The Wright Brothers for Kids: How They Invented the Airplane, 21 Activities Exploring the Science and History of Flight (Volume 1)

by Mary Kay Carson

Intended for ages 9+, this activity book tells the amazing true story of how two bicycle-making brothers from Ohio, with no more than high-school educations, accomplished a feat that forever changed the world. It includes photographs from the Wright brothers' personal collection, along with diagrams and illustrations.

Genres: Science, History Of Science, History, Aviation

160 pages, Paperback

Published May 1, 2003

About the author

Mary Kay Carson is an award-winning children’s nonfiction author. She has written more than thirty books for young people about wildlife, space, weather, nature, and history. Her recent non-fiction titles include Emi and the Rhino Scientist, about the Cincinnati Zoo's famous rhino mom; Exploring the Solar System, recipient of the 2009 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Children’s Literature Award; The Wright Brothers for Kids; Inside Tornadoes; and the Far-Out Guide to the Solar System series. The author also gives presentations at schools and libraries about space, animals, history, and writing.

Reviews

[hamptonenglish10 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jake Starr
Mrs. Sims and Ms. Brooks
Academic English 10
6 January 2013

Russell Freedman traces the history of the Wright Brothers, and their contribution to modern day aviation.Freedman explains the brothers early lives and their careers as printers, newspaper publishers, bicycle mechanics, and pioneer aviators. The book starts off with a memory of an eyewitness of the flight in Daytojn, Ohio 1904 marking the first flight in a complete circle. Then the book switches back to childhood, growing up, and adulthood.

The genre of the book is expository writing, because the pupose of this book was written about one topic. The book stopic was about the life of the Wright Brothers and how they invented the airplane.

The intersting parts of "The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane" was the facts that were given. For example, the author metion how the two brothers when they were little always looked int eh newspaper for gliding and flying experiments. He also mention how even though the brothers were four years appart they still were as close as twin brohers. This makes sence they could invent something together, because they had excellent team work. The last thing I thought was interseting was the fact that by 1908, Wilbur and Orville Wright were publicly showing the airplane in Europe and the United States.

After reading this book I would recommend it to others. The reason why is because people thing they know all about the Wright brothes and all there acheivements. But they do not know a lot about them. After reading this I found out a lot about the two brothers Wilbur and Oliver and how close they were with eachother. I also leaned about many aviation facts I never knew before. That is why I would recommend "The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane".

[Hailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book about the Wright Brothers. It is informative and well-written. I’d say it’s best for middle and high schoolers, but also good for more advanced elementary schoolers.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This history and activity book provides older readers with background information on the Wright brothers and the invention of the airplane as well as taking a look at other scientists and inventors who pioneered developments in human flight and early airplanes. A timeline helps readers put events in their proper perspective and shows the evolution of flight during the brothers’ lifetime.

As readers discover the fascinating process of building the Wright Flyer, they can engage in several activities related to the work of the Wright brothers. They include making a Chinese flying top, kite building, building both paper gliders and a rubber-band-powered flyer.

Highly recommended.