In a robust tale for Traction Man fans, the diminutive pilot that Jack finds beneath the Christmas tree roars off in his newly assembled airplane for a series of wild adventures. His commentary laced with “pilot talk” that will have readers flipping to the endpaper glossary, the Captain survives lightning (“Time for a nylon letdown!”) and being sucked into a whale’s blowhole (“Uh-oh! Gotta punch out of this gomer!”) before finding a huge and familiar warehouse stocked with toys (“NOW I’M SPOOLED UP!”). Sporting a cool flight suit and the requisite cap and goggles, the intrepid aviator makes his way through one comical crisis after another—ultimately steering Santa’s sleigh through a howling storm (“WE’VE HIT THE GOO! ALLOW ME TO PILOT THIS BIRD!”) to a safe Touchdown on Jack’s roof and a happy reunion. (Picture book. 5-7)
