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Home | Book of the Week: Night Flight

Book of the Week: Night Flight

Night FlightShare in the drama and danger of Amelia Earhart's groundbreaking solo transatlantic flight in Night Flight: Amelia Earhart Crosses the Atlantic(40 pages, Paula Wiseman Books, 2011), written by Robert Burleigh and illustrated by Wendell Minor. This book presents a easily accessible but surprisingly detailed version of the story of Earhart's 1932 flight from Newfoundland to Ireland that made her the first woman (and only the second person) to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

Burleigh's eloquent text describes the loneliness, difficulty, and joy of the 15-hour journey in economical but descriptive verse, and Minor's colorful and detailed paintings capture the feelings and sights of the trip, from close-ups of the Lockheed Vega's cockpit and instrument panel to breathtaking panoramas.

The endpapers feature line drawings of and descriptive text about Earhart's plane, a Vega 5b she called "Little Red Bus". At the back of the book you'll also find additional biographical information about and quotes from Earhart, as well as a bibliography and a list of related web links.

Night Flight is highly recommended, especially to aviation enthusiasts and anyone who enjoys true tales of human accomplishment. Look for it at your local library, bookstore, or at Amazon.com.