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Whether you have a hard-core aviation fanatic like me or one who occasionally gazes in awe at the sky when a jet zooms by, planes make the wheels (or should I say propellers?) turn in little minds and challenge them to think critically. Stories about Amelia Earhart or the Tuskegee Airmen inspire kids to question preconceived limitations and dream big for themselves. More technical stories can ignite a sense of creativity and wonderment over the experience of building a plane or flight in general.
We’ve put together a list for you of our favorite books about planes, flight, and aviation. So fly on by your local library or take a pass through a local bookstore and check them out.
Airplane Books for Children
My Friend Rabbit
My Friend Rabbit is a great book for little ones, and it’s not specifically about airplanes but more about friendship. Mouse lets his best friend, Rabbit, play with his brand-new airplane, and trouble isn’t far behind.
Through beautiful illustrations and storytelling, Angela Johnson celebrates the history and heroics of the largely unrecognized Tuskegee Airmen, heroic African-American pilots during WWII.
I have two boys (and a husband) that love all things that go. Paul Collicut’s books are beautifully illustrated with minimal text to show off all the different types of air transportation there are. These books are also a great way to teach opposites.
Steve Light is a favorite author in our house. We had Planes Go pre-ordered, and we were not disappointed when it was finally released. Although it is a simple board book, kids of all ages will enjoy the illustrations, unique format, and the author’s challenge to verbalize the sounds of different aircraft types.
Barton’s board books are perfect first looks at different types of transportation for little hands. Simple bright pictures and text are perfect for toddlers and have enough story/information to keep preschoolers entertained.
Although this story isn’t about airplanes specifically, it celebrates individualism, perseverance, and tenacity in her quest to build a flying contraption to fulfill her Aunt Rosie’s dream to fly.
I am Amelia Earhart 
This book will inspire kids to dream big, be an individual, and that EVERYONE has the potential to do great things. This picture book follows Amelia from childhood through her aviation career and flight across the Atlantic Ocean.
Airplanes: Soaring! Diving! Turning!
Airplanes soar off the pages in this introduction to flying machines. The descriptive, rhyming text is succinct, straightforward, and instructive. Across the pages, airplanes of different sizes, with various engines and other purposes, glide, turn, dive, and race within the artwork.
Amelia and Eleanor is an excellent book for older kids that need more to their stories but still want big pictures. My seven-year-old loved it, and I loved the weaving of history.
From Amazon: This book is the true tale of Amelia Earheart and Eleanor Roosevelt — and a thrilling night when they made history together! On a brisk and cloudless evening in April 1933, Amelia Earheart and Eleanor Roosevelt did the unprecedented: They stole away from a White House dinner, commandeered an Eastern Air Transport plane, and took off on a glorious adventure — while still dressed in their glamorous evening gowns!.
Does your family have a favorite book about planes or aviation? Please share with us.
Find more book suggestions on our Bookshelf!
By: Holly G.
Antioch
Holly keeps busy with freelance writing, as well as many volunteer ventures including PTO, dog rescue, and Lakes Region Historical Society. She is quick to pitch in for a good cause. She is an aspiring vegan, Jazzercise addict, runner, coffee junkie, and enjoys cooking.
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