First in Flight

November 1, 2020

Gr 5-9-This unique series discusses two familiar topics through a new lens. The books provide standard information and focus on photography. The Wright Brothers' early lives and tireless engineering experiments are showcased, and the history of human flight is traced back to the ancient Greeks. Readers will also learn the name of the photographer who captured the historic flight, the type of camera used, and the importance of photographic evidence. Photography gets more technical when the subject is 53 million light-years away. And so does the language. While First Look at a Black Hole details the nature of a black hole and explains what we know about this space element, a lot of the text examines how radio telescopes work. Readers will marvel at the global cooperation, time, and sheer luck required to make the photo work. VERDICT Young readers could have difficulty digesting this series because of the technical terminology and the amount of information. Casual readers may opt for something lighter. However, kids interested in the subjects will learn something new.

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2021
Grades 5-8 Because seeing is believing for many, a photograph can make all the difference. These latest books in the reliable Captured History series (4 new titles) highlight the impact of photography in the fields of science and technology. While each book focuses on the single, iconic photograph that now represents the historic event, a plethora of large-scale images provide more context. The photographs and accompanying, accessible text are all set against a white background in a tidy layout. First in Flight gives an overview of the Wright brothers' pioneering efforts in flight, from their early aviation designs to their experiments and takeoff in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, to their success in the airplane business. The book also emphasizes the Wrights' decision to document their successes--and failures--through photography and how these photographs were needed to prove their aviation achievements. Concluding with a visual time line, these volumes turn STEM into STEAM.

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