The Wright Brothers Centennial Celebration

A rubber band, a bit of cork, a stick of bamboo, and two little pieces of paper contributed to what some have said is the greatest invention in the history of humankind. These materials made up a child's toy, a gift from Milton Wright to his sons, a hélicoptère, or a "bat" as the brothers called it, and it fueled their imaginations.

Greek mythology had its winged horse, the legendary King Kaj Kaoos of Persia harnessed eagles to his throne, and Renaissance genius Leonardo da Vinci drew designs for a flying machine. But it wasn't until four centuries later in Dayton, OH, that the Wright brothers invented the first controlled, heavier-than-air flying machine. Much is known about their flight at Kitty Hawk, NC, on December 17, 1903, as well as the trial years before and the refining years after, because they left copious notes, photos, and correspondence. The brothers were in fact writing their own story of flight.

The titles listed below relate that story. Many include quotes from primary sources, adding authenticity and flavor. In Taking Flight, Stephen Krensky mentions how the brothers measured the cold at Kitty Hawk by counting what they needed to stay warm; thus there were "five blanket nights," but, sometimes, "five blankets, two quilts, and a fire nights." Richard Maurer's The Wright Sister and Jane Yolen's My Brothers' Flying Machine focus on sister Katharine, while Walter A. Schulz's Will and Orv and George Shea's First Flight speak in the voices of youngsters not much older than their intended audience of seven- and eight-year-olds. Without question, it has been a year for the Wright stuff, and Wendie Old's To Fly and Peter Busby's First to Fly are picture books that truly soar.

In The Bishop's Boys (Norton, 1990), Tom Crouch, a biographer writing for adults, recalls Wilbur and Orville Wright as "typically American boys." These bicycle mechanics from the Midwest built what leading scientists of the day couldn't: a successful airplane. Although the drone of an airplane in the sky above is now commonplace, the achievement of these two men remains extraordinary. —Harriett Fargnoli

Fiction

ANHOLT, Laurence. Leonardo and the Flying Boy. illus. by author. Barron's. 2000.
Gr 2-4–No discussion of flight should overlook the work of Leonardo da Vinci. Imagined conversations and escapades by two apprentices of the Renaissance genius include their sneaking into a secret workshop to commandeer a winged contraption. Anholt's lively illustrations and drawings from Leonardo's notebooks add appeal to this engaging tale.

Nonfiction

FARNDON, John. Flight. Benchmark. 2001.
Gr 3-6 –With clear, colorful illustrations and instructions, Farndon discusses the history of flight and suggests experiments that explore the subject. Chapter headings include "Lighter Than Air," "Flying on Wings," and "Flying Forward." Simple materials, uncomplicated directions, and a cautionary note urging readers to follow the tenets of the scientific method–rigorous attention to detail, deliberate observation, and experimentation–make this very much in keeping with the Wright approach.

HUNTER, Ryan Ann. Take Off! illus. by Edward Miller. Holiday House. 2000.
PreS-Gr 2 –From endpapers filled with all kinds of airplanes à la Richard Scarry to double-page spreads, there are lots of colorful examples of flight. All the principals are here: a tiny falling Monk Eilmer, Otto Lilienthal, Octave Chanute, Boeing, Lockheed, and, of course, the Wright brothers. Little hands can find crop dusters, seaplanes, and directions for making a simple paper airplane.

JENNER, Caryn. First Flight: The Story of the Wright Brothers . DK. 2003.
Gr 3-4 –No detail is ignored in this fluid presentation that moves from the spinning, flying toy helicopter to the real thing. With a combination of drawings and photographs, it is easily accessible and gives a vivid sense of the Wrights. The cover shows the brothers sitting upright on a later Flyer, a refinement of the original, where the pilot lay prone in a hip cradle to control movement. Handsome and comprehensive.

KRENSKY, Stephen. Taking Flight: The Story of the Wright Brothers . illus. by Larry Day. S & S. 2000.
Gr 2-3 –Dialogue from the Wrights' letters blends with a surprisingly engaging text to immerse independent readers in their story. Krensky situates the brothers in the history and science of flight, defining the approaches of other early pioneers while focusing on what they did to make their experiments work. Period details, personalities, and accomplishments emerge through soft watercolor illustrations. Brief, but thorough–a little gem.

OLD, Wendie. To Fly: The Story of the Wright Brothers. illus. by Robert Andrew Parker. Clarion. 2002.
Gr 3-5 –Accessible and highly readable, this picture book takes a chronological approach. Short "chapter" breaks, each a page or a spread, bring the inventors' ideas into focus and clearly explain their experiments. But more than that, readers quickly garner a real sense of the brothers' habits and temperaments. These insights are confirmed by equally fluid, picture-perfect watercolor sketches. To dream, perchance to fly . Splendid!

PALLOTTA, Jerry & Fred Stillwell. The Airplane Alphabet Book . illus. by Rob Bolster. Charlesbridge. 1997.
Gr 2-4 –"Many clever people attempted to fly in various contraptions over the years…. Finally, on December 17, 1903, in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Wilbur and Orville Wright flew the first 'airplane.'" Twenty-six pages later, with G for the Gooney Bird, a DC-3; V for the red Vega, Amelia Earhart's aircraft; and W for the Wright Flyer, readers have been given interesting bits of information about a variety of aircraft. The exceptional, colorful illustrations are so real that they look like photographs.

ROYSTON, Angela. Planes. S & S. 1992.
PreS-Gr 1–Gliders, fighter planes, and commercial aircraft, including the Concorde, are pictured here in full color against clean white space. Large type, clear and precise, focuses on a plane's component parts. Clearly labeled boxes isolate the rudder, propeller, wheel, and more. Good for little hands, aspiring readers, and would-be pilots.

SCHULZ, Walter A. Will and Orv. illus. by Janet Schulz. Carolrhoda. 1991.
Gr 2-3–Five people witnessed the Wrights' historic first flight. Four were adults. The fifth was Johnny Moore, a young local from Nags Head. Delivering fish to the life-saving station near Kitty Hawk, he noticed a flag waving over the Wrights' camp, a signal that help was needed. Working with the station's crew, Johnny helped lay the track that launched the Flyer. Although he was probably a teenager, he is pictured here as slightly younger, and his enthusiasm should appeal to children who just about match his size.

SHEA, George. First Flight: The Story of Tom Tate and the Wright Brothers . illus. by Don Bolognese. HarperCollins. 1997.
Gr 1-3 –Tom Tate was a nephew of the postmaster of Kitty Hawk who early on befriended the Wright brothers. The boy hangs around the experimenters and prattles about their projects to the rest of the Outer Banks. He begins to understand how the wind helps a glider to fly and how the sand provides a soft landing–and so will young readers. Tom, in fact, flew a test flight in the glider. An easy-reader full of fictionalized dialogue, this story about a real boy nevertheless adds a genuine touch of youthful spirit to the Centennial.

SIEBERT, Diane. Plane Song. illus. by Vincent Nasta. HarperCollins. 1993.
Gr 2-5 –Sweeping oil paintings, some almost photographic in their realism, make this a book for children to pore over. The lyrical verse, comparable in music to the symphonic or tone poem, pays tribute to machines of flight, or according to Siebert, "birds that human hands have built," and provides a way to introduce poetry into the story of flight. A taking-off point with pictures large enough for group sharing.

SULLIVAN, George. The Wright Brothers. (In Their Own Words Series). Scholastic. 2003.
Gr 3-5–The series title indicates a heavy reliance on contemporary records. The Wrights, prolific note takers and letter writers, amassed volumes. Sullivan defines primary and secondary sources, and he methodically relates the story of the Wrights in simple vocabulary and straightforward language. A good choice for readers who might be distracted by too many words.

YOLEN, Jane. My Brothers' Flying Machine: Wilbur, Orville, and Me. illus. by Jim Burke. Little, Brown. 2003.
Gr 1-4–This offering is from the perspective of sister Katharine, born three years to the day after Orville. Childlike in voice, the text nevertheless gives insight into the Wrights' family life, the brothers' different yet compatible personalities, and the experiments and determination that led to flight. Oil paintings, clean and spare, impart the naïf sense of an American primitive. A read-aloud for primary graders and a read-alone for older students.

YOLEN, Jane. Wings. illus. by Dennis Nolan. Harcourt. 1991.
Gr 3-5–A thoughtful retelling of the Daedalus legend is brought to life with unencumbered poetic language that maintains the drama and rhythm of myth. Expressive watercolors seem to reach for the heavens where the gods watch the action below. A raging Minotaur, flocks of flying birds, and, in one striking frame, layered feathered wings fashioned by Daedalus are secured to his son Icarus. Useful in advancing just how long flight has intrigued.

ZAUNDERS, Bo. Feathers, Flaps, and Flops: Fabulous Early Fliers. illus. by Roxie Munro. Dutton. 2001.
Gr 3-6–A lively text and exuberant illustrations from different perspectives make this oversized paean to the sometimes-quirky and lesser-known early fliers very appealing. The Wright brothers are only mentioned in the fine introduction, but are credited with inventing what had eluded scientific minds for centuries. Their cohorts span from the hot-air balloonists of the 1700s to Wrong-Way Corrigan in 1938 to Bessie Coleman, the first black female pilot. A rousing tour de force.

Nonfiction

BOURSIN, Didier. Origami Paper Airplanes. Firefly. 2001.
Gr 4-6–Consider this title for fun extension activities. A brief but thorough introduction gives paper sizes and weights, folds, trajectories, and throws. Dedicated "to all the children of Icarus," 28 designs of aircraft and flying objects from beginner to advanced are handsomely presented.

BURLEIGH, Robert. Into the Air: The Story of the Wright Brothers' First Flight. illus. by Bill Wylie. Harcourt/Silver Whistle. 2002.
Gr 5-8–It's a bird. It's a plane. It's a graphic biography! In authentic comic-book style with plenty of facts, overlapping panels, conversation bubbles, and playful asides, Burleigh and Wylie have produced a solid and appealing resource, a feat equal to the Wrights' inventiveness. A great introduction, modeling tool, or springboard to report writing.

BUSBY, Peter. First to Fly: How Wilbur and Orville Wright Invented the Airplane . illus. by David Craig. Crown. 2003.
Gr 4-8 –Richly illustrated material, including archival photos, sumptuous paintings, and finely detailed technical diagrams inform an equally clear and immensely readable text covering all aspects of the Wrights' monumental achievement. Subsequent flights, the airplane-manufacturing company the brothers went on to found, Wilbur's death, and Orville's continued experimenting that led to the first automatic pilot are also discussed. Diagrams and boxed sidebars that home in on historic approaches and aerodynamic concepts make this a useful picture book for older readers.

CARSON, Mary Kay. The Wright Brothers for Kids: How They Invented the Airplane: 21 Activities Exploring the Science and History of Flight. illus. by Laura D'Argo. Chicago Review. 2003.
Gr 4-8 –Hands-on opportunities with gliders; pitch, roll, and yaw; propellers; and, tangentially, Morse code, anemometer, and scones are clearly boxed and inserted within a clear and cogent narrative of how the Wrights invented the airplane. Boxed descriptions/biographies of early flight pioneers are also outstanding features. This is an excellent source for student reports and projects and for any adult who works with children. Almost a year's worth of the Wright stuff!

COLLINS, Mary. Airborne: A Photobiography of Wilbur and Orville Wright. National Geographic. 2003.
Gr 5-10 –Unified from cover to cover with well-chosen photos bathed in a blue metallic color wash, this is a highly detailed and exceptionally clear entry in the centennial publishing romp. Pictures show the desolation of Kitty Hawk, the telegram home that heralded success (even with the telegraph operator's mistakes), and a pocket notebook–a giveaway from a local pharmacy–where Orville recorded important data. A foreword by the curator of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum puts the invention in perspective.

FREEDMAN, Russell. The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane. Holiday House. 1991.
Gr 5-9–The quintessential biographer does not disappoint. Freedman offers a warm anecdote to open this study and continues to weave important incidents in and out of carefully researched letters, notes, and photos to illuminate the brothers' work ethic, family life, personalities, and achievements. After historic 1903, he touches on the later demonstration flights in the U.S. and Europe, their airplane-manufacturing company, and Orville's aeronautical research.

GATES, Phil. Nature Got There First.
Kingfisher. 1995. Gr 5-8–In a unique perspective on invention and technology, Gates focuses on nature as inventor. He makes the links: plant burrs to Velcro; octopus tentacles to suction cups; and, connected to flight, albatross to gliders and squid to jet propulsion. Attractive and colorful with photos, illustrations, and magnifications, this presentation makes for great browsing and is a potential catalyst for science projects. An ingenious approach.

GRANT, R. G. Flight: 100 Years of Aviation. DK. 2002.
Gr 8 Up –Published in concert with the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, this oversized volume is a valuable reference book. The readable text, encyclopedic in breadth, explains everything from myth and folklore to the Wright brothers and beyond. Baseball-card-sized "specs" give the details of a number of flying machines–helicopters and combat, commercial, and reconnaissance aircraft. Hundreds of photos, many supplied by the Smithsonian, flow naturally from one page to the next. Stamps, patches, posters, vintage cigarette-card images, etc., add interest. Handsomely designed and well executed.

MAURER, Richard. The Wright Sister: Katharine Wright and Her Famous Brothers . Millbrook/Roaring Brook. 2003.
Gr 8 Up–Working from Katharine Wright's papers and family archives, Maurer achieves authenticity without sacrificing story, dispelling, as Katharine did, rumors that she actually helped to build the Flyer. She provided psychological support, kept house, and later managed her brothers' appointments and traveled with them. At age 52, she left Dayton to marry; Orville, hurt and despondent, vowed never to talk to her again. They reconciled before her death two years later. This richly detailed biography moves beyond the brothers and shows Katharine in her own right. Wright on!

RINARD, Judith E. The Story of Flight: The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Firefly. 2002.
Gr 4-6–The Smithsonian contains a rich treasure of photos and memorabilia. Rinard skillfully uses its collection to capture the history of flight from hot-air balloons to spacecraft headed for Mars. This slightly scaled-down version of The Book of Flight (Firefly, 2001) has a cleaner look, fewer pictures per spread, larger typeface, and more white space. The text is equally tight, concise, and informative. If you have the earlier title, stick with it. One doesn't necessarily need both.

SCHMIDT, Norman. Fabulous Paper Gliders. Sterling. 1998.
Gr 6 Up–Perhaps the guru of paper flight, Schmidt brings his considerable technical and craft skills to bear in reproducing 16 model gliders. He offers precise instructions for photocopying the various pieces and for assembling the models. He also explains a number of aerodynamic concepts, and each finished model is photographed in flight. This book is a boon for technology classes. Also see his Best Ever Paper Airplanes (1994) and Super Paper Airplanes (1995, both Sterling).

VAN STEENWYK, Elizabeth. One Fine Day: A Radio Play. illus. by Bill Farnsworth. Eerdmans. 2003.
Gr 4-6–The real-life drama of December 17, 1903, is scripted in crisp, clear dialogue, along with suggested sound effects and songs. The combination makes for an old-time radio play, easily reproducible in a classroom or library setting, or broadcast school-wide over the PA system. Sometimes teasing and playful, Orville and Wilbur's banter makes this reenactment believable, but it's the illustrations that steal the show. Farnsworth's evocative oils on linen in warm browns and rich creamy pastels maintain a proper mix of vintage appeal and history. You are there!

Nonfiction

CROUCH, Tom D. The Bishop's Boys: A Life of the Wright Brothers . Norton. 1990.
Adult/High School –A comprehensive biography, this book is for die-hard enthusiasts who are willing to tackle 500-plus pages of text and notes. Not many high school students have that kind of time, but the effort is worth it for the telling insights into Bishop Milton Wright's family beliefs, distrust of outsiders, and emphasis on self-reliance. The extensive index serves almost as a ready reference for teachers or librarians verifying facts or seeking more in-depth analysis.

HOWARD, Fred. Wilbur and Orville: A Biography of the Wright Brothers. Knopf. 1987.
Adult/High School–In an engaging and highly readable style, Howard presents a comprehensive picture of the Wrights. He traces the family back to Catharine Van Cleve Thompson, perhaps the first white woman to set foot in Dayton, OH, in 1796. There are important discussions of the prelude to the Flyer, the patent wars, and other critical complications in the Wrights' contracts in Europe and later arrangements with the U.S. government. Almost a behind-the-scenes look–fascinating.

JAKAB, Peter L. Visions of a Flying Machine: The Wright Brothers and the Process of Invention. Smithsonian Institution. 1990.
Adult/High School–A comprehensive explanation of the Wrights' invention in terms of engineering research and experimentation, this title provides an understanding of the men's technological abilities along with a nod to their innate talents. With photos, diagrams, and a clear narrative, Jakab takes readers through their wind tunnel, wing surfaces, and other experiments and constructions.

KELLY, Fred C. The Wright Brothers: A Biography Authorized by Orville Wright. Harcourt. 1943.
Adult/High School –The only "authorized" biography of the brothers, this title, according to other biographers, was checked (every word) by Orville Wright before publication. Kelly himself was a key player in a feud with the Smithsonian about the original Wright Flyer and the 1903 Langley Aerodrome, another early aeronautic experiment that the Smithsonian claimed was capable of more sustained manned flight. That inaccurate suggestion floated around until Kelly helped engineer an apology, and the Wrights began to receive the recognition they deserved. A complete picture and a little cloak-and-dagger.

WRIGHT, Orville. How We Invented the Airplane. Edited and with commentary by Fred C. Kelly. McKay. 1953.
Adult/High School –Based on depositions Orville prepared in 1920 and 1921 for a lawsuit against the Wright-Martin Company, holders of the Wright patents, this title is a first-rate, first-person account. It begins: "Our first interest began when we were children. Father brought home a small toy actuated by a rubber string which would lift itself into the air. We built a number of copies of this toy…."