Amazing Aircraft

by Seymour Simon, James A. Sugar (Photographer), Military Picture Library (Photographer)

[See More! Readers Level 2]

The same fascinating content thoughtfully translated for use in the classroom or at home.

Genres: Nonfiction

30 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Seymour Simon, whom the NY Times called "the dean of [children's science:] writers," is the author of more than 250 highly acclaimed science books (many of which have been named Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children by the National Science Teachers Association).

Seymour Simon uses his website, SeymourSimon.com, to provide free downloads of a wealth of materials for educators, homeschoolers and parents to use with his books, including 4-page Teacher Guides for all 26 of his Collins/Smithsonian photo essay books. The site provides multiple resources for kids writing book reports or wanting to explore the online Science Dictionary, and also features the Seymour Science blog highlighting current science news. Educators and families are encouraged to sign up to receive the monthly newsletter from SeymourSimon.com to stay abreast of the latest materials that Seymour Simon is introducing to enrich the reading experience.

He taught science and creative writing in elementary and secondary schools and was chair of the science department at a junior high school in the New York City public school system before leaving to become a full-time writer. "I haven't really given up teaching," he says, "and I suppose I never will, not as long as I keep writing and talking to kids around the country and the world."

Seymour Simon is also a creator and the author of a series of 3D books and a series of Glow-in-the-Dark Books for Scholastic Book Clubs, a series of leveled SEEMORE READERS for Chronicle Books, and the EINSTEIN ANDERSON, SCIENCE DETECTIVE series of fiction books. His books encourage children to enjoy the world around them through learning and discovery, and by making science fun. He has introduced tens of millions of children to a staggering array of subjects; one prominent science education specialist described Simon's books as "extraordinary examples of expository prose."

Seymour Simon has been honored with many awards for his work, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science/Subaru Lifetime Achievement Award for his lasting contribution to children's science literature; the New York State Knickerbocker Award for Juvenile Literature; the Hope S. Dean Memorial Award from the Boston Public Library for his contribution to children's science literature; The Washington Post/Children's Book Guild Award for Non-fiction; the Jeremiah Ludington Award for his outstanding contribution to children's nonfiction; the Empire State Award for excellence in literature for young people; and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Forum on Children's Science Books.

In a recent interview Simon was asked if he ever thinks of retiring. "I seem to be working faster and harder than ever. I absolutely don't feel any urge to sit back and look at what I've done. The only things that I'm thinking about are things I'd like to do in the future. I'm planning and doing and continuing to write. It's what I love to do. I remember a story about an anthropologist going to talk to a tribe and he asked them what was their word for "work." Their response was they have no word for work. Everybody does the things that they do in their life. I love that response. I don't differentiate between work and play. Everything I do is something that I enjoy doing - the writing, the research and everything else."

Seymour Simon writes and photographs nature from his hilltop home in Columbia County in upstate New York, where he lives with his wife Liz Nealon.

You can follow Seymour on Facebook and on Twitter, as well as on his website, which offers free, downloadable Teacher Guides to his books for educators, parents and homeschoolers, as well as the popular Seymour Science Daily Blo

Reviews

[Randie D. Camp, M.S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great photographs. Text is kind of dry but the vocabulary is very rich for this level. My second grader loved it!

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Children's literature nonfiction reader
Grades 1-3

Author Seymour Simon has developed a series of readers that focus on the world around us. This book about the history of flying machines is easy to read and has great supporting pictures. I particularly like how Seymour linked past information, such as the length the Wright brothers first flight took is about the length of a 747. Student will find this link to what they already know a help as they are introduced to nonfiction writing. I plan to pursue finding more of these SeeMore series books and put them in my classroom library.

[Linda Brewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This nonfiction book is very informative with enough facts to keep young readers interested. Grades K-3 will enjoy learning about aircraft of different types and how they were used in history. This book is dated, but can work as a history book for research or fun.

[Troy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good but it wasn’t too good

[Melissa Namba · Rating 3 out of 5]

Might have been a little too brief without going into the whole gamut of available aircrafts. Its a little simple, like for a toddler.

[Townsend · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book takes the young reader on a quick tour through the history of flight by briefly describing many types of aircraft that people have created, starting from da Vinci's designs and the Wright Brothers' historic flight and going through modern "stealth" aircraft, helicopters, and unpowered gliders. The book is full of pictures and provides a tidbit of detail about each particular aircraft.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for 2/3 grade. Nice pictures/text about aircraft.