YU-LAN: Flying Boy of China

The story of a Chinese village lad who loves planes and wants to learn all about them in spite of the traditions his father attempts to teach him. An American pilot makes a forced landing in a rice field and Yu Lan endears himself to the man by his courage, generosity and intelligent curiosity. He is vividly reminded of his own kid brother and determines to help his Chinese friend to get away from the village to study in a big city school for air cadets. He gains the parents' consent by proving to them the need of Chinese pilots in a world of the future. A pleasant direct little story with social values unobtrusively and charmingly handled. Third and fourth grade level.