Review of "The Wright Brothers" by Pamela Duncan Edwards

This book celebrates the 100th birthday of manned flight. Wilbur and Orville Wright are the most famous names in this field, of course, since they built the first powered airplane. But this children's book also tells us that at one time they were just regular boys with a healthy dose of curiosity. Their father once gave them a toy they liked, and the boys decided to build their own printing press.

As young men they opened a printing shop and later a bicycle shop. They were always tinkering around with physics and mechanics with the aim of flight as their true passion. It was in 1903 that they achieved their dream by making man's first powered flight at Kitty Hawk.

Inside the cover of this colorful book is a wonderful pink ribbon that winds across the both front pages. The whole history is chronicled on this ribbon. To keep the reading light and entertaining, the story is told by small mice who are watching and commenting on the brothers. The book is illustrated by Henry Cole and is an excellent lesson on the beginning of flight that goes on to talk about some current aircraft and how the Wright Brothers' work is still applied in building them.