Zephyr’s imagination takes off when her family is too busy to play or watch her fly her model plane do spectacular feats. Through a hidden door, Zephyr finds friends, flying ships, returning home in time for breakfast. Comfortable, old-fashioned illustrations complement the telling.
Zephyr Takes Flight
Follow a boy and his parents to the airport, on the plane, and through a bit of aviation history for an informative look at flying. Cartoon illustrations and information in bubbles and sidebars in an oversized format make this book just right for multiple examinations.
Everything Goes in the Air
The author/illustrator’s enthusiasm for the birds he observes is contagious in this artful and informative look at various birds of prey. Several pages fold out to showcase the splendor of these amazing flyers.
Thunder Birds: Nature’s Flying Predators
Sophisticated children (or children with an adult) will appreciate the variety of aircraft designs ranging from easy to difficult, silly to complex, and the science behind them. All is presented in easy-to-follow instructions and crisp diagrams.
Kids’ Paper Airplane Book
By 1909, Louis Bleriot’s persistence had paid off: this Frenchman became the first aviator to fly across the English Channel in an “air machine.” This Caldecott Medal winner is a quiet account of one man’s perseverance and passion.
The Glorious Flight: Across the Channel with Louis Bleriot July 25, 1909
Images of unusual inventions are presented with possible uses, explained when the page is turned. They really are wacky but very creative in this fascinating look at creativity.
Weird & Wacky Inventions
Easy to read text and lush, realistic illustrations provide an accessible but authoritative look at hummingbirds’ lives and habits.
About Hummingbirds: A Guide for Children
Follow three long ago adventurers who traveled around the world by bike, by herself, and on a sloop. The graphic novel format brings their adventures to life.
Around the World: Three Remarkable Journeys
Lester explains the basics about the moon and space travel to Little Nye before they take off on their lively imaginary journey. Sturdy pages support uncluttered illustrations and simple text in this appealing, surprisingly informative book.
Rocket to the Moon
Take flight with a bit of imagination and a varied collection of poems. Handsome illustrations enhance the short poems presented to encourage flying with or without wings.
Give Me Wings
Elinor Smith was a girl whose dream of flying was realized in the 1920s, a time when girls and women weren’t encouraged to do so. Based on a real person, Elinor’s story is well told and dramatically illustrated. Equally interesting is the author’s endnote in which she reveals how she researched this fascinating woman.
Soar, Elinor!
Amelia Earhart was a fiesty 11-year-old when she saw her first air show. Little did she know that a passing fancy for airplanes would develop into a full-throttled passion. As a committed social worker, feminist and record-breaking female pilot, Amelia’s disappearance while flying over the South Pacific remains one of our greatest mysteries.
Amelia Earhart
The young narrator describes how she and her family each contribute to a handsome kite which they then enjoy flying. Signature illustrations show traditional Chinese kite designs combined with an author’s note about kite history. The result is the celebration of an ebullient family tradition that readers may want to take up themselves!
Kite Flying
Cat the Cat asks Bee the Bee and other flying animals if they can fly then cheers them on as they do what comes naturally. When Rhino the Rhino goes up in a plane, all of the playground friends join him! Strong, simple forms enhance the deadpan humor in this new and series about the endlessly friendly feline.
See also: Cat the Cat, Who Is That? (opens in a new window)
Let’s Say Hi to Friends Who Fly!
The true story of one of only two Chinese-American women to fly for the U.S. Air Force during World War II, is told as though by Maggie Gee herself. Her dream of flying became reality because of a dream and determination. An author’s note provides a short glimpse into where and what the actual Maggie Gee does today as well as period photographs.
Sky High: The True Story of Maggie Gee
Aldrin relates how he, the second man to walk on the Moon, became interested in aeronautics and flying. The result is a fascinating look at his personal history as well as the history of flight accompanied by precise but equally engaging illustrations.
Reaching for the Moon
She was the first woman to gain a pilot’s license and to cross the English Channel in an airplane alone. The life and accomplishments that this remarkable woman achieved in her short career are energetically conveyed in a readable, informative text and lively images.
The Daring Miss Quimby
Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin takes the reader on a journey through centuries of air and space aviation, from Isaac Newton to exploring Mars to futuristic space tours. Fascinating details and a timeline are embedded throughout.
Look to the Stars
Though nearly wordless, the expressive black and white illustrations effectively convey Owly’s broad range of changing emotions: loneliness, trepidation, fear, joy, and more. In this volume, Owly learns to fly while another forest animal learns to trust — both with the help of Owly’s buddy, Worm.
Owly: Flying Lessons
From very easy to more challenging, paper airplane folding is a craft that soars! Clear instructions along with crisp photographs make these airplanes sure-fire hits to fold, fly, and decorate.
The Klutz Book of Paper Airplanes
A young African American boy tells the story of his great-great-uncle, who realized his dream of flying by becoming a Tuskegee Airman during World War II. Richly hued paintings evoke the period, and spare language allows the story to speak for itself.
Wind Flyers
The rollicking adventures of Polo, a bright and resourceful pup, are told through lively, detailed pictures that warrant multiple examinations. Quick–paced and engaging, Polo brings all the right supplies for exploring the wider world by boat, plane and spaceship!
The Adventures of Polo
Rhyming text and illustrations with bright color and bold form depict a child’s play with toy trucks, cars, and other things that move. Lines on the road are created by pencils, overpasses by books, and a teddy bear is seen in a traffic circle. The book shows the child’s appealing, imaginary world, all within his control.
Red Light, Green Light
3…2…1…lift off! Take a journey into space exploration. With fun facts like what astronauts eat and how they sleep, kids will learn about today’s space adventures and how people from all over the world work to continue space exploration.