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Flying: A Bright and Colorful Picture Book About a Plane Journey for Children
"With minimal text and bright-color illustrations, Crews captures the essence of a plane journey."--Kirkus Reviews. "A satisfying adventure for very young children."--Booklist.
32 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1986
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About the author
Donald Crews
49 books49 followersDonald Crews (born August 30, 1938) is an American illustrator and writer of children's picture books. In 2015, the American Library Association (ALA) honored him with the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal, recognizing his lasting contribution to children's literature. Common subjects of his include modern technology (especially travel vehicles), and childhood memories. His stories often include few humans.
Two of his works were runners-up, or Caldecott Honor Books, for the ALA's annual award for picture book illustration, the Caldecott Medal.
Donald Crews was born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1938. He had an older brother, Asa who became Beth Israel Hospital's first African-American intern, and two sisters. His mother worked as a seamstress, and his father worked at the railroad, and several other odd jobs. For the summers he would travel down to rural Florida to stay with his grandmother, who he called "Bigmama". The difference between the big city and the farm caused him to create two, massively different types of art later on in his life.
From a young age, his talent for drawing was encouraged by his family and his teachers. When he got into high school, one of his teachers became a mentor to him, and personally made sure that he got into art school.
He graduated from Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in New York City, and married another graduate, graphic artist Ann Jonas.
Crews was drafted into the army in 1963, and sent to Frankfurt, Germany. Their first daughter, Nina was born in Germany, and their second was born a year later in New York. Nina is also an award-winning children's book author.
While in Germany, he worked on several pieces for his portfolio, including the book We Read: A to Z (1967). After several suggestions from friends, he submitted it, and it was published by Harper & Row (now HarperCollins). The book relied on abstract ideas, rather than the clichés that were usually associated with ABC books. One classic example is the entry for the letter C: "Cc, corner: where the yellow is" is illustrated with a yellow square in the far corner of a red page in the book.
He created several other books over the next few years, but it was 1978's Freight Train that won him a Caldecott Honor and the respect of other artists in the field. He won another Caldecott Honor the next year for Truck. Several other transportation themed books followed, such as School Bus (1984), Flying (1986), and Sail Away (1995). His memories from his summers in Florida first appeared in Bigmama's and later in Shortcut. These stories are vastly different from his previous works, in that they focus on humans, and tell a more linear story.
Crews and his wife currently live in the state of New York in an old, restored farmhouse overlooking the Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains.
Two of his works were runners-up, or Caldecott Honor Books, for the ALA's annual award for picture book illustration, the Caldecott Medal.
Donald Crews was born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1938. He had an older brother, Asa who became Beth Israel Hospital's first African-American intern, and two sisters. His mother worked as a seamstress, and his father worked at the railroad, and several other odd jobs. For the summers he would travel down to rural Florida to stay with his grandmother, who he called "Bigmama". The difference between the big city and the farm caused him to create two, massively different types of art later on in his life.
From a young age, his talent for drawing was encouraged by his family and his teachers. When he got into high school, one of his teachers became a mentor to him, and personally made sure that he got into art school.
He graduated from Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in New York City, and married another graduate, graphic artist Ann Jonas.
Crews was drafted into the army in 1963, and sent to Frankfurt, Germany. Their first daughter, Nina was born in Germany, and their second was born a year later in New York. Nina is also an award-winning children's book author.
While in Germany, he worked on several pieces for his portfolio, including the book We Read: A to Z (1967). After several suggestions from friends, he submitted it, and it was published by Harper & Row (now HarperCollins). The book relied on abstract ideas, rather than the clichés that were usually associated with ABC books. One classic example is the entry for the letter C: "Cc, corner: where the yellow is" is illustrated with a yellow square in the far corner of a red page in the book.
He created several other books over the next few years, but it was 1978's Freight Train that won him a Caldecott Honor and the respect of other artists in the field. He won another Caldecott Honor the next year for Truck. Several other transportation themed books followed, such as School Bus (1984), Flying (1986), and Sail Away (1995). His memories from his summers in Florida first appeared in Bigmama's and later in Shortcut. These stories are vastly different from his previous works, in that they focus on humans, and tell a more linear story.
Crews and his wife currently live in the state of New York in an old, restored farmhouse overlooking the Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
March 4, 2020
The aerial view of the airplane's flight gives you lots to talk about with preschool and up readers.
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July 31, 2022short
August 4, 2010
Flying is part of Donald Crews' series of books about vehicles, and this one takes a propeller-driven airplane as its focus. With the simplest of text, he follows the small airplane as passengers board, through takeoff, and rising above the city. (Fans of Crews will recognize other books in the series in the city scene below, including Truck Board Book, School Bus, Carousel, Harbor, and Freight Train.) Then the plane rises into the clouds, traveling until it arrives in another city at night.
This book is a good preschooler's introduction to the concept of flying in a plane. It satisfies a preschooler's curiosity about airplanes and ties together many books in his interesting series. It's a great choice for both read-aloud and self-entertainment.
This book is a good preschooler's introduction to the concept of flying in a plane. It satisfies a preschooler's curiosity about airplanes and ties together many books in his interesting series. It's a great choice for both read-aloud and self-entertainment.
May 4, 2011
Flying by Donald Crews is trip aboard a propeller-driven airplane, from the boarding airport to landing at another city at nightfall. This is part of Crews' transportation series, along with Truck, School Bus, Carousel, Harbor, and Freight Train.
As in his other transportation books, Crews creates a very simple to follow text that can help explain the steps of a flight to preschoolers and young children. We board the plane, taxi to the runway, wait, take off, fly over the airport, highways, rivers and cities. Flying across country and over mountans, the plane flies into and over the clouds. When it's time to land as night falls, the plane comes down, lands,and passengers emerge. With a large font, Flying is a good easy beginning reader, with comforting repetition.
The illustrations were created using gouache paints and an airbrush. They show enough detail to well illustrate the basics of a flight. Details from other Crews books, such as Truck and Harboor are visible. There are many unlabeled details to see, name and discuss such as runways, control tower, highways, bridges, harbors, farm, stadium, etc.
Flying provides opportunities to discuss airplanes, airports and travel. It is a good choice for a todder or preschool read-aloud.
For ages 2 to 5, toddlers, preschoolers, airplanes, airport, travel, transportation themes, and fans of Donald Crews.
As in his other transportation books, Crews creates a very simple to follow text that can help explain the steps of a flight to preschoolers and young children. We board the plane, taxi to the runway, wait, take off, fly over the airport, highways, rivers and cities. Flying across country and over mountans, the plane flies into and over the clouds. When it's time to land as night falls, the plane comes down, lands,and passengers emerge. With a large font, Flying is a good easy beginning reader, with comforting repetition.
The illustrations were created using gouache paints and an airbrush. They show enough detail to well illustrate the basics of a flight. Details from other Crews books, such as Truck and Harboor are visible. There are many unlabeled details to see, name and discuss such as runways, control tower, highways, bridges, harbors, farm, stadium, etc.
Flying provides opportunities to discuss airplanes, airports and travel. It is a good choice for a todder or preschool read-aloud.
For ages 2 to 5, toddlers, preschoolers, airplanes, airport, travel, transportation themes, and fans of Donald Crews.
April 3, 2015
This brightly illustrated "documentary" picture book, featuring one to four words of bold text per page is ideal for introducing children to the wonder of flight. I invite the children to repeat with me vocabulary that may be new to them, such as "boarding" and "taxiing". I may also pause before reading the last word of text, letting them finish the line for me, such as "flying over the" (pause) "CLOUDS!".
June 20, 2008
An airplane trip with minimal description and illustrations that compliment with clarity and cleanness of design. Perfect for the young ones interested in flying or answering what are those things in the sky questions. Also would be useful as a way to remove fears about an upcoming flight by showing what a plane does.
December 19, 2016
Read at Drop-In Story Time on 9/18/12: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
Read at Toddler Lap Time on 1/24/13: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
Read at Toddler Lap Time on 1/25/13: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
Read at Toddler Lap Time on 1/24/13: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
Read at Toddler Lap Time on 1/25/13: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
October 16, 2014
Donald Crews books are wonderful read alouds for young children. Very simple text and wonderfully colorful drawings take young readers through the process of a flight across the country from boarding, to flying over rivers, farms, cities, and through clouds before finding the airport and landing.
February 9, 2017
I love the subtle detail of the perspectives in each illustration in this book. They are perfectly executed; it gives me the dizzy, afraid of heights feeling in the pit of my stomach. I am so ready to think about flying and vacationing again. It really has been far too long since I've seen that view.
July 11, 2013
Wow is this book amazing! A couple weeks ago, at the library, I met a girl my age who is OBSESSED with Donald Crews. Specifically, TRUCK, which I also love. I can't wait to go to the library and show this girl this book. (She's my soulmate).
May 27, 2010
Great simple drawings and easy to follow story make this one appropriate for either babies or pre-schoolers.
November 29, 2010
A little too remedial for us, Cooper loved the pictures though. This also started many conversations about traveling, airports and other things.
June 12, 2012
Great use of positional words and vocab
October 9, 2012
Really enjoy the simple pictures and simple sentences. This would be a good book to get in other languages or discuss in other languages.
August 6, 2016
Great, short, read-aloud for toddlers/preschoolers about planes. I'll give the kids planes on popsicle sticks to mimic the motion of the plane throughout the book.
July 29, 2016
This would do nicely for that first plane trip for your preschooler. The artwork shows multiple perspectives from passenger in flight.
May 27, 2014
Great book for the beginning readers. The pictures added wonderfully to the text. Also, great introduction to first time flyers.
August 26, 2014
This is a great introductory book about airplanes for young ones, especially toddlers.
Good for either toddler or preschool storytime.
Good for either toddler or preschool storytime.
February 2, 2015
An airplane takes off, flies, and lands after having passed over cities, country areas, lakes, and more.
August 8, 2015
I like the quiet homage Crews pays to some of his other books. On the "Flying over the highways" page is his "Truck," "School Bus," and freight train rainbow. A visual treat for loyal readers.
May 23, 2015
Gorgeous illustrations and spare text describe a plane's flight--it's nearly perfect in its plainness.
April 28, 2016
Simple text and illustrations show many different forms of flying.
April 9, 2024
This simply told story is of a plane taking passengers from one airport to another. In forty-nine words the young reader is shown what air flight is.
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September 3, 2017Mama read this to me the other night. I love planes right now!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews