Wind Flyers

Gr 2–4—Angela Johnson's warm, reflective picture book (S & S, 2007) presents a child's-eye-view of his great-great uncle who was a Tuskegee Airman. From the time he was young, he longed to fly, and his first experience in the air convinced him it was where he belonged. The sacrifices made by African-American pilots during WWII are a thread woven into this personal story of a family hero. The tale is told in the first-person which adds to the poignancy of the narration by Tony Fragale. Viewers are pulled into the story by his rich voice as they study Loren Long's vibrant, soft-edged illustrations that extend the poetic text. This gently sweet story carries an underlying theme celebrating all those who have had to fly into the wind, and beyond it, to break barriers.—Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary, Federal Way, WA