the stories of the century. Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Carson, Mary Kay. The Wright Brothers for Kids: How They Invented the Airplane with 21 Activities Exploring the Science and History of Flight. Chicago Review Press; 1st ed edition (May 1, 2003)

Ages 9-12
ISBN-10: 1556524773

A treasure trove of activities awaits readers of this wonderfully executed survey of the Wright brothers and their invention. The narrative flows easily and is complemented by numerous photographs that give a sense of history and this event. Boxed descriptions of other early flight pioneers enhance Carson's presentation and situate the brothers within their contextual company. The author then introduces 21 activities-hands-on opportunities with gliders; pitch, roll, and yaw; propellers; and, tangentially, Morse code (send a telegram like the Wrights); anemometer (make one to measure the wind); and scones (bake some up like Orville at Kitty Hawk). This is a valuable resource for student reports and projects, and for classroom units. The book opens with an extensive time line; a well-developed glossary, Web sites, and real sites to visit round it out. Harriett Fargnoli, Great Neck Library, NY. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

ISBN-10: 1552979849

Flight is a comprehensive history of air travel as told through four hundred dramatic photographs. The book covers aviation history from the first attempts at flight to the latest aircraft. Flight includes the early pioneers of gliders and even a steampowered model plane that predated the Wrights' success at piloting a sustained powered flight. The book covers the major eras of aviation:

• Major aircraft of World War I
• Barnstorming and adventure in the 1920s and 30s
• Pre-World War II American aircraft and European dirigibles
• Beginnings of passenger travel
• Jet power and stealth during World War II and the Cold War
• Modern military and passenger aircraft.

A short essay introduces each section and detailed captions explain the significance and context of each photograph. Flight also includes blueprints for a glimpse into the engineering marvels of seven aircraft ranging from a Spitfire fighter to the supersonic Concorde airliner. Flight will appeal to aviation enthusiasts of all ages.

Grant, R.G. Flight. DK ADULT; Reprint edition (March 19, 2007)

ISBN-10: 0756619025

From Publishers Weekly
Produced in association with the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum, this volume of capsule histories and archival images traces the history of flight with all the sepia-toned authority of a public broadcasting documentary. Offering thumbnail profiles of aviation heroes and inventors and a plethora of diagrams and photos, the oversized tome straddles the line between something to put on a coffee table and something to give to a panting, preteen armchair pilot. Sections on space travel, commercial flight and early daredevilry fascinate, but take second stage to the story of flight as it interweaves with a century-long history of war-conflict being the catalyst for much of aviation's greatest innovations and adventures. Most of the book's pages recount bombing raids and dogfights through the decades, but others showcase popular, pioneering or just plain weird designs (the part-plane, part-car Aerocar, the miniscule Sky Louse, the capsule-shaped Gee Bee Super Sportster and the Caproni Ca 60 Transaero, an eight-engine triplane). This hefty volume is a flight museum sandwiched between two covers: careful, informative and educational-and a bit overwhelming. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Herbert, Janis. Leonardo da Vinci for Kids: His Life and Ideas, 21 Activities. Chicago Review Press; 1st Ed edition (October 1, 1998)

Ages 9-12
ISBN-10: 1556522983

A lively biography of the ultimate Renaissance man. Herbert describes Leonardo's life while also providing a good deal of historical information about Italy and background about art. She explains how Leonardo used the artistic techniques and materials available during his lifetime, as well as his own unique ideas, to create masterpieces. However, youngsters will also gain insight into Leonardo as a scientist, inventor, and humanist. Presented for consideration are his detailed sketches of human anatomy (the first of their kind), maps drawn from a bird's-eye view, and designs for such things as diving suits and hang gliders that weren't invented until hundreds of years later. A few projects are also included. Youngsters can make a kite based on Leonardo's drawing of a parachute, cook up his favorite meal of minestrone soup, or grow a Renaissance herb garden. The high-quality reproductions of the artist's sketches and paintings coupled with an interesting text give readers a full picture of this truly amazing man. A list of related Web sites is included. Michele Snyder, Chappaqua Public Library, NY. Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Jarrett, Philip. Ultimate Aircraft. DK ADULT; 1st edition (September 1, 2000)

ISBN-10: 0789459612

Ultimate Aircraft features 650 different aircraft from around the world. From the first experimental flights to the astonishing technological innovations of today's stealth fighters, this comprehensive book traces the history of aviation and profiles the innovators, engineers and pilots who took it to new heights. Structured chronologically and featuring a highly readable text, this authoritative book tells the story of both military and civilian flight, profiling key aircraft from each era. Boldly illustrated, dramatically photographed, and with exquisite attention to detail, Ultimate Aircraft is designed to be an indispensable resource for the enthusiast or an exhilarating introduction to the novice.

Page, Robin, and Steve Jenkins (Illustrator). Animals in Flight. Houghton Mifflin; Reprint edition (May 30, 2005)

Ages 4-8
ISBN-10: 0618548823

From School Library Journal
Jenkins's trademark illustrations, watercolor cut-paper collage, are perfect for this exploration of wings. From the striped, transparent wings of the ancient dragonfly to the crushed, leathery wings of the vampire bat, each illustration captures the uniqueness of the appendage it portrays. In addition to the large, double-page collages, small, computer-produced, spot illustrations clarify points in the text. With their creamy colors and sharp outlines, these tiny pictures are lovely as well as informative. The text is brief. Three fonts cue readers to the three different types of information: 1) a one- or two-line description; 2) a caption for the large illustration; and 3) a more-detailed explanation of the flight of a specific animal. How flies land on the ceiling, how butterflies take off straight up from a flower, how hummingbirds hover-all are clarified in word and picture. An appendix provides an additional paragraph about the animal introduced on each spread. An excellent introduction. Ellen Heath, Orchard School, Ridgewood, NJ. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Panchyk, Richard. Galileo for Kids: His Life and Ideas, 25 Activities. Chicago Review Press (July 1, 2005)

Ages 9-12
ISBN-10: 1556525664

From School Library Journal
Clear, sometimes dry, writing places Galileo squarely within the historical context of the turbulent Italian Renaissance. His scientific discoveries challenged the ideas held by the Catholic Church and he was tried for heresy. Sidebars give additional information about individuals and events that influenced Galileo's life. In an author's note, Panchyk mentions his use of Galileo's correspondences throughout, and they are referenced within the text (rather than footnoted), usually with such introductions as, Galileo wrote… or one letter explained…. The text is illustrated with good-quality reproductions of historical artwork and scientific diagrams. As with other titles in the series, the history is accompanied by suggestions for learning activities. Most of them are interesting experiments that demonstrate scientific principles discovered by Galileo and require only common household materials. Panchyk's title is a good choice for those interested in integrating history and science curriculums.–Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Provensen, Alice and Martin. The Glorious Flight: Across the Channel with Louis Bleriot July 25, 1909. Puffin; Reprint edition (August 1, 1987)

Ages 4-8
ISBN-10: 0140507299

This children's book is an account of the famous French aviation pioneer, Louis Bleriot (1872-1936) who was the first person to fly across the English Channel (on July 25, 1909). The book won the 1984 Caldecott Medal for best illustrations in a book for children. It is an excellent book for use in a discussion of history, particularly the history of aviation.

Rinard, Judith E. Book of Flight: The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Firefly Books; 2 edition (July 20, 2007)

Ages 10-13
ISBN-10: 1554072921

From Publishers Weekly
Aviation enthusiasts will also welcome The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's Book of Flight by Judith Rinard. Packed with over 400 photographs and illustrations, this informative offering looks at humankind's earliest airborne efforts, including a sidebar about Leonardo DA Vinci's famous sketches of "ornithopters," or "flapping-wing machines," and the Wright Brothers' 1903 flight at Kitty Hawk. Later sections focus on postwar barnstormers, Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Rinard, Judith. The Story of Flight: from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Firefly Books (September 7, 2002)

Ages 9-12
ISBN-10: 1552976947

A concise and accurate overview. Prepared with the support of the staff of the National Air and Space Museum, this volume touches on almost every major aspect of flight. The SR-71 Blackbird featured on the cover is only the beginning of the attractive illustrations that are included. Each chapter presents a large, full-color or archival photo surrounded by four or five smaller pictures. The well-written text, filled with basic information about each topic, occupies about 20 percent of each spread. The captions for the smaller illustrations are full of additional information. Rinard covers the subject from European balloons of the 1780s to the Wright brothers, spy planes, helicopters, space flights to the Moon and the International Space Station, and possible manned flights to Mars. Most of this material can be found in other sources, but not in one attractive, concise volume that also doubles as a brief tour of the Air and Space Museum itself. Eldon Younce, Harper Elementary School, KS. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Shea, George, and Don Bolognese (Illustrator). First Flight: The Story of Tom Tate and the Wright Brothers (I Can Read Book 4) HarperTrophy; Reissue edition (September 30, 1997)

Ages 4-8
ISBN-10: 0064442152

This easy reader tells the delightful story of young Tom Tate, a boy who assisted the Wright Brothers with experiments for their historic flying machine. The author's note identifies Tom as a real person and supplies basic facts of his life, but the story focuses only on "Will and Orv's" visits to Kittyhawk. The fictionalized dialogue is fairly realistic and the story line progresses at an even pace. Bolognese has carefully researched the watercolor illustrations, which are consistent with photographs of the events. Children will identify with the spirit of this boy who enthusiastically volunteered to try out the glider when there wasn't enough wind to lift the grown men. Sharon R. Pearce, San Antonio Public Library, TX. Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Walker, Ormiston H., Anne Canevari Green (Illustrator). Experimenting With Air and Flight. Venture Books (March 1989)

Young Adult
ISBN-10: 0531106705

Anyone who performed most of the experiments in this book would have a thorough understanding of the basic principles of aerodynamics. Some experiments are designed so that readers can compare different designs of airplanes, gliders, and hovercraft. There are auxiliary designs for building air-speed indicators and wind tunnels. The experiments use common materials and household appliances. Those that require adult supervision are indicated, and any hazards are noted at the beginning of the experiment, even if its result is revealed by so doing. Illustrations are black-and-white photographs and pen-and-ink line drawings, with good diagrams to clarify the instructions. An excellent addition to the engineering (and science) section of any library serving young people. --Margaret M. Hagel, Norfolk Public Library System, Va. Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.