First Flight: The Story of Tom Tate and the Wright Brothers (I Can Read Chapter Books)

George Shea’s careful research for this book included interviews with Tom Tate’s son. Mr. Shea is the author of Amazing Rescues and lives in Los Angeles.

Don Bolognese has illustrated many notable children’s books, including the I Can Read books Wagon Wheels by Barbara Brenner and Buffalo Bill and The Pony Express by Eleanor Coerr. He divides his time between Vermont and New York City.

This is a true tale of a boy who befriended the aviation pioneers and who was the second person to fly in their original glider. No one believes Tom, a Kitty Hawk resident and reputed storyteller, when he claims to have met two men from Ohio who are planning to fly through the air. The scoffing does not subside when Tom truthfully states that he flew the glider. Over the years, the Wright brothers make trips to Kitty Hawk, each time refining their machine, until the successful 1903 flight--and Tom is always there to witness it. This entry in the I Can Read Chapter Book series seems just right for new readers: Tom's presence makes the historical incident more accessible. The tale, with its limited vocabulary, doesn't allow for much character development, but has enough inherent drama to overcome the format. Bolognese's pictures add an old-fashioned touch, with a refreshingly simple palette that warmly evokes the era. (Fiction. 8-10) -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.