Up, Up, and Away

Explore the fascinating history of aviation in this fully illustrated STEM book for young kids that celebrates famous aviators, incredible aircraft, and the amazing events that transformed flight.

Join Grandpa Edward and his grandchildren, Molly and Simon, on a thrilling journey through the sky as they explore the rich history of aviation. From the invention of the first flying machines to modern marvels like rescue helicopters and hot-air balloons, this engaging narrative takes readers through significant milestones in aviation history. With lively illustrations and captivating stories, young explorers will learn about legendary aviators and pivotal events that have shaped the way we fly and travel today.

Designed for inquisitive minds, this STEM book not only entertains but also educates, making complex concepts accessible and fun. It encourages curiosity about flight and the science behind aviation while nurturing a love for learning. Perfect for young readers eager to take to the skies, this book offers a captivating blend of storytelling and factual information, making it a great addition to classrooms and school libraries.

"Fleets of sharply depicted early, modern, and theoretical gliders, balloons, jets, and other aircraft send this overview speeding down the runway.“It started with Icarus.” Beginning with this mythical flight—and crash—a grizzled grandpa squires two grandchildren through a chronicle of airborne ups and downs, from ancient Chinese military kites and later European hot air balloons, past the Wright brothers and other early aviators successful and otherwise, to galleries of 20th-century war planes, modern passenger jets, and helicopters of diverse design. Pausing along the way for close-up examinations of the anatomy and aerodynamics of bird wings, how engines work, and other fundamentals, the tour concludes with an infographic timeline that, though it ends in 2007, memorably recaps most of the preceding content in one sweeping visual. Aside from briefly touting dirigibles as eco-friendly alternatives, the author glides silently past the environmental costs of conventional aircraft. Still, his gallery of notable figures does include ninth-century experimenter Abbas ibn Firnas (“Although he broke a few bones, he’s credited with making one of the first parachute jumps”) and other undersung innovators worldwide; for truly insatiable fans of flight, he recommends several more comprehensive histories. Human figures in the illustrations are predominantly male but racially diverse. The grandfather is tan-skinned; one grandchild is brown-skinned, while the other is pale-skinned. Amiable glimpses of flights across the friendly, and not so friendly, skies." —Kirkus Reviews

"This book will be a great addition to my middle school library collection, especially for my students that love aviation. The illustrations are beautiful, which is a positive, with how much my students love borrowing graphic novels. I foresee this title staying checked out for most of the school year!" —Litchfield Middle School, Librarian

"This was a beautifully illustrated overview of the history of aviation, shorter than Grove's
Milestones of flight : from hot-air balloons to SpaceShipOne, but also more culturally inclusive. I was impressed with the range of topics that were included; Akron's Goodyear blimp was even included. Younger readers will be drawn in by the grandfather ostensibly telling the story. This would be a great book for grandparents to give as a gift to grandchildren. It has that sort of heirloom quality to it." —Blendon Middle School, Librarian

Tomas SMOT Svoboda is a self-taught illustrator from Brno, Czech Republic. Although his main professional interest is in graphic design, in the past two years he has branched out and focused more on drawing.

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