Synopses & Reviews
When Wilbur and Orville's father brought home a small flying machine, the two brothers tossed the toy in the air over and over until it broke. Their sister, Katherine, watched as they examined it and fixed it until it was better than new. The toy flying machine was the beginning of a remarkable collaboration, one that would continue for years and culminate in the successful airplane flight at Kitty Hawk.
Orville and Wilbur's sister, Katherine Wright, was an important part of this team. While social conventions kept her close to the family home, she became involved in her brothers' bicycle shop and their printing press, as well as their numerous other inventions and projects. Wilbur directed, Orville tinkered, and Katherine encouraged them every step of the way.
Here is the story of Wilbur and Orville Wright, as told from the perspective of someone who was there. Detailed paintings by an award-winning illustrator show the complexity of their achievement, and the stunning panoramas celebrate their triumph.
Review
"Burke's beautifully composed, full-page illustrations suit the tone of the text with their quiet dignity." Carolyn Phelan, Library Journal (starred review)
Review
"In this centennial year, the voice of another Wright sibling is welcome." School Library Journal
Review
"Told in free verse, the narrative focuses on Will and Orv and their achievements, but underlying all that is Yolen's quiet appreciation of the woman who believed in their dream and minded their house and even their shop while they worked toward achieving it." Booklist, starred review
About the Author
Jane Yolen is the award-winning author of more than 150 books for children, including The Girl in the Golden Bower, All Those Secrets of the World, Honkers, and Letting Swift River Go. Jane Yolen and her husband divide their time between a one-hundred-year-old farmhouse in Hatfield, Massachusetts, and a house called "Wayside" in Scotland.