Mighty Moments From The Air

This past July 2019 was the hottest month recorded worldwide.  In the state of Alaska, the city of Anchorage recorded its hottest month ever in July 2019.  This heat, one of three ingredients necessary for wildfires, is a contributing factor in the fifty-eight wildfires burning in Alaska as of July 15 2019.  In Siberia, Russia, more than seven million acres have burned to date and the fires are still raging.  Smoke from those fires have reached North America and Canada.  The wildfires in California 2018 were the worst for that state in recorded history.

Wildfires are not new, but their devastation is increasing. In fact, those wildfires naturally started serve a purpose. To combat wildfires there are a combination of crews on land and those who work from the air.  Little Smokey (Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, August 6, 2019) written and illustrated by Robert Neubecker explores the work of those aerial fighters of wildfires, focusing on the purpose of each individual, regardless of their size.

At Nif-C (the National Interagency Fire Center), everyone has a job.

Each plane has a name, except for the newest and smallest plane.  Names are not given to the planes but earned.  Buster, a water tanker, is fast as the water is released on the fire below him.  Bruno, a water scooper, is much larger.  And Bertha, tops the previous two in size.  She is loaded with fire retardant for the enormous fires.

When the first fire of the hot summer season is sighted Buster, Bruno and Bertha fly to the rescue.  The little plane asks the tower to go, too.

"No, little plane.  You are too small."

The three planes return with tales of success.  The little plane waits and watches.

One day when perfecting her flying, she spots a fire.  She is not allowed to leave and assist with the other three planes.  At first the flames die down but gusts of wind fan them into a fury.  The little plane is told to wait by the tower.

A situation develops with the three big Bs struggling.  The little plane pleads.  Being the littlest can be an advantage.  On this day, the smallest plane at Nif-C gets her name. . . Smokey.


The selection of words and length of the sentences written by Robert Neubecker are precisely geared toward the intended audience.  For the introduction of the three larger planes, three sentences are used for each of them.  This grouping of three sentences continues until single sentences contribute to enhanced pacing and a building tension.  The number of sentences in the subsequent passages and the punctuation create a wonderful cadence for this story.  The addition of dialogue involves the reader to a greater extent.  Here is a passage.

The wind comes up.
Flash! Fire!
The fire springs back,
larger than ever.

"Tower! Tower! I can help!"
"No, little plane.
You are too small."


When readers open the matching dust jacket and book case, they see loads of action amid the flames of blazing wildfires and billowing smoke.  On the front, Little Smokey has received her name.  The slight black brush stroke for a smile indicates her pleasure in being a part of the crew of larger planes.  Every line, while portraying her realistically, works to convey her enthusiasm.

To the left, on the back, when she dives into the canyon, readers will note her name is not on her plane yet.  In this particular image, every line depicts her determination in the face of the roaring fire.  Her brows are furrowed, and her eyes are together.  Her mouth is grim.  Above the tree-lined walls of the narrow corridor, Buster, Bruno and Bertha hover and wait while spreading water and fire retardant where they can.

On the opening and closing endpapers, a vivid orange-yellow shade has been placed.  On the initial title page, crests of blue mountains peek over a vast green forest.  Careful readers will notice three forest animals tucked in the trees.  On the formal title page, a double-page picture displays the airfield, tower and airport for the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho.  All four planes are featured along with other vehicles, buildings and human personnel.

Each image, rendered

using watercolors, pencils, and a Mac

and either a double-page picture or several grouped on a single page, provides pacing, an appropriate setting or vista, action and emotion from the characters which reaches out to engage readers.  The color palette is bright with liberal uses of red, orange and yellow.  The shades in the sky are indicative of the time of day and the strength of the wildfire.

We are aware of the dimensions of the planes by their placement in the illustrations.  Whenever possible Little Smokey is seen flying in the background.  Readers will love the facial features on all the planes.

One of my many, many favorite illustrations is a double-page picture for the introduction of Bruno, the water scooper.  A large lake with a little wave action is painted across most of the two pages.  Along the top is a row of evergreens.  A road leading to the lake fashions a break in the trees.  Little Smokey is above that break in the trees.  On the lake, Bruno, scooping up the water, leaves three foaming trails behind him.  His "mouth" is open, with his teeth showing.  The contrast between the hues on the planes and the natural setting is gorgeous.


One of the main ideas readers will realize when reading Little Smokey written and illustrated by Robert Neubecker is to never give up despite your size.  Everyone has a place and a purpose.  Everyone.  It is guaranteed you will be asked to read this title repeatedly.  At the close of the book, information with these headings is presented, How Do Wildfires Start?, Who Fights Wildfires?, Firefighting Crews, Aerial Firefighting, What Can You Do?, and For More Information.  I highly recommend this book for your personal and professional collections.

To learn more about Robert Neubecker and his other work, please follow the link attached to his name to access his website.  This book is showcased on author, reviewer and blogger Julie Danielson's Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.  Once I read her post, I could hardly wait for this book's release.  At the publisher's website you can view interior images and at Robert Neubecker's website.  I know you will enjoy this video interview with Robert Neubecker.  He speaks about working on this title.

Conquest Of Words

During the 2015-2016 school year I was fortunate to work with a group of kindergarten students. Visiting them once a week, introducing them to authors, illustrators and the joy of appreciating not only the stories they told but how they accomplished their work was memorable.  As a thank you for our time together they wrote a book for me.  In it are letters of gratitude.

These letters are one of my greatest treasures because in my years of education I have had the opportunity to watch students learning to shape letters and string them together to make words.  When they are able to do this their happiness is huge.  Little Plane Learns to Write (A Neal Porter Books, Roaring Brook Press, June 6, 2017) written and illustrated by Stephen Savage takes readers on a journey of practice makes perfect.

It was time for class at flight school.

Little Plane could hardly wait to begin.  Their flight instructor told them about their new lesson.  They were going to learn to write.

Practicing arcs, dives and loopity-loops was important to their success.  Little Plane zoomed into the air.  Completing arcs was no problem.  The loopity-loops were not so easy.  They made him feel upside down and inside out.

He tried his best the next day but writing about clouds was minus an o.  Of course the flight instructor noticed the omission encouraging him to try again.  Little Plane gave it his best effort but again his next word lacked an o.

As the day darkened into night, Little Plane was deeply discouraged.  The night was partly cloudy.  As the clouds moved across the sky a glowing revelation gave Little Plane an idea.  With great care he flew.  His happiness was huge.


When Stephen Savage writes for our younger readers he speaks directly to their collective hearts and minds.  His sentences are simple and easily understood but still convey emotion.  His careful use of words allows us to connect to his characters.  This story becomes a bit more personal with the inserted dialogue by the flight instructor.  Every single one of us understands the struggle to learn to write and form words.  Every single one of us needed (needs) support.  And it's surprising, as Stephen demonstrates, when that support will appear.


Two dots and two curved lines give readers all they need to know about the mood of Little Plane as he flies over the countryside beneath him.  He has just completed writing the text for the title and could not more thrilled.  His red hue conveys warmth in beautiful contrast to the predominant use of primary colors throughout the book .  To the left, on the back, the canvas shifts to all sky blue.  Within a circle of yellow is a lighter blue.  Little Plane is flying out of the circle, a large grin on his face.

Readers are going to love the opening and closing endpapers.  Little Plane along with the other students have written the upper and lower case letters of the alphabet between the two images.  A through M is on the first and N through Z is on the second.  The background shifts in shades of blue to delineate the passage of time.

Digital techniques created the illustrations which all span two pages.  Stephen's use of line, shadows, light and shapes is ideal for the intended audience.  He alternates smoothly between panoramic and close-up views.  They contribute to the sensory impact.

One of my many favorite pictures is when Little Plane is trying a second time to get his loopity-loops to form.  The lower two-thirds of the page is a cityscape with a bridge in the background on the left.  Over the right side of the city is a large rainbow.  Above this the word is correctly spelled without an o.  Little Plane is flying away glad with what he has accomplished even without the o.  


Little Plane Learns to Write written and illustrated by Stephen Savage is an ode to learning and persistence.  It also shows how students learn differently and at varying rates.  I predict this book is going to be requested repeatedly by readers as a read aloud one-on-one or as a group.  You will want to add this title to your professional and personal collections of Stephen Savage books.  It's a definite winner.  (Can you guess which letter the students who wrote to me struggled with the most?)

To learn more about Stephen Savage and his other work please visit his website by following the link attached to his name.  To view interior images of this book please view them at the publisher's website.  Stephen is interviewed at Where The Board Books Are and BKLYNER.  This book is one of those featured by author, reviewer and blogger Julie Danielson at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.  Stephen Savage had the distinct honor to be selected as the Irma Black and Cook Prize ceremony keynote speaker on May 18, 2017.

The Wild Blue Yonder

On my first airplane ride I sat in the co-pilot's seat.  The pilot was my best friend.  We were sixteen years old.  It was rare for a girl at that age to get her pilot's license.

Built by her father and a friend, the small yellow airplane was kept at a tiny airport, with a runway more like a grassy field, in a neighboring community, Mason, Michigan.  We had to move the propeller to get the engine going but when we were airborne it was heavenly.

Flying over our hometown, close to our houses, like birds we soared.  Even today I can still recall the elation felt during those flights.  Flight 1-2-3 (Chronicle Books, March 12, 2013) written and illustrated by Maria van Lieshout captures the same magic in the exploring of an airport, the deciphering of the signage, counting what can be seen and traveling by plane.  It is a companion to her Backseat A-B-See (Chronicle Books, April 11, 2012).

When taking a flight, what do you see?

Before even entering the terminal we observe an image on a blue and white sign that even the youngest child can identify, an airplane.  Does this mean we are going to see a plane?  It does, but it is best known for meaning airport.

Along with a boy traveling with his parents, inside the airport it's not hard to imagine a child finding the luggage carts fascinating.  After stopping at the check-in desks it's time to move up or down to locate the departure gate.  Stepping off any one of the elevators or escalators perhaps used items need to be thrown away.  Let's see if we can find a row of trash cans.  

Those security officers are making sure everything we carry on the plane is safe.  Sometimes it seems within minutes of a main meal, hunger strikes.  Oh, look!  There is the area for foods and drinks.  

I need to use the restroom now.  The line for women has more people in it than the line for the men. Looking out the tower window you can see ten gates with airplanes waiting.  We, all 100, are seated now; everyone has read the fastened seat belts sign.


We lift up into the air at heights among the clouds traveling thousands of miles.  Are we there yet?  We are?  They are waiting for us.  It's a meeting with those we love.  Don't forget anything.  It would end up in the lost and found.


This is one of those books where the tactile experience is perfect for a younger audience (and those of us reading to them too.) The use of the limited color scheme of yellow, gray, several shades of blue, white, red and black allows for the focus to remain on the places represented by the signs.  Using two pages for each of her digitally created illustrations, Maria van Lieshout has created a flow, much like a journey from one point to another, through her layout and design.

Beginning on the opening endpapers with a two-tone gray image of a cityscape, she informs readers in a short introduction about the importance of signs and those responsible for the symbols we see today.  The title page shows a taxi carrying a family to their destination, the boy pointing toward a plane in the sky.  The only text is the title, the author/illustrator name, publisher and place.  It's interesting that the home of Chronicle Books listed, San Francisco, is the family's starting point; the Golden Gate Bridge a symbol itself.

The few words, the numbers, the shapes of the people and all the elements, contribute to the simplicity and clarity of the overall book.  Nevertheless, attentive readers will note, for example, on the pages for check-in desks, the status signs.  These two pages are for the number three.  The three signs read:

Flight 123
1:00 PM

Flight 231
2:00 PM

Flight 312
3:00 PM

On the page for five, trash cans, each can contains five items.  Maria van Lieshout is consistent in her attention to details, knowing her audience, knowing they will be looking for the patterns.  The closing endpapers feature the larger family headed away from the airport toward a new adventure.


Flight 1-2-3 by Maria van Lieshout was showcased in a Trifecta at Watch. Connect. Read., sharpread and the Nerdy Book Club with an article written by the author.  Head on over to The Horn Book for Five questions for Maria van Lieshout about this book.  Follow the link attached to Maria van Lieshout's name above to access her website.  Get ready for take-off because Flight 1-2-3 is heading to parts far and wide destined to be held in many hands and read over and over.  Please note that a bibliography and index are included.