Alis the Aviator, written by Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail and illustrated by Kalpna Patel. Tundra, Penguin Random House. 2019. $21.99 ages 6 and up

"G is for Goose,
a swanky flying boat.

H is for hot air balloon,
up above it floats.

I is for Islander,
a well-known island hopper.

J is for Jet Ranger,
a useful type of chopper."

"The Alis in this book was inspired by a real pilot: Dr. Alis Kennedy. Alis has spent her life helping people and animals, going on adventures and pushing the limits."

Related to Louis Riel and a member of the RCAF for a short time, Alis flew planes without her pilot's license. That military experience led her to get her own private and commercial pilot's training and license. She is believed to be the first indigenous woman to do so. Her tireless work has earned her many awards:

"... but the one that means the most to her is the eagle feather.
The eagle feather is a symbol of strength, courage, wisdom,
honesty, power and freedom; an eagle feather acknowledges
a person's hard work and achievements. It is one of the highest
honors that can be awarded to indigenous people."

We learn this in the back matter for this book that includes Alis in archival photos, a note about her many accomplishments, an annotated list and thumbnail photo of each of the planes making up the alphabetical list.

The poetic text of the book itself allows readers to see the many types of planes that fly our skies. It is quite the journey for those interested in all things aviation. Each piece of aircraft is designed using cut paper collage, shown clearly on ever-changing and appropriate backgrounds.  The details in each of the bright spreads will encourage questions and conversation concerning the history depicted here. Alis is our guide throughout, and we are witness to her many different adventures. 

Both entertaining and inspiring, it is a book that we will be welcomed by everyone interested in flying machines.                                                                     

A Computer Called Katherine, written by Suzanne Slade and illustrated by Veronica Miller Jamison. Little Brown and Company, Hachette. 2019. $24.99 ages 8 and up

"She asked questions. Lots of questions! What were her calculations used for? Why were they important? How did her answers help design airplanes and flights? The men engineers noticed the woman who asked intelligent questions and how quickly she solved difficult math problems."

Because of her outstanding ability in solving those problems Katherine was asked to join the space team whose mission was to get America's first astronaut into space. She felt she had been waiting for a long time to do such important work. Of course she agreed to join the team.

She was, however, not invited to be present at group meetings. How could that be? Katherine knew it was not right. Since there was no law preventing it, Katherine made an appearance at the next meeting. There, she asked the questions she needed to be answered. She then used their answers to compute a path for the rocket. A launch was planned. Success with the first launch lead to her being a part of the plan for John Glenn's Earth orbit. He would not leave until Katherine had approved the calculations.

What about the moon? Could a team travel around the moon?

"The rumbling rocket slowly rose
about the ground,
above the smoke,
above the clouds,
and then disappeared into ink-black space."

Numbers intrigued Katherine from early on. Always curious, always keen to learn, and an extremely gifted student, she did what many others had not done before her. That gift for learning and applying what she was learning carved a space for her in American history. She was no longer one of the 'hidden figures.'

Veronica Miller Jamison's use of mixed media brings Katherine's story to life for a young audience. The historical context in the illustrations helps readers understand some of the barriers faced in Katherine's quest to find a place for herself in what had been a working world for men, many of them white. Changing perspectives and mathematical imagery are sure to capture attention and bring focus to her remarkable life.

The Explorer, by Katherine Rundell. Simon & Schuster Books for Children, 2017. $21.95 ages 8 and up

"What was the expedition looking for?" asked Fred. "Various things. Some of the men were looking for a city, others for plants for a new medicine. I was just hungry to see the world. We were naïve, and clumsy. Two men died. But I loved it." The explorer began sketching a map in the dust. "You come this way - around the edge of the rapids by Dead Man's Point, and north. Water leaping up into your face ... "

The two books I have chosen to tell you about today were both published last year. I am sorry it has taken me an age to post them for you. You will soon understand why I chose to post the two together. It's a wonderful way to share this incredible story with your kids and your students.

First up is this wondrous tale of a plane crash, and the four children who survive it. Mostly unhurt, and with little knowledge of how to withstand the rigors of their environment, they carry on, overcoming their fears and working together to deal with their needs. It is a story of courage and adventure that you will not soon forget.

Fred, Con, Lila and Max have different reasons for being aboard the plane as it comes to its fateful end in the Amazon jungle. They discover a map, only by chance. Using it to help them find their way back to civilization is fraught with the many dangers inherent in a jungle landscape. It is not only the animals that threaten them; they also face hunger, thirst and the ever-changing weather.

The map leads them to a hidden city ... one that holds many secrets and is inhabited by a strange man who just might be a famous explorer who disappeared years ago.  He will not reveal his identity, and he will not travel with them. Using each of their unique interests, they continue moving toward a happier ending than the one they fear. The four show courage in the midst of danger, and leave readers astonished by their will to survive. Fast-paced, thrilling and memorable, it will garner many fans for this brilliant writer.

Katherine Rundell totally immerses her readers in the Amazon environment, a place she has visited.
Here's why she wrote her story:

https://youtu.be/sPcgeyWTviU

Somewhere Else, by Gus Gordon. Roaring Brook Press, Macmillan. Raincoast, 2017. $24.99 ages 4 and up

"This apple strudel makes
me think of Paris at night,
dear boy.
Come see it with me, George.
It's truly extraordinaire!"

"So sorry, Walter," said
George. "I'd love to come but
I've got a mountain of ironing
to do."

It's a known fact that most birds find somewhere else to be with the approach of winter. They want to be where the sun shines and keeps them warm. Gus Gordon suggests that some birds take the bus and some seek advice from an avian travel agency to ensure they end up in the perfect place.

George Laurent is not like those birds. He has no need to leave his home. He never goes anywhere, and for good reason:

"I like it here better than anywhere somewhere
else," he told himself. Besides, there was always   
something nice baking in the oven."

George loves to bake and his friends love to eat his baking. They also want him to do some travelling with them. He refuses all invitations. Winter makes its appearance and finds George alone. Well, not quite. There is Pascal Lombard, a burly bear who wishes he could be somewhere warm and wonders why George isn't; after all, he can fly!

George shares all that keeps him busy. Pascal has a rebuttal for every excuse. By the end of their conversation, George is ready to share his secret, and his fear. Pascal, it turns out, is adept at problem solving. Or not! Though they are both dismayed by their lack of success, they settle in to spend the day together. Reading provides a perfect aha! moment.

The ending is as perfect as the beginning and the middle! The artwork created using 'watercolor, pencil, crayon, and lots of beautiful paper (old and new) is cause for pause as you read. The collages feature maps, vintage photos, newspaper ads, fabric, constantly changing perspective and patterns. The journey through the book, from valise and suitcase filled endpapers front to back, is first-rate. The scenes are filled with detail that constantly attract attention and the backgrounds are inspiring.

Lively characters, noteworthy art, an invitation to venture beyond the familiar, and a love for the comfort of home make this a book I will happily read repeatedly.

And a tribute to Life of Pi on the back cover! Superb!
                                                                   

The Darkest Dark, written by Chris Hadfield and Kate Fillion. Illustrated by The Fan Brothers. Tundra, 2016. $22.99 ages 4 and up

"And Chris tried,
he really did, but
his room was dark.
Very, very dark.
The kind of dark
that attracts the worst
sort of aliens.
But his parents
meant it.
Chris. Was. Going. To.
Sleep. In. His. Own. Bed."

We know him as commander of the International Space Station, a Canadian astronaut admired by many for his outstanding work while he was working and since his retirement. He was the first Canadian to walk in space, a place that epitomizes our perception of 'dark'. What can be darker than outer space?

To think that fear of the dark held him in its grip as a child is almost impossible to fathom. All he ever wanted to be was an astronaut. His days were spent imagining what life in space would be like, acting out his imagined dreams, and never sleeping comfortably ... astronauts, he reasoned, were always busy and had no time for sleep. In fact, the dark caused him great concern until the night his father voiced an ultimatum.

Their neighbors were the only ones who had a television set on the island. The next day was the scheduled moon landing - July 20, 1969. Watching the astronauts he emulated, and their incredible feat was a defining moment for the young boy. He noticed something about their surroundings:

"Outer space was the darkest dark ever."

It changes the way the young Chris faces his fears ... and helps him learn that "The dark is for dreams - and morning is for making them come true."

The Fan Brothers create realistic artwork, rendered in graphite and digitally colored. I especially liked the image of Walter Cronkite as he broadcast news of the landing. It looks just as I remember it those many years ago. Then, the shadows are filled with the small alien creatures Chris feared as a child. They are everywhere, but they are only a tiny bit spooky. You will need to look closely to see them all.

Backmatter offers information about Mr. Hadfield's life, and also includes personal photos and a message from the astronaut himself.  If you know a child afraid of the dark, or with a dream, this might be just the book to share.

The Airport Book, written and illustrated by Lisa Brown. Roaring Brook Press, Macmillan. Raincoast, 2016. $20.50 ages 3 and up

"Inside the airport you
stand in lines.
You stand in lines to
get your ticket.
You stand in lines to
check your bags.
There are lines for the
restroom.
There are lines to go
through security.

I wish that every family standing in a security line at any airport in the world had read this book before leaving, or had it to read while waiting. It is a wonder, and such an accurate, informative portrayal of almost any airport you have ever visited.

In second-person voice, Lisa Brown describes the airport experience for many, even though she focuses our attention on one family. It begins with their trip from home to the airport in a taxi; they are then offloaded at the curb, and make their way to their first line. If you can manage to follow this one family through their travel experience, from start to finish, I will be astounded! There are so many things to distract you ... and they provide such entertainment.

EVERY double-page spread is replete with information about airports, about travel, about other people and families who are sharing similar experiences. There are so many stories to follow and I found it impossible to do all at once. My advice, after spending a good deal of time with this exceptional book, is to focus on one story at a time. That way, you are unlikely to miss the dry humor, the angst, the fun and the everyday experiences of those who choose to travel by plane. Be sure that you don't miss the endpapers; they tell their own part of the story. You are destined to read it again, and then again!

Ms. Brown's realistic ink and watercolor artwork places the reader in the midst of the family's trip and all that it entails. If you have ever travelled with your family, you will recognize yourselves in its pages. If not, you need to have this book to revisit every aspect of your trip when you arrive at your final destination, or once you are back home again.

I love the many brilliant details, the plotting and the clear and valuable information shared. It is destined for my 'keeper' shelf; of that, there is no doubt!
                                                                             

The Pilot and the Little Prince: The Life of Anttoine De Saint-Exupery, written and illustrated by Peter Sis. Farrar Straus Giroux, Raincoast. 2014. $21.99 ages 8 and up

"Antoine could only think of flying, but his family hoped he would finish his studies and do something less dangerous. When he was called to military duty, he asked for aviation and was assigned to the ground crew. In time, he learned to fly. Two years after his service, Antoine heard about an airline that was starting to deliver mail..."

Peter Sis writes and illustrates brilliantly detailed stories for children, young and old. Previously he has written biographies of Christopher Columbus, Charles Darwin and Galileo Galilei. As he did in those books, here he brings the life of Antoine de Saint-Exupery to our attention. He complements his storytelling with numerous wonderful timelines and charts to further help his readers understand the writer-pilot's life.

He was born almost at the same time as airplanes themselves. Longing to fly, he built his own plane. It didn't fly! Undeterred, he spent his spare time with pilots at the flying field. He convinced one to take him for a ride, and that was it! Later, military duty led to work with the ground crew, and finally success in the air himself. Working with an airline that delivered mail lead to a new reality. He was assigned to take charge of an airfield on his own:

"Antoine rescued stranded flyers. He negotiated with hostile nomads who had shot down planes and held pilots for ransom. He made peace with others, who called him the Captain of the Birds. His life in the desert inspired him to write."

He kept flying and writing, returned to France and married. Always seeking adventure, Antoine had close calls, none quite so dangerous as his war pilot duties during World War II. His disdain for Germany's control over his beloved France led to his move to New York, where The Little Prince was published. Missing France, he returned to active duty in North Africa in hopes of flying back to France. It was not to be...

In a book about adventure and creativity, Peter Sis impresses with the unbelievable detail that is his signature work. It takes time and keen observation to appreciate all that he includes in this story about following your own path to happiness, and success in life. He challenges our eyes and our brain to take in all that he has included in this newest book. It's a perfect read for older children and teens, and for their parents and teachers.

                                                                          

Daredevil: The Daring Life of Betty Skelton, by Meghan McCarthy. A Paula Wiseman Book, Simon & Schuster. 2013. $19.99 ages 6 and up

"As Betty grew bigger,
so did her dreams.
When most kids turn
sixteen, they get a license
to drive a car.
Betty got one to fly a
plane!
She even made the
newspaper."

Who was Betty Skelton? I did not know. Once again, that is what I find so compelling about the spate of exceptional biography being written (and published) for young readers today.

Now, I know another hero. Born in 1926 with a compelling 'need for speed', Betty Skelton was consumed by flight. When she did her solo flight on her 16th birthday, she had already spent four years in the cockpit of an airplane. She hadn't told anyone for fear she would be in big trouble (and her father, too).

Despite her success and desire, she could not apply for a commercial pilot's license. She was a woman, and women could not fly commercially at that time. The navy was not an option; so, Betty became a stunt pilot:

"She soon became famous for the inverted ribbon cut. Betty would swoop toward the ground while upside down and cut a ribbon with her propeller. Amazing!"

When flying lost its appeal in the early 1950s, it didn't take long for Betty to find another passion...race car driving! She faced much danger and many obstacles. With records being broken in the sky and at the racetrack, Betty turned to the water...becoming the first female boat jumper. Was there anything left to try?

You might be surprised at the answer if, like me, you don't know Betty's story.

Engaging and filled with personal quotes that make it feel very personal, readers are sure to be inspired by Betty's personality and tenacity. She is an inspiration to all who follow in her footsteps.
Through the engaging text and acrylic cartoon-like artwork, you will come to know a woman of admirable character. Add to that the fun facts, Betty quotes, a time line and a list of books for further reference, and you have a book that will please and perhaps even astonish its readers.