Gift idea: The Girl Aviators and the Phantom Airship

by philg

Here’s a fun gift for an elementary or middle schooler: The Girl Aviators and the Phantom Airship, a beautifully produced hardcover of a 1911 book.

The book has some nice illustrations and the re-publisher has added some interesting photos of early aviation.

This is a good reminder that at one time nearly ever American was excited about aviation and not because they wanted to go to LAX for $199.

Report from an 8-year-old reader:

There is a competition to build an airplane, except for the engine. Roy and his sister Peggy build an airplane and name it “The Golden Butterfly.” The plane is built to hold 3, but flies fine with 4 kids. They participate in a race and end up winning [surprise!].

Favorite parts: A kidnapping that includes falling into a well. The race victory.

My suggestion: Send the book to your favorite young person who is about to escape for the summer!

Readers: What are some other good books for, say, 10-year-olds, on aviation?

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4 thoughts on “Gift idea: The Girl Aviators and the Phantom Airship”

  1. Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s The Little Prince comes to mind as an aviation-related book suitable for children. The original, in French, is also an excellent introduction to the French language for beginning students. The English translation is still marvelous and the original illustrations need no translation.

    Keep in mind that the story will make a stone weep.

  4. I’m with toucan sam: When I was 10 or so, I enjoyed reading an old copy of the FAR/AIM, but I might have preferred a good-quality reprint of the Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3B) or Fundamentals of Flight (Army Training Circular 3-04.4) if one of these had been available.

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