Just So Stories

New South Books

Albatros Books

December 2024

9788000070995 

AUD$24.99, NZD$29.99

How super cute is it to have a flightless bird learning all about flying and planes? Karl the Kiwi is sad because he would really love to fly like other birds. He thinks up a few ideas including hitching a ride with a flying bird, who isn’t impressed at all, and then hits on a great idea.

He scrambles to the library (!!!) to find out all about planes, flying and becoming a pilot. And your Smalls will love exploring all the information in this book as well. Despite the fact that it’s actually a board book, I can see easily up to Year 4/5 being interested in this.

Beautiful illos by Irish artist, Diarmuid Ó Catháin, accompanying author Radka Piro’s terrific information. Double spreads such as Planes that made history, Traffic in the sky, and Planes and poor weather offer up bite-sized chunks of factual descriptions and technical information.

And the really good thing about the board book format is that this one will stand up to lots of reading and re-reading from avid aeronautical enthusiasts. Who knows which kiddo might draw inspiration on the pilot path as their life goal? And certainly, how much fun can a class have experimenting with all things related to flight for science and STEM activities, not to mention your DT components.

Always the RAF child, this would have grabbed my attention as the nerd non-fiction lover I was (and still am!). I think any of your readers from around 6/7 if competently reading will love it, though may need some help with the more technical and subject specific vocabulary.

Soaring to the heights with a 5 ✈️✈️✈️✈️✈️ rating – I love it!