TOUCHING THE SKY

Another unusual approach to the celebration of the Wright brothers’ achievement, this one focuses on their historic flights in 1909 in New York City and Germany. Written in free verse, the first half recounts how Wilbur performed spectacular flying demonstrations for New York City’s Hudson-Fulton Celebration: flying over New York Harbor, looping the Statue of Liberty, and traveling up the Hudson River past Grant’s Tomb. Though most New Yorkers had never seen a flying machine, everyone had heard of the Wright brothers, and they were thrilled. Meanwhile, Orville was setting new records in Germany, flying the highest ever and making the longest flight with a passenger (the Crown Prince). Watercolor illustrations add dimension to this unique recognition of two American heroes. An epilogue, maps of Manhattan and Europe, and an aviation time line complete the research. While the format looks like an early reader, the length and language make this more appropriate for middle readers. (Nonfiction. 8-11)