FICTION

Lighter Than Air: Sophie Blanchard, the First Woman Pilot

by Matthew Clark SMITH
illus. by Matt Tavares. 32p. bibliog. Candlewick. Mar. 2017. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780763677329.
COPY ISBN
Gr 1–4—Ever since her youth, Sophie Blanchard (1778–1819) dreamed of flying. After she met and married her husband, the famous balloonist Jean-Pierre Blanchard, she was able to fulfill this dream. Her daring knew no bounds. Blanchard flew solo over the Alps and became a legend at Napoleon's court. The work ends with her gazing from her balloon at a beach from her childhood and reflecting on her cultural impact: "Now, she realized, she had lifted the spirits of thousands along with her." This amazing tale of the first female pilot is illustrated in ink and watercolor, with the changing sky becoming a character itself.
VERDICT A story that needs to be shared. Pair this with Louise Borden and Mary Kay Kroeger's Fly High!: The Story of Bessie Coleman to demonstrate that girls can reach their dreams.
Reviewed by Paula Huddy, The Blake School-Highcroft Campus, Wayzata, MN , Jan 01, 2017

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