Wild About Flying!: The Dreamers, Doers and Dare-Devils Book

The story of flight as told through 54 biographies of famous, notorious and less known aviation characters and illustrated with 200 color paintings, 70 portraits and 54 archival photographs.

Rollie Welch - VOYA

The centennial anniversary of successful powered flight, a nationwide celebration in 2003 of the Wright Brothers' first flight, generated renewed interest in aviation. In this title that is suitable for school reports, Harris concentrates on the significant—and sometimes forgotten—figures of aerial history. These historical personalities, dating back to before the Wright Brothers' triumph, are grouped into three sections: Dreamers, Doers, and Daredevils. This arrangement prevents a cover-to-cover time line, making the index indispensable. For example, an article about the developers of the Concorde supersonic jet precedes information about Glenn Curtiss, a contemporary of the Wrights. Descriptions of risks taken by early aviation pioneers, essentially climbing aboard and launching rickety, motorized kites, will amaze teens. The text is enhanced by photographs and Marshall's oil paintings. The paintings are of high quality but fail to "sell" the book. Photos feature stills of inventors and pilots with few shots of the planes, an aspect that will disappoint teens. The limited number of photographs of aircraft in-flight, especially post-World War II aircraft and today's dynamic combat aircraft, will also steer away casual browsers. Biographical sketches include both foreign and pioneering female pilots, but noticeably absent is information about Chuck Yeager, possibly the one pilot today's teens can most readily identify. School libraries might consider this book for purchase, but prolific author Walter J. Boyne's many histories of aircraft, priced comparably, do a better job of attracting teenage aviation buffs. VOYA Codes 3Q 3P J S (Readable without serious defects; Will appealwith pushing; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2003, Firefly, 232p.; Index. Illus. Photos. Charts. Chronology. Appendix. Ages 12 to 18.