Synopsis
Air Force One examines the history of the president's plane.
Kris Sauer - Children's Literature
It is the traveling symbol of the United States. It is a flying White House. It is an ambassador for America. One of its predecessors, the Sacred Cow, was the birthplace of the U. S. Air Force. It stands five stories tall and is almost as long as a football field. It is Air Force One. In what could have been a straightforward account of America's most important plane, Santella weaves an interesting story of the plane's birth, development and current operations. Providing a wealth of historic context, the book walks the reader through Air Force One's development from Franklin Delano Roosevelt's historic secret flight in 1943 to World War II's Casablanca Conference, to Lyndon Johnson's swearing in after John F. Kennedy's assassination in 1963, to George W. Bush's safe haven flight on September 11, 2001. Covering world and political developments, the book also details how aviation has progressed from propeller-driven modified cargo planes to today's technology-driven jumbo jets. This is an excellent resource. Middle school students will appreciate the short chapters, engaging text and interesting photos. An index and list of additional resources are likewise well done. 2003, The Millbrook Press, Ages 8 to 12.
Editorials
Children's Literature
It is the traveling symbol of the United States. It is a flying White House. It is an ambassador for America. One of its predecessors, the Sacred Cow, was the birthplace of the U. S. Air Force. It stands five stories tall and is almost as long as a football field. It is Air Force One. In what could have been a straightforward account of America's most important plane, Santella weaves an interesting story of the plane's birth, development and current operations. Providing a wealth of historic context, the book walks the reader through Air Force One's development from Franklin Delano Roosevelt's historic secret flight in 1943 to World War II's Casablanca Conference, to Lyndon Johnson's swearing in after John F. Kennedy's assassination in 1963, to George W. Bush's safe haven flight on September 11, 2001. Covering world and political developments, the book also details how aviation has progressed from propeller-driven modified cargo planes to today's technology-driven jumbo jets. This is an excellent resource. Middle school students will appreciate the short chapters, engaging text and interesting photos. An index and list of additional resources are likewise well done. 2003, The Millbrook Press, Ages 8 to 12.— Kris Sauer