Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Flight: A Pop-Up Book of Aircraft
Non fiction Novelty Book
For ages 6 to 8
Candlewick, 2007 ISBN: 978-0763634599
Humans have always dreamed of being able to fly, but it took us many centuries before we knew enough about the physics of flight to be able to create a proper flying machine. Before Orville and Wilbur Wright made their famous flight in 1903, humans used balloons and gliders to get off the ground. For a time the Zepplin, a "rigid airship" was all the rage. However, after the Wrights showed the world that powered flight was possible, and after the Hindenburg tragedy, airplanes became dominant.
It was not long before people were making record breaking trips. Louis Bleriot crossed the English Channel in 1909, and in 1927 and 1932 respectively Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart flew solo across the Atlantic.
When wore broke out in 1914 several kinds of new aircraft were developed for bombing and for fighting in the air. It was clear that aircraft were not a fad, as some people insisted. They were here to stay.
In this cleverly presented pop-up book children will be able to follow the history of flight and airplanes. There are tabs to pull, little books to open, flaps to lift, and several wonderful pop-ups to look at. Using lots of annotated collage illustrations and the various paper creations, the author tells the story in a very accessible and interesting way, and young airplane buffs will learn a great deal.
