Planes - (All Aboard!) by Radka Piro (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Join Karl the kiwi bird as we fly high into the awe-inspiring world of aviation, exploring planes and history in a fun, fully illustrated kids' book.

Soar into the thrilling heights of aviation, spanning the rich history of flight, various aircraft types, and the critical influence of weather conditions on air travel. Follow Karl, a wingless kiwi bird with dreams of flying, on a virtual expedition through a bustling airport and a control tower as he turns his aviation aspirations into reality, despite his inability to fly. This book excels at simplifying intricate concepts, using vibrant illustrations and intriguing facts to captivate children's imaginations. Whether your child aspires to be a pilot or seeks to quench their curiosity about the mechanics of airplanes, this book serves as an ideal springboard to the soaring world of aviation.

Geared towards aspiring aviators and airplane enthusiasts ages 6-9, this book is an educational resource that encourages curiosity and a passion for aviation. With its sturdy pages, vivid illustrations, and fun facts, it offers an immersive hands-on experience of the skies that simplifies complex concepts engagingly. The combination of modern graphics and Karl's charismatic guidance turns learning about airplanes into a delightful adventure, fostering a lifelong love for aviation while providing valuable educational content in an accessible format.

Review Quotes

Selected for the Reading Rockets Summer Reading Guide 2024.

"Planes is a fun little story that follows Karl the Kiwi on his adventure learning to fly! The illustrations are fun and vibrant. They tie in with the text perfectly, not only elaborating what is written in the text, but also lending themselves to being an additional learning resource." --Cherokee Crum, YA Books Central

"ALL ABOARD! PLANES is another delightful installment in this informative picture book series. What I loved: This is such a clever series that works well for older preschoolers and young elementary school aged readers who love vehicles. The language is super-accessible and easy to understand with enough detail that children will be learning some new things without feeling bogged down by information. The colorful images and illustrations for each element add to the fun and work well for the picture book aged crowd, who need visuals to stay engaged and focused. There is plenty to learn on each page, as young readers can easily explore the different topics. The font is easy to read throughout, with color changes to white on dark backgrounds that makes it clear on each page. One of the best parts is the last page spread where it invites children to think of how planes may be different in the future. This invitation to imagination is always a big hit at our house, starting young readers off with some ideas before they can come up with their own. The backmatter includes an image of the inside of a plane for additional play as well. Final verdict: ALL ABOARD! PLANES is a delightful and educational picture book that is sure to be a hit with vehicle lovers." --Olivia Farr, YA Books Central

"Slick digital illustrations and copious amounts of informational text march across the thick cardboard pages (10 in total). Karl's hiding in every scene, so looking for the maroon kiwi will be another activity.The vocabulary level was pretty high for a board book: bathyscaph, plumb line, hydrostatic pressure, combustion chamber, stratocumulus, turbulence, etc. On the plus side, the board book construction seemed sturdy, so if toddlers just want to look at the pictures and find Karl, they'll be happy." --Susan Harari, Youth Services Book Review

"Planes is a great book for kids of all ages! With fun pictures and extensive information, all ages could learn from this book. I definitely would buy this for my library." --Librarian, Nativity Prep Boston

"Verdict: This book does a great job of explaining complicated concepts simply and the addition of the kiwi makes it fun without being too childish. A strong addition to collections of vehicles, I will be looking for other books in this series to add." --Jean Little Library

"The All Aboard! series from Albatros Media is excellent, and this entry, *Planes*, is no exception. Wonderful and detailed graphics and a cute character to lead readers through it all, as well as a wealth of information, make *Planes* a wonderful read for young readers and those who read with them. All of the information is presented in a detailed, scientific, but child-friendly way. An excellent addition to any library." --shonatiger, blogger

"PLANES is the third book in the ALL ABOARD! collection and just swipe to take a look inside. I love that we learn thanks to Karl the Kiwi, who wishes he could fly to see the world, so how can he do it? Through his exploration we learn about the history and current world of aviation in a fun and engaging way. I know this "grown up" learnt some, too!" --Froggy Read Teach, IG

"All Aboard! Planes is part of an incredible nonfiction series for kids! This book has sturdy pages that are full of interesting facts and clever illustrations presented in such an engaging way. I highly recommend this one for your next flight!" --Fun Reads for Kids, IG

"With its sturdy pages, vivid illustrations, and fun facts, it offers an immersive hands-on experience of the skies that simplifies complex concepts engagingly. The modern graphics turns learning about airplanes into a delightful adventure, fostering a lifelong love for aviation while providing valuable educational content in an accessible format." --A Blue Box Full of Books, IG

About the Author

Radka Piro is a bookworm, a passionate traveler, and a creative storyteller. After studying foreign languages, she set out to explore the distant corners of the world and discover her true purpose. Now, she is a successful writer and editor, based in the Czech Republic.

Diarmuid O Cathain is an Irish illustrator and picture book maker. After obtaining a degree in Visual Communications, he worked in the Graphic Design field, before pursuing a career in Illustration. With over 10 years of freelance illustration experience, Diarmuid has worked with a wide range of clients, both Irish and international, on a variety of projects from editorial and advertising to packaging and animation. He is always looking for new opportunities to collaborate and new visual challenges to sink his teeth into.