Flying Solo.

Flying Solo

Kristi Stephas & Rachael Smith

Toy Truck Publishing

4602 Lilac Lane North, Lake Elmo, MN 55042

0976498324 $16.95 1-612-716-8383 www.toytruckpublishing.com

In Flying Solo, author Kristi Stephas (an elementary school teacher for six years and a flight attendant for seven years) has written a picturebook that is wonderfully illustrated by Rachael Smith resulting in an ideal introduction for young children to what they can expect and experience if they should fly unaccompanied on an aircraft today. Following three children--one on her first solo flight ever, one who is a frequent flyer because her parents are divorced, and one who is traveling to San Diego for surf camp--Flying Solo teaches young people about what it's like to check one's luggage through security, how to make one's ears "pop" at high altitudes (by yawning or chewing gum), what it's like to see the world from high in the sky, and more. The friendly color illustrations are accompanied by a fair amount of text; Flying Solo is written simply but is not an "easy reader" book and very young readers may need a little help from adults sounding out the words or reading the book together. An excellent book to read with young people before undertaking any aircraft flight, whether solo or together.