15 Books About Flying to Read with Kids Before the Airport
Getting ready to take your kids on their first flight? Read these 15 books about flying with them to help them know what to expect, encourage a love of air travel, and get excited for your upcoming trip!
So many of us adults took our first flights so long ago that it’s hard to remember what it was like getting onto an airplane for the first time. Flying with kids is a whole different ball game than flying with adults, especially if its the kids’ first flight!
While some kids are excited to leap right into plane travel, others are understandably nervous about flying in an airplane. What can they expect? What will the airport be like? Will the plane be scary? Is it safe?
To help your little ones prepare for their first airplane adventures, I’ve pulled together this list of 15 books about flying. These picture books include fiction and non-fiction options, all chosen to help nurture a love of air travel in your kids.
Those who are nervous about the airport and the process of flying will enjoy books like How Airports Work and A Day at the Airport. Little historians will adore learning about the history of flight and one of the most famous aviators in The Story of the Wright Brothers and A Picture Book of Amelia Earhart.
No matter what your kids need to get excited about your upcoming trip, this list has you covered!
15 Books About Flying to Nurture a Love of Air Travel in Kids
Help first-time flyers settle their nerves and explore the fantastic world of flight through these picture books about flying. These fiction and non-fiction selections will give kids an idea of what to expect at the airport, help them understand how planes work, and teach them the amazing history of air travel.
SUMMARY:
By the time she's two years old, Violet Van Winkle can engineer nearly any appliance in the house. And by eight she's building elaborate flying machines from scratch—mind-boggling contraptions such as the Tubbubbler, the Bicycopter, and the Wing-a-ma-jig. The kids at school tease her, but they have no idea what she's capable of. Maybe she could earn their respect by winning the blue ribbon in the upcoming Air Show. Or maybe something even better will happen—something involving her best-ever invention, a Boy Scout troop in peril, and even the mayor himself!
SUMMARY:
At a landing strip in the far north, a little bush plane watches quietly as bigger, stronger, faster planes take off for adventure. But when a storm hits and hikers are stranded on the mountain, who will come to the rescue?
SUMMARY:
Where does luggage go after check in? What happens in the control tower? How do planes actually fly? This interactive, lift-the-flap book takes you behind-the-scenes to uncover the hidden secrets of the airport―from a peek inside the cockpit to the hustle and bustle of departures.
In this follow-up to How Cities Work, we explore the earliest airports through to today’s giant transport hubs and what airports could look like in the future. Packed with amazing facts and illustrations from James Gulliver Hancock, it’ll surprise and delight readers young and old, ensuring they never look at air travel in the same way again.
SUMMARY:
Follow a plane on a journey around the world in this little book, and peek inside its cockpit, engine and even its wings to find out how it works. With colorful illustrations, flaps to lift and holes to peek through, there's so much to discover in this fascinating introduction to planes and how they fly.
SUMMARY:
A passenger jet lands on the runway, a plane is refueled before takeoff... Best of all, lots of flaps, popups, pull-tabs, and rotating wheels bring planes, airports, and travelers to life. Readers will poke into the cockpit of a Boeing 747, explore the innards of a baggage carousel, and help pilots get ready for takeoff. Any child who has ever wanted to take flight will adore this extraordinary collection of airplanes, from early biplanes to modern jets.
SUMMARY:
After the rainy weather ruins a day on the boat, Huckle Cat, Sally, and Lowly Worm are dreading a day indoors. That is, until they’re invited to visit the airport for a day of fun-filled learning! In this colorful and educational read-along, airplane fans will get an up-close look at things they would find at the airport, including the airport terminal, the control tower, the runway, planes, and more! Complete with specific labels indicating objects, people, and places, this enlightening read is the perfect gift for airplane and airport fanatics, and a wonderful travel companion for little ones!
SUMMARY:
Embark on a high-flying adventure with Miles and his family as they navigate the bustling airport and soar through the skies for the very first time. Perfect for young travelers and dreamers alike, this heartwarming tale captures the magic and wonder of travel, showing that the journey can be just as extraordinary as the destination.
SUMMARY:
From the author and illustrator team of Go, Bikes, Go! and Go, Boats, Go!, this delightful board book celebrates planes in action. There are planes with two wings, and planes with four. There are planes with noses, and planes with tails.
Young children will be fascinated by the wide variety of planes depicted in the vibrant and whimsical illustrations.
SUMMARY:
Discover the inner workings of eight of the most incredible flying machines of all time in this lift-the-flap book by the best-selling, award-winning illustrator Stephen Biesty. With amazingly detailed drawings and more than forty flaps, young readers can meet some of the early aviators and their pioneering aircraft, peek inside a luxury flying boat, and see the technology of a rocket space plane. Packed with fun facts, this is the perfect introduction to planes and helicopters from all over the world.
SUMMARY:
Following the success of Trucks: Whizz! Zoom! Rumble!, Trains: Steaming! Pulling! Huffing!, and Cars: Rushing! Honking! Zooming!, Patricia Hubbell introduces the fourth installment to her popular series featuring “things that go!” Sean Addy and Megan Halsey portray a variety of airplanes using vibrant clip art, etchings, and original drawings. Perfect for anyone who loves flying machines!
SUMMARY:
The Wright brothers were the first people ever to build and fly an airplane, doing what many people at the time didn't think was possible. Before they made history with their airplane, Wilbur and Orville were curious kids who loved learning about the world around them and how it worked. They fell in love with the idea of flying and taught themselves everything they needed to know to make their dream come true. How will their hard work and big imaginations inspire you?
SUMMARY:
Jake is fascinated by airplanes and dreams of becoming a pilot. Join Jake as he visits the air and space museum, where he learns about different types of planes, famous pilots, and even gets to soar in a flight simulator!
Jake also meets someone very special who gives him advice about what he needs to do to become a pilot.
SUMMARY:
So You Want to Be a Pilot? Exploring the World of Aviation for Kids is an engaging nonfiction chapter book designed specifically for developing readers ages 8–12. Perfect for young explorers who are fascinated by airplanes, helicopters, and all things flight-related, this book opens the cockpit door and invites readers to imagine themselves behind the controls.
Whether your child wants to be a commercial airline captain, a military jet pilot, or just loves learning how things work, this inspiring book delivers real-world knowledge in a fun, age-appropriate format. It uses clear explanations, exciting stories, and interactive prompts to help readers grasp complex concepts like lift, thrust, and how pilots navigate the skies.
SUMMARY:
You may know Amelia Earhart as one of history's most beloved aviators, but did you know she grew up playing football and studied automobile-engine repair? This clear and concise picture book biography with bright, colorful illustrations follows brave Amelia throughout her inspiring lifetime.
From her first plane ride, on Christmas Day in 1920, to her famous flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 1928, Amelia's life took on new purpose when she discovered her love of flying. She later became the first person to fly alone across both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and had many other adventures that brought her to places like Hawaii and Mexico. In 1937, Amelia vanished while attempting to fly around the world. Her mysterious disapperance and incredible life story have fascinated the world ever since.
SUMMARY:
Riding along in my airplane,
Over the clouds and through the rain…
See the birds way up high and the people down below in this rhyme full of movement, wonder, and excitement from the hidden treasures of Margaret Wise Brown, author of the children's classics Goodnight Moon and Runaway Bunny.
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Prepping for a big trip with your kids? Continue to get them excited by exploring these 4 gorgeous travel books for kids and review my tips on how to connect with kids on vacation before you leave.
Before you pack, be sure to check what to pack for a hotel stay with kids, my recommendations for packing a carry on for international flights, and my tips on what to pack in a grab bag for kids.
And just because the kids are with you doesn’t mean you and your partner can’t enjoy some time for yourselves! I’ve got you covered with ideas for how to plan a romantic trip when you have to bring the kids.
