Planes Fly!

Beautifully composed drawings thrill, as biplanes, jet planes, prop planes and seaplanes take to the skies. Wiggins applies an old travel poster aesthetic to his digital illustrations--and delivers on their promise of adventure, enticing readers into the world of air travel. Soaring into a vast blue sky, he captures the feeling of unlimited space, the freedom of flying. When they are on the ground, his planes are epic, mammoth machines. Even in a storm--with the light bouncing through clouds, illuminating the plane from underneath--the effect is idyllic. His choices, from a warm palette, excellent use of pattern and a texture that alludes to the use of linen paper, make everything about this journey feel special. Lyon's informative, rhyming text touches on the mechanical (from plane parts and types) as well as the emotional (the experiences of both pilot and passenger). Her verse goes beyond enumerating a plane's basic purposes to affirming the spirit of flight and exploration: Climb through clouds / heading for blue-- / just like a bird. / Air holds you.

This exciting invitation to take to the air is one energetic and entertaining journey for adventurers and aviation lovers alike.
--Kirkus Reviews, July 15, 2013, *STARRED REVIEW