My First Airplane Ride - Softcover

Illustrator Nancy Speir has spent twenty-five years as a commercial illustrator, working on children’s educational materials, greeting cards, stationary, and magazines. She was a staff illustrator and designer for Hallmark Cards and Hello Kitty. Nancy’s work has earned her awards from the Communication Arts and the Society of Illustrators. She lives in Santa Rosa, California.

"Short, rhyming phrases record the events as a boy takes his first plane ride. Every incident along the way is chronicled here: packing, driving to the airport, getting boarding passes, going through security in stocking feet, waiting at the gate, etc. Though the double-page pictures are simple, the level of detail is well calibrated to the target audience. For example, one of Speir's acrylic paintings shows the family passing through the security area, an experience that may seem odd or invasive to young passengers. The illustration offers parents an opportunity to discuss details such as the metal-detecting gateway that passengers walk through, the tabletop where the family's carry-on bags (and teddy bear) await x-raying, and the electronic wand held near the boy's shirt by a security agent. Colorful and reassuring, this picture book is a good, practical choice for pre-travel reading." --Booklist, September 2008

This sparse rhyming text is perfect for the youngest listeners gearing up for their own first ride on an airplane. When Grandma writes to say, "Come visit me," a young boy and his family begin their preparations. First they pack, then they drive to the airport, get the boarding passes and watch the planes through the window. And in a nod to the post 9/11 world: "Security check. Take off each shoe./ Lift our suitcases. Backpacks, too." From the seemingly endless waiting and the flight attendant's safety talk, to specialized plane vocabulary, Hubbell covers the whole journey, up to the joyous reunion with Grandma (baggage claim is skipped). With Spier's acrylic illustrations as a guide, even first-time travelers will be familiar with the interiors of an airport and airplane and the setup of the security checkpoint. The ideas for making the time pass more quickly will be welcomes by both children and parents alike. A solid grounding for those about to leave the ground behind. --Kirkus Reviews, September 2008

Accompanied by his mom and dad, a little boy takes his first airplane trip. After packing and then driving to the airport, the family picks up boarding passes, goes through security, finds their gate, and walks the Jetway. Once aboard the aircraft, the child snuggles into his seat. Following the flight attendant's safety briefing, the plane soars into the sky, "LIFTING! Whooshing! CRUISING! Soaring!/SHUDDERING! Shaking! RUMBLING! Roaring!" When it lands, Grandma greets her grandchild with open arms. The concise plot nicely portrays what children can expect on an airline flight. Inclusion of the security checkpoint updates this picture book from others about first flights. Noticeable details in Speir's acrylic spreads include a small toy airplane on the boy's dresser, an airplane-patterned backpack, and two cuddly teddy bears. A quick read-aloud, this picture book would fit in with aircraft-themed storytimes and is a worthy choice to share with children new to air travel. --School Library Journal, November 2008