Flying Machines: How the Wright Brothers Soared
Take to the skies with Flying Machines!
Follow the famous aviators from their bicycle shop in Dayton, Ohio, to the fields of North Carolina where they were to make their famous flights. In an era of dirigibles and hot air balloons, the Wright Brothers were among the first innovators of heavier than air flight. But in the hotly competitive international race toward flight, Orville and Wilbur were up against a lot more than bad weather. Mechanical failures, lack of information, and even other aviators complicated the Wright Brothers’ journey. Though they weren’t as wealthy as their European counterparts, their impressive achievements demanded attention on the international stage. Thanks to their carefully recorded experiments and a healthy dash of bravery, the Wright Brothers’ flying machines took off.
Reviews
“An accessible and engaging introduction to the Wright brothers and how they ushered in the age of flight.”
“Two accomplished cartoonists offer a fresh take on the story of the Wright brothers.”
“Not only does it make the mechanical and technical details about flight interesting to the non-scientifically minded (which would be me), it shows the Wright siblings as interesting characters in the competitive drama of early aviation on both sides of the Atlantic. Highly recommended not just to science-minded kids, but to any curious young readers who enjoy graphic novels.”
“FLYING MACHINES: HOW THE WRIGHT BROTHERS SOARED by Alison Wilgus, is told in the delightful voice of Katherine Wright, the younger sister of the famous brothers […] Although I know the basic story of the Wright brothers, reading this graphic novel filled in all the gaps of the evolution of our modern-day jets. ”
“There’s an incredible amount of detail in this volume—aviation enthusiasts will love it […] Providing readers with a look into history and aviation technology, SCIENCE COMICS: FLYING MACHINES is a solid add to STEM collections and reinforces the fact that comic books DO belong in the classroom.”
“I can really see these books being useful for science teachers or homeschool parents to build lesson plans (especially with the bibliography, glossary, and notes inclusions at the end of the texts), or as wonderful gifts for curious scientifically-minded young readers to learn independently, because of the lively dialogue and colorful illustrations. But, even as someone who isn’t particularly interested in flight, and who read the book as an adult, the strong partnership of Wilgus’ writing and Brooks’ illustrations kept me hooked until the very last page. Highly recommended!”
“I was charmed from the beginning, with the choice to have the story narrated by Katharine Wright, sister of the famous airplane inventors the Wright Brothers.”
“Together, art and story in Flying Machines: How the Wright Brothers Soared, combine to create quite the educational experience.”
“I felt that the artwork was vibrant and expressive, and it revels in depicting the various flying machines of the day. The story humanizes the achievements of some grand historical figures and also puts their work into historical context.”
Awards & Accolades
Amazon Holiday Toy List: “2017 STEM Stars”