Book Description

Just in time for back-to-school book bags, here is a collection of limericks about a very unusual school. From the superjock who is so shy he can barely say hello to the weird teacher whose students are mysteriously turning into statues, readers will laugh themselves silly at all the fun that makes up one very odd school year. ... Read more

Book Description

Discover the event that brings together the world's finest athletes in a spirit of peace and internationalism.

Here is an original and exciting new guide to the heroic world of the Olympic games -- from its ancient beginnings to the Sydney Games in 2000. Stunning full-color photographs of famous athletes, gold medals, colorful mascots and flaming torches provide a unique look at the greatest sports festival in the world. See: the ancient Greek site of Olympia, what an athlete wore in 1896, how a sports shoe is made, and the first Fosbuty flop. Learn: what an athlete in training needs to eat, what the Olympic symbol represents, how Smoky became the 1932 Olympic mascot, and what sports make up a modern pentathlon. Discover: how athlete are timed within fractions of a second, what special materials are used to make a modern swimsuit, what sports were included in the ancient Olympic Games, who has won the most Olympic medals, and much, much more! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Believe it or not, the first known pop-up element in a book appeared in an astrological manuscript in 1306. During the ensuing centuries, movable mechanics were used in more and more books--but only for adults. In the 1700s a British bookseller came up with the idea of illustrating well-known children's stories with movable flaps of paper. The rest, as they say, is history. Now aspiring paper mechanics (creative engineer-artists who create dimensional and movable books, otherwise known as pop-ups) can learn the how-tos and wherefores of this marvelous craft. From tip-ons to dummies to glue knock-outs, all the intricacies of pop-up production are outlined and explained.

Readers are invited to take apart the sample pop-ups (as long as they promise to put them back together!) to determine exactly how each score folds and where each glue point is. Instructions are somewhat advanced, but the dimensional samples and the step-by-step photographic essay on how a pop-up is made will ease the journey. David Carter and James Diaz have each created many, many pop-up books, and are passionate about their trade. So blow the cobwebs out of the geometry corner of your brain, and get to work! (Ages 9 and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (11)

The strength of this book lies in its website
Elements of Pop Up is one of the few How To Make Pop-Ups books that features patterns for moving parts like wheel/tab mechanisms, which is why I purchased it. However, don't expect to be able to create anything extrememly fancy with this one. The examples are made of simple shapes that expect the user to expand upon them as necessary--this can be a detriment when you're trying to figure out how to alter the pattern to make something more complicated. The most useful part of the book, ironically, isn't even in the book: it's online at www.popupbooks.com, Carter's website. In the Surprise section, one can download all the patterns for making every example shown. Don't pass up buying the book, though. You'll most likely need Elements of Pop Up at your side to figure out how to assemble all your cut out pieces correctly. If you'd rather follow instructions and complete specific projects, I'd recommend Carter/Diaz's other book, Let's Make It Pop-Up! (ISBN 0-689-86508-2), which has pre-printed pictures and contains projects like Blooming Flower and Huggy Bear.

The Elements of Pop-Up
Finally: A how-to book on pop-up engineering with REAL pop-ups for examples! Not only is this a how-to book for budding paper engineers, it is a pop-up collectible in itself. Authored and designed by two of today's outstanding engineers, it demonstrates with clear instructions and graphic examples (which dramatically rise from the page) the various means by which the magicians of pop-up technology achieve their almost-magical effects. This is a book for all ages, to learn from but also simply to enjoy.

Very Well Done
I found this book in the special archives section at my university, and was very impressed. This book is clear, well thought out, and beautifully presented. If you are at all interested in this medium, buy this book.

A great book for students.
I have been teaching pop-up book design in my college 3-D Design class for about 6 years. My students have created many wonderful and beautiful projects. They not only create the mechanisms, but also fine artwork to match them. One of the most time-consuming aspects of the project is learning the specifics of mechanical design, This book illustrates in three dimensions the underlying concepts. It is very easy for a novice to gain an understanding of simple mechanics, proportions, and gluing methods.

Elements of Pop-Up is a simple book. It alone is not enough to teach high quality design. Well-done artful books are a must. There are many excellent examples such as A POP-UP BOOK of PHOBIAS, FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT IN POP-UP, A VICTORIAN FARMHOUSE, THE 12 DAYS of CHRISTMAS: A POP-UP CELEBRATION (by Robert Sabuda), any of the National Geographic pop-up book collection, and those by Chuck Murphy.

great, but elementary
i liked the whoile lay-out of the book...very simple, very low-key.
i would have liked to see more examples of how pop-up have been or could be used. ... Read more

Book Description

For readers of all ages, a peerless guide to the magic of Narnia that will provide endless hours of fascinating exploration.

Companion to Narnia is an adventurer's passport to the enchanting world of C. S. Lewis's beloved classic series The Chronicles of Narnia. From Asia, the Great Lion of Narnia, to Zardeenah, the mysterious Lady of the Night, this comprehensive work contains hundreds of alphabetically arranged and indexed entries covering all the characters, events, places, and themes that Lewis magically wove into his fictional world. Bringing the reader a deeper appreciation and understanding of the Chronicles, Ford illuminates the philosophical, spiritual, and psychological significance behind each story, while explaining the symbolic and thematic threads that unify the series. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

More than just Cliff Notes
If you think that the Chronicles of Narnia ought to be required reading for children, then the Companion to Narnia ought to be required reading for us adults that fell in love with Narnia as children. Yes, I'm sure that if you had to write a paper or do a report on any of the Chronicles for school, this book would be invaluable. But the fact is, it goes far beyond that to a much broader audience...

C.S. Lewis's Chronicles represent some of the finest high-Fantasy novels ever written, period. But for most of us, at least at the first reading, this is all they were. As we grow older, and read the Chronicles again and again, we begin to discover more of the meaning behind the writing; this book guides you further along that path of discovery. It is well-organized and very thorough; I have had little difficulty finding any of the references I wanted to explore.

If you want a person to love the Chronicles, buy the series for them when they are a child. If you want them to appreciate it the way you do, buy them the Companion when they grow a bit older...

An Excellent Traveling Companion
I first entered Narnia as a child, simply pushing the fur coats aside and stepping through the wardrobe into the snowy world near the lamp post. I didn't need a guide book. Things just unfolded and I went with the flow of wonders. I came back for an extended visit when I was expecting my first child. There were concepts there that I had not noticed before as "concepts". I felt inspired and doubly moved by its beauty. Now, I'm at the "grandma" age if not yet in that reality. I've popped back in to visit old friends and this guide book is truly a "companion." I realize that the word "companion" in the title refers to the fact that this volume is a companion to the Narnia books, but for me the title has a double meaning, in that it is also my companion on the journey to Narnia, my tour guide, so to speak.
This book takes you by the hand and encourages you to look closer, gently pointing out the secrets of the locale that only the natives might know. It gives insights and provokes thought and dialogue. It is a neat holistic view that encourages an appreciation for the big picture by illuminating the subtle details. It is also the kind of tribute to the minute of one's heroes that all "fans" love to pour over. If you are a young person just let Lucy help you find your way into Narnia and I assure you that you will have a splendid time, but if you are a bit older I recommend this travelog and the company of this wonderfully helpful and insightful book.
This book also contains an insightful foreward by Madeleine L'Engle, author of "A Wrinkle in Time".

A mess of information.
I resold this book immediately, without even browsing all the way through it! The way it was typeset and laid out was awful - one section ran on forever. I thought it would be a cute, fun book to help me re-enter the Chronicles of Narnia world, but the book takes itself much too seriously. It offered no quick-n-easy summaries, rather long references to obscure characters. Very bad.

The Narnia Book's Page Numbers ...
corpus-callosum's [Amazon.com] review mentions "At the end of the articles, Ford has placed in parentheses an abbreviated reference to the specific book and page number that coincides with the topic being discussed. "

There are two numbers separated by a comma- the first is the tradepaperback/hardback HaperCollins or Harper Trophy page number, the second (after the comma) is for the Harper Trophy rack sized (mass market) paperback editions.

Examples from the Companion book listings to check pagination of the Narnia editions you have to see if they match up on the correct page:

Lion Witch Wardrobe: Hosea 11:10 "at the sound of his roar" 79,85
Prince Caspian:Isaiah 9:1"the people that lived in hiding" 72,75
Dawn Treader: Isaiah 6:6 "a little live coal" 207,224
Silver Chair: Psalms103:9 "I will not always be scolding" 236,250
Horse & His Boy: Daniel 4:24 "not a donkey!" 219,235
Magician's Nephew: Job 38:7 "stars themselves singing" 107,117
Last Battle: Deut.33:27 "between the paws of the true Aslan" 121, 134

I have the trade paperback Harper Trophy "full-color collector's edition of Narnia, boxed set ISBN: 0064409392 and the first number of the two (the one before the comma) matches perfectly in all the Narnia books.

Not Kid-Friendly
Although the description said for readers ages 4 - 8, there is no way this book is readable to any but the brightest 8 year olds. The book is probably great, but I was mislead by the description. (The rating of "1 star" was for these young readers, not for older kids or adults.) ... Read more

Book Description

Its misleading to think of writers as special creatures, word sorcerers who possess some sort of magic knowledge hidden from everyone else. Writers are ordinary people who like to write. They feel the urge to write, and scratch that itch every chance they have. Writers get their ideas down on paper using particular strategies that seem to work for them. These strategies are available to anyone who wants to be a writer

There is no secret. But there is a process. If you like to write, there are definite steps you can take to help you reach your goals. Good writing isn't forged by magic or hatched out of thin air. Good writing happens when human beings follow particular steps to take control o their sentences-to make their words do what they want them to do.

This book will show you how writers work, how you can become a writer, and how you can find a process that works for you

Reviews (2)

Another Indispensable Book for Kid Writers by Ralph Fletcher
This book is unique in that it talks directly to kids about writing, in a personal rather than a "textbook" manner. I can't think of any other books for kids that do this (other than the others by Fletcher listed at the end), and it is so valuable! The book is also simply very interesting and well-written.

This book is not about the craft and mechanics of writing, but about how to establish that all-important *habit* of writing. It's about all the elements that enable and support a person to actually write. I don't know whether this book or "A Writer's Notebook" by Ralph Fletcher should be read first; they are both so important. I'm thinking of having my students read them concurrently.

I love the fact that Fletcher does not teach "the process," but rather encourages kids to find their own process. He cautions students not to "prewrite the life out of their topic" through excessive prewriting. It is also made clear, through the book's inspiring interviews with children's writers, that the processes that these successful writers use differ greatly from each other. One of the authors says she would never talk about her topic before writing about it, because "ideas bring with them an energy to write them. If I talk about them instead, I lose that initial energy that's crucial." I am a prolific writer, have almost never written an outline (before writing) in my life, and have always disagreed with requiring kids to do so (see Peter Elbow books for more on the process I use - freewriting).

Some of the topics this book goes into are where to write, finding an idea, brainstorming, getting started, amount to write, rereading, handwriting vs. using a computer, research, rough drafting, revision, and the proper place of grammar and spelling (definitely never "disturb the flow," when you're writing well, to deal with them). In all these topics, a variety of options are given, with liberal use of quotes from both kids and adult authors.

Fletcher makes it clear that "getting an idea" and "getting started" are two distinct activities, and not necessarily related. It's common to have a great idea that you never bring to fruition, and even more common to just start writing, with no ideas initially. In fact he goes into the value of writing "just a bunch of slop," and valuing it as a form of "exercising."

His overall message is that although some people are born or inspired writers, for most people, writing is hard work. You have to live a full life to have material; be conscientious in capturing those inspired thoughts and moments in your writer's notebook; do the tough work of writing something bad as a first draft; be open to "radical surgery" type revision; reread your own work incessantly; solicit feedback; be a careful editor; and look for appropriate places to publish.

Lastly, I read this book as a mother of three and a teacher who supervises homeschooling families. Since reading this (and Fletcher's other wonderful books: "A Writer's Notebook" and "Live Writing"), I haven't been able to stop writing poetry myself (which is not something I normally do)!

An Excellent Book for Young Writers
This charming little book offers a solid, user-friendly introduction to the fundamental steps of the writing process. Fletcher uses a clear and simple prose style to lead young readers through the creative writing process, from generating an idea and writing the first draft, to rereading and revising, to proofreading, editing, and publishing. Along the way, he discusses the importance of finding a suitable place to write, strategies for brainstorming, and methods of overcoming writer's block. Also included are several author interviews to provide alternative approaches to the writing process as well as a bibliography of recommended fiction and writing-related nonfiction. Beginning writers of any age may find inspiration in the practical strategies and encouraging sentiments set forth in this simple but elegant guide. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

EDL Cor Vocabularies
This is a collection of word lists, alphabetically arranged. It's sources are the textbooks used in grades pre-primary through grade 13. The words are listed by grade level, and then combined in a cumulative list. In the cumulative list, the year in which each word was introduced is given next to the word. Also included are mathematics, science and social studies word lists for grades 1 through 6, as well as a aural comprehension list for adults with low reading skills. No thesaurus is included. This book is most valuable to anyone writing for a target audience of grade school children. It answers the question,"Can I expect a reader in this particular grade to comprehend this particular word?" ... Read more

Book Description

Learning to read is lots of fun with the help of Little Critter® and his friends! This picture dictionary featuring mercer Mayer's Little Critter® is designed especially for children ages 4 to 7. With bright, colorful illustrations, it is the perfect starting point for beginning readers. Not only were the words chosen from age-appropriate vocabulary lists, the pages were designed to make this dictionary a complete learning guide. Young children can use it to make connections between the written word and it's meaning, while older children can use it as a handy reference book.

Reviews (5)

Super
This is great book for exposing children to idioms. I first present some of the espressions to my students and have them try to explain them. Afterward, they have fun going back and finding the actual meaning. We usually do this around the time that we read Amelia Bedelia. The children illustrate an expression of their own choosing and the rest of us try to guess what the expression is. There are many extension activities to do along with this fun book. It is a great way to immerse chioldren inour language and get them excited about it. Lots of fun!

Wonderful reference book
This is a wonderful book for researching what idioms mean. It has delightful pictures and very clear explanations.
It would be very useful for children in third and fourth grade or for use with people learning English. Even though I have a master's degree and I am an avid reader, I found some idioms that I have never heard before. I am planning to give some copies to some third grade teachers that I know. Also, I bought a copy for my granddaughter.

One of the most engaging picture books received this season
There's A Frog In My Throat! is one of the most engaging picture books received this season: an illustrated survey of zany animal sayings, from lucky and odd ducks to one-liners about birds, bears, and more. Expressions are explained and the artwork is simply gorgeous in this visually packed picturebook.

A gateway to literacy through beastly fun!
In There's a Frog in My Throat, Loreen Leedy and Pat Street capture the animals that run and leap and swim and fly and crawl through our beastly English language. Loreen's sprightly illustrations and Pat's on-target choices of animal expressions and clever clustering encourage children to have fun with idioms -- a colorful leaping-off point for increased literacy.

Richard Lederer, co-author of THE BIGGEST BOOK OF ANIMAL RIDDLES

Excellent!
Interesting names and nicely categorized. Very educational, I learned a lot of things from it. Not really in a reading type form, but you read the smaller notes. It is very easy to look up things for reports. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (18)

Great autobiography
Jack "Joey Pigza" Gantos writes an autobiography centering on how he became a writer. However, this well written chronicle is not a dissertation on "How to Cook Roast Pig" writer's style. Instead this is a powerfully honest report of why Mr. Gantos chose a life of crime to escape his homeland and how he survived his twentieth year of being caught and incarcerated for smuggling drugs. This harrowing period led Mr. Gantos to concentrate on writing.

This talented author provides his audience with a triumphant biography that his myriad of fans will enjoy. Additionally, anyone who relishes a true life account filled with downfall and deliverance will enjoy Mr. Gantos' message that writing not only saved, but filled the "HOLE IN MY LIFE".

Harriet Klausner

People Can Change
This is one great book. It is about Jack Gantos and the summer of 1972, the worst year of his life. It begins with Jack leaving his family in Puerto Rico during his senior year to finish high school back in Florida. He is eventually kicked out of the place that he was staying in and lives the remainder of his senior year of high school in a motel. Soon after, he rejoins his family on the island of St. Croix, where he really gets started on drugs and makes the worst decision of his life.

He agrees to smuggle 2000 pounds of hash from St. Croix to New York City on a small yacht with two other men. Everything goes fine until they begin to sell it and they are busted. Jack is sentenced to six years in prison and he calls it the best thing that ever happened to him. While in prison, he writes his thoughts in between the spaces of a book, and realizes his need to become a writer and share his wonderful thoughts with the world. This is a gripping novel that could make anyone avoid the use or selling of drugs. It shows that anybody, no matter how bad they have become, can change, as Jack has. I recomend this book for any high school age or above reader. You need to be very mature to handle this book, as there is some graphic scenes and profane language.

People Can Change
Hole in my Life is author Jack Gantos' autoboigraphy, and is a gripping novel that i think is very excellent. Jack's family moves to Puerto Rico during his senior year of high school, but after spending some time there, he decides to return to Florida and graduate. His constant binge drinking forces the family he was staying with to kick him out, so he spends the remainder of his senior year in a hotel. He is a reaslly good writer, but never tries to write all his thoughts down. After he graduates, he decides to wait on college and chooses to join his family in st. Croix, where they were now moved to. There he makes the worst decision of his life.

He agrees to, with two other men, smuggle 2,000 pounds of hash from St. Croix to New York City in a small yacht. Everything goes fine until they are busted when they begin selling it around the city. Jack is sentenced to six years in prison. While in prison, he writes his thoughts in between the spaces of a book, and around the margins. He fully realizes his need to become a writer and shoughts his thoughts with others. Hole in my Life is an awesome book for mature readers who can handle it, because there are a few graphic secenes and a lot of profane language. I think this book would keep anybody from buying or selling drugs, and it really shows that people can change, no matter how bad they have become.

Library student opinion
In reading the accompanying reviews I noticed that dbragg from NJ had given only one star, yet had given a highly favorable review. I believe he gave the one star by accident chosing incorrectly from the drop down menu.

I dreaded this book-on-tape based on the mug shots of Jack on the cover and the fact that it was required reading in a graduate course I'm taking. Prison life is a subject I am repelled by.

I listened to this book on tape with Jack Gantos reading. I was immediately drawn in by the quality of writing, the sensitivity of the teen Jack, and by the vulnerability, aimlessness, and contradictory self-initiative Jack demonstrates in his finishing high school with no family nearby, while formulating more clearly his desire to write and go to college.

Then Jack is sidetracked, in a way that any teen can be, into casual drug use. Further trapped by financial lack on an island he can't easily leave, with the goal of college writing programs he knows he can't afford he chooses an "easy" way out.

This story is effective because we have all been teens, all been vulnerable (as Jack so endearingly writes), and most have made, or know those who have made, decisions that have had dire consequences.

What made me love this book was Jack himself. I literally had to remove the tape from the car, pop it into the cassette at home and listen to the end, I couldn't leave the story alone.

Now that I know he survived the experience and has been wildly successful with his children's books I would love to see more autobiographical works by Jack. Encore! Encore! And thank you!

Critical issues in literature
This book explores the way that Jack Gantos got into writing, and how he turned from being a criminal to being famous children's author. The book starts out with Jack in jail and him telling us he loved reading he started writing a book. Then it discovers why he was in jail because he was smuggling hash up the coast. He turns himself in, in New York after contacting a lawyer. The book tells how he turns his life around and gets another chance at life. There were three main elements that I liked about this book, first the drama was great, second Jack Gantos really describes the scenes really well, lastly he really turns himself around in the book.

The drama was great, you couldn't read a chapter with out something cool happening. I mean first chapter he is talking about why he is in jail and how he likes jail. Next is how he got into the crime business. The last chapter is about what he did after he got released from jail and how he got into writing children's books.

Jack Gantos really describes the scenes well. He uses vivid detail and he spends whole chapters just describing his yellow cell. Jack says, "the color of that yellow cell got to me. It was a bright, smiling yellow that buzzed like a summer day. There was no hiding from that color. Like me, that yellow room had its ups and downs as the day wore on."(154) He spends a lot of time sharing his experience with you. People really get a sense of where he is coming from.

In the beginning of the book, Jack Gantos is like 17 and he is in jail and he is telling why he is in jail. And then it like flash backs to how he got there. Jack had smuggled hundreds of pounds of hash up the coast. All through out the trip Jack is sort of second guessing himself. Then when he goes to prison he sort of wants to get out of prison and he comes up with this ingenious way to get out. He decides he will go to college and after he is granted parole he would run to Canada after he got accepted though he changes he decides that it is not realistic. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great Introduction
My son who usually doesn't like to sit in one place very long, actually read the book for a stretch of an hour without any dangling carrots! I strongly recommend this book for any home library.

The book is organized by subject groups, ie birds, fish, plants, worms, etc. The pages are full of clear and short descriptions(just right for elementary school children), and wonderful pictures of the animals/insects in action. I found myself reading it with equal enthusiasm. It is a great introduction to the living creatures around us.

Good intro reference book for kids.
Great information, but would like to find a good reference book like this that does not include evolution as the primary theory of why things are like they are. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Finding the right (appropriate/proper/correct) word can be so demanding(difficult/tough/hard), sometimes. But a good thesaurus can help find the wordthat expresses just what a writer or speaker wants to say, clearly and exactly.The Simon and Schuster Thesaurus for Children is an excellent(fine/admirable/great) beginning thesaurus for kids. Although not comprehensive,this handy resource includes over 800 main entries, with 5,000 synonyms--whichshould be plenty for most young writers. Children will find themselves returningto this handsome volume time after time as they build their vocabulary, avoidword repetition, improve their writing skills, and make correct word choices.Each alphabetical entry gives the part of speech, definitions, and examplesentences, and provides easy-to-use cross-references. A complete index, a listof common phrases and idioms, common grammar problems, "word banks," and otherfeatures make this up-to-date thesaurus a reliable reference tool for buddingwriters and plain old students alike.

And since no desk should be without a thesaurus or a dictionary, theMacmillan Dictionary forChildren, another Simon and Schuster reference book, makes a dandycompanion to the Thesaurus for Children. (Ages 8 to 12) --EmilieCoulter ... Read more

Book Description

Even young writers have to think about choosing the right word. This popular, easy-to-use thesaurus can help children in the middle grades make the best choice to suit their meaning and enliven their writing.
• 4,000 main entries, with more than 36,000 synonyms in all
• Hundreds of Word Group and Antonym features for extra word power ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The book's great, but kids won't use it.
3 stars is a compromise between 5 for the book, and 1 for the fact that my 9 year old has never used it. Kids will use dictionaries, but they won't use a thesaurus.

A Perfect Children's Thesaurus
The American Heritage Thesaurus is a must reference book for any home with children. Each researched word, printed in blue large bold print, is accompanied with the a description, printed in black, of the part(s) of speech the word can be used, several best choice synonyms, and a few lesser utilized synonyms. In addition, an example sentence incorporating the researched word is provided. Occassionally a list of antonyms is provided for the researched word. Researched words are easily located as a result of a large space between each word. Each two page spread usually contains one or two color photographs adding some visual appeal. In summary, this thesaurus is highly recommended and is an invaluable resource for any child of reading age.

The American Heritage Childrens Thesaurus
I baught the childrens thesaurus for my 9 year old daughter, itis used more than our other thesaurus by me and my teenagedchildren. It is very fast and easy to use. ... Read more

Book Description

When former Richmond High School basketball legend Ken Carter agrees to take over his alma mater's floundering team, he has the players sign a contract that demands good grades, perfect class attendance, and suits on game days. With Coach Carter at the helm, the Oilers' record soon stands at 12 and 0. But when the coach learns that some members of his team are cutting class and failing academically, he locks them out of the gym, incurring the wrath of the players, the school, and the community. Coach Carter's determination to adhere to his convictions puts his philosophy and his players' trust to the ultimate test.

Reviews (1)

This books "spells" success!
Another wonderful addition to the "Painless" series, this little handbook is a must-have for students, parents, and teachers who want to make spelling easier for themselves or others. Let's face it, spelling isn't exactly high-interest learning - but the "Painless" guide truly does make learning easy and nowhere near as boring as the typical spelling books we all endured in school. The examples are fresh and interesting, and the explanations are clear...and best of all, this guide really does make learning/teaching spelling a PAINLESS experience! ... Read more

Book Description

New Look! Relaunched with new jackets and 8 pages of new text!

Here is a spectacular and informative guide to the fascinating world of aircraft. Superb color photographs offer a unique "eyewitness" exploration of the historyof flight, as well as provide a close-up view of the many different kinds of aircraft in use today, from helicopters to hot-air balloons.See a Victorian steam-powered airplane, a World War I biplane, a jetliner in cross section, what the first pilots wore, how wings provide lift, and what's inside a "black box."Learn how a jet engine works, why early wings needed "doping", how to keep an airplane flying straight and level, and why modern airliners need pressurized cabins.Discover how wooden planes are constructed, what it was like to fly a biplane, how a plane lands and takes off, how a glider works, which plane could be carried on a car, how a helicopter flies, and much, much more. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Terrific pictures, concise mini history of aviation.
This book covers aviation from it's earliest beginnings. There are many books on this subject, but this one stands out.

The book is amazingly concise, and yet it covers all of the important developments in aviation. My experience as a lifelong aviation enthusiast and private pilot makes me a good judge of this material. This book is intended for kids, but it has something even and old "fly boy" like me can enjoy.

The pictures in this book are striking in detail. Along with many other fantastic pictures, this book has the finest picture of a Bleriot XI that I have ever seen. The detail is unparalleled.

This is a book intended for children, but anyone would learn a great deal from it. ... Read more