Scan barcode
panda_incognito's review
4.0
This picture book biography has wonderful illustrations and tells a fascinating true story that had previously been lost to time. I read this today while preparing books for a Black History Month display, and was extremely impressed with the storytelling style, the atmospheric illustrations, and the insight into the research process included in the backmatter.
Since my display is for the 0-5 age range, I decided not to include this book, since it includes a friend's sudden death in a plane crash and later involves this man's death in a plane crash as well. The latter is only mentioned in the author's note, but the friend's death is part of the unfolding story, with an illustration of the destroyed plane. I wanted to avoid anything too brutal for my display, given the intended age range, but this is wonderful for school-age kids, teens, and adults who are interested in Black history, aircraft, or little-known people who made a difference in the world.
Since my display is for the 0-5 age range, I decided not to include this book, since it includes a friend's sudden death in a plane crash and later involves this man's death in a plane crash as well. The latter is only mentioned in the author's note, but the friend's death is part of the unfolding story, with an illustration of the destroyed plane. I wanted to avoid anything too brutal for my display, given the intended age range, but this is wonderful for school-age kids, teens, and adults who are interested in Black history, aircraft, or little-known people who made a difference in the world.
courtneys_shelves's review
3.0
This is the story of James Herman Banning, the first black pilot to fly across the United States. He did so with his mechanic, Thomas Cox Allen. While the story focuses on Banning, it does illustrate that the flight was a team effort, even though Banning and Allen do not get along.
The story itself is inspiring, especially Banning' sheer persistence in the face of setbacks. The book is illustrated with beautiful, muted, realistic pictures. The book is also sprinkled throughout with actual quotes from Banning and Allen that the authors found in their research. (I also loved the fact that Banning's parents took him twice a year to the black library that was over 80 miles from his home.)
However, the text is dense, and I personally found it a bit dry. I think this book would work best for older kids, rather than the K-2nd graders I am currently focusing on.
The story itself is inspiring, especially Banning' sheer persistence in the face of setbacks. The book is illustrated with beautiful, muted, realistic pictures. The book is also sprinkled throughout with actual quotes from Banning and Allen that the authors found in their research. (I also loved the fact that Banning's parents took him twice a year to the black library that was over 80 miles from his home.)
However, the text is dense, and I personally found it a bit dry. I think this book would work best for older kids, rather than the K-2nd graders I am currently focusing on.
doodle1212's review against another edition
inspiring
medium-paced
3.5
libraryrobin's review
4.0
Fascinating true adventure of the first African American pilot to complete a transcontinental flight. Exciting!
id_rather_be_reading_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
Sprouting Wings is the story of James Herman Manning, A Black aviation pioneer. In 1932, James Banning, accompanied by Thomas C. Allen, became America's first black aviator to fly coast-to-coast. I am always floored by the lives of the many hidden figures I learn about when reading picture book biographies. I'd never heard of James Banning prior t0 reading this book . I am so grateful that the lives of extraordinary African Americans are being written about more frequently so that children are able to bear witness to the many great contributions of Black people to our nation's history.
More...