Up, Up, And Away✈️: 10 Books To Prep Kids For Flying
A guest post from Sri Juneja
Good morning!
Today I have a guest post for you from one of my very favorite Substackers-writing-about-children’s-books, Sri Juneja, who writes
, which is chock-full of helpful recommendations and tips for those moments when, as caregivers, we have an opportunity to impart life lessons, values, and how to be a good human in the world. (Trust me and just subscribe — go ahead, I’ll wait.)One of the things I love most about this strange little bubble of the Substack universe is that those of us writing about children’s books and raising readers come up with so many different ideas and booklists — and the beautiful part is that even with more and more of us, none of us will ever cover them all.
So when I was devouring Sri’s archives — as one does when one is fan-girling, hard— and came across her roundup of books to prep kids for flying, I knew immediately I wanted to ask her if I could repost it.
Because she’s generous and lovely, she said yes, and that’s what I have for you today.
(All of the links here are Sri’s, just FYI.)
‘Tis the season for vacations and getaways! As the weather starts to warm up here in the northern hemisphere, many of us are planning a break away from the usual routine. I am traveling overseas in Europe and while I’m so very excited to get away from the mundaneness of everyday life, the closer I get to a flying day the more dread I feel. Flying with a toddler will do that to you. I’ve flown several times so you’d think I’d feel comfortable by now but each flight is uniquely different—easier in some ways and harder in others. If you have any travel tips for traveling with kids or want to share a funny travel story, please leave a comment at the end of this post. I’m sure we could all use both in the face of travel which can sometimes be stressful.
For kids who might be overwhelmed at the airport…
Airport
Written and Illustrated by: Byron Barton
Recommended Ages: 1-3 years old
In very few words, this book captures the experience of flying. Starting from arriving at the airport to boarding a plane, each page shares a different step in the process with no more than 5-6 words. Because the illustrations are spread across two pages, it draws the reader into the scene. The bright, colorful artwork is simple and appealing. Between the text and artwork, this book is a great one for babies and toddlers to conceptually understand what to expect while traveling.
Links to buy: AbeBooks
Busy Airport
Written by: Gaby Goldsack | Illustrated by: Jan Smith
Recommended Ages: 3-5 years old
This lift-the-flap book shares what to expect as you progress through the airport. The flaps showcase behind-the-scenes elements to help kids learn about what they’re seeing and its purpose. Light enough to travel with, this book would be a fun one to carry along and have the kids “map” where they are in the book and learn as they go. Like an airport itself, the illustrations here are dizzying and congested so, from a visual standpoint, right on the money for what to expect! However, if you have a kid who is sensitive to overcrowded images, I would pass on this one.
Links to buy: ThriftBooks
The Airport Book
Written and Illustrated by: Lisa Brown
Recommended Ages: 3-7 years old
This book is perfect for reading as a family. Get the adults involved because I’m sure they’ll appreciate this one too. A multiracial family of four (mom, dad, big bro, and little sis) is taking a trip. The story starts at home as everyone packs to leave and head to the airport. As the family moves through the airport, the big brother narrates what he sees and experiences. You can see all the different—very diverse!—people at the airport and eavesdrop on snippets of their conversations. It’s a great example of the excellent people-watching you can find at the airport. As you read, you may want to discuss which part of the book your kid is most excited to experience in real life. Throughout the story, little sis wants her stuffed monkey (see if the kids can find it!) and the nervous glances between the parents are just A+. This book also briefly covers the experience of actually flying in the plane so it checks that box as well. There are also some lovely easter eggs peppered throughout; for example, the limo driver waiting for someone named ‘Earhart’ at Baggage Claim. The illustrations are gorgeous pencil artwork with soft, muted colors. And they are exquisitely clever in their detail—as the cowboy walks through the x-ray machine you can see what is in his luggage on the security officer’s computer. While this book’s illustrations are busy and crowded, the soft colors and the balance of white space help soften feelings of overwhelm. This book is riveting and a lot of fun!
Links to buy: Bookshop.org*
For kids who are flying for the first time…
Kevin Takes A Trip
Written and Illustrated by: Liesbet Slegers
Recommended Ages: 0-2 years old
This adorable read features toddler Kevin traveling by plane with his grandmother. Each page highlights a new part of their journey from the airport to getting meal service on the plane. Kevin’s exuberance is contagious and would remind even a seasoned traveler how exciting air travel can be. With only one scene focused on the airport, much of the book is about Kevin’s experience on the plane itself. What I appreciated about this book is that it doesn’t shy away from highlighting the discomfort that might be caused when a plane takes off. In this book, Kevin feels the plane’s lurching take off in the pit of his stomach and his teddy bear gives him some comfort. This is great to help prepare your kid if you’re worried they may have some trouble adjusting either due to their ears popping or that weird, butterfly sensation in their stomach. It’s written in Kevin’s voice and feels like it’s written by a kid for other kids from the childish typeface to the warm, inviting, child-like artwork.
Links to buy: ThriftBooks
Bearplane!
Written by: Deborah Underwood | Illustrated by: Sam Wedelich
Recommended Ages: 2-7 years old
This beautiful, rhyming book does an excellent job preparing a kid for their first airplane, or rather, “bearplane,” ride. Beginning at home, Cub gets ready for their first flight with their grown-up. Together, Cub journeys through the bearport and then the bearplane to arrive at their final destination. In this particular rendition of a flight, it’s the thoughtful details that set this book apart. From knowing which bag to put in the overhead compartments or under the seat to the right bearplane etiquette (like not kicking the seat in front of you), this book paints a realistic picture of what traveling is actually like. If you’re particularly worried about a specific part of the journey, you may want to discuss it with your kid as you get to that part in the book and problem-solve it together. And I love that the last scene in the book shows Cub having fun at the destination which is a lovely nod that the ups and downs of travel are often worth it. But it’s all done in a way that’s engaging and exciting. Beautifully depicted, the digital artwork is clean and engaging with soft colors and attention to detail (like the snacks on the food cart!).
Links to buy: Bookshop.org*
I Fly
Written by: Anne Rockwell | Illustrated by: Annette Cable
Recommended Ages: 6-9 years old
For older readers who may be flying for the first time (or after a long time), this book does a great job of gently walking through the experience from the perspective of a bigger kid who is flying solo. There is no focus on the airport at all; this book is entirely dedicated to the flight. The language is so beautifully descriptive supported by the bright, stunning illustrations. This book is imbued with confidence—the boy narrates what to expect so matter-of-factly—that will rub off on your kid too. The young boy shares not only what is happening but how it feels:
Jet engines begin to roar. The sound grows louder and louder. Our plane starts down the runway—fast, then faster, faster, faster! Then I feel it. I feel the big plane lift off the ground, into the air. I feel it in my stomach first, and then my ears.
What stands out about this book is that it is written for an older, more aware reader so it emphasizes the awesome feat that is flying: the tiny, dotted landscape lying below to the fuzzy fogginess of floating through a cloud. Ask your kid what they think they’ll see and how they’ll feel when they look out the window on the plane.
The book features diverse characters (impressive for a book published in the late 90s!) and the colored pencil illustrations do a splendid job of evoking reverence for the act of flying.
Links to buy: Thriftbooks
BONUS: Going On An Airplane by ReadySetPrep
This book is perfect if you want to prepare your kids (2-5 years old) for their flight by showing actual photographs of what to expect at the airport and on the plane. Very light and small so it’s easy to bring along on your trip as well!
Links to buy: Bookshop.org*
For kids who are nervous fliers…
Vacation For Dexter
Written and Illustrated by: Lindsay Ward
Recommended Ages: 3-6 years old
Oh my goodness, this book is giggles and brightness all rolled into one. The story is told from Dexter T. Rexter’s (a stuffed toy) point-of-view and Dexter has never flown before. Caught unaware that their trip to Florida involves flying, Dexter is very scared about being on a plane and starts to get overwhelmed. But when Dexter sees Jack (his human pal) is scared too, Dexter focuses on comforting Jack. They both overcome their fears by holding on tight to each other and singing their favorite song. When you get to this part of the story, ask your kid what would make them comfortable if they start to feel nervous or scared on the plane. Once they acclimate, Dexter and Jack realize how cool it is to fly way up high above the world. I loved the tongue-in-cheek humor that kids and adults will appreciate. And the bold, vivacious pencil drawings are exciting and, unexpectedly, reassuring. The artwork is very cool—it feels like a child has cut out hand drawings and overlaid them on top of each other to create a cool 3-D effect. This is such a delightful romp of a book that will cheer up your child and, perhaps, even get them excited for their travels!
Links to buy: Thriftbooks
Olvina Flies
Written and Illustrated by: Grace Lin
Recommended Ages: 5-8 years old
Olvina is a chicken and everyone knows chickens don’t fly even if it means she’ll miss the bird convention. But when Olvina starts to recount all the fun things she’s missed because of her fear of flying she realizes that she’s just going to have to overcome her fear and fly on a plane (obviously, because chickens don’t fly!). Then Olvina makes a friend on the plane who reframes her perspective on flying. They start talking, and, before Olvina knows it, she’s in Hawaii! I love the double meaning throughout the story as Olvina reminds everyone that she’s a chicken… in more ways than one. It may be helpful for you and your kid to brainstorm all the fun activities planned for your trip and have them anchor to that when they become apprehensive about flying. The gouache illustrations are bright and cozy and you can’t help but fall in love with Olvina and her world. The details are particularly lovable—in one scene, as Olvina is flying on the plane, you can see birds flying outside with their luggage, no doubt on their way to the bird convention.
Links to buy: Thriftbooks
For kids who want to learn about these flying contraptions…
Peep Inside: How A Plane Works
Written by: Lara Bryan | Illustrated by: Caroline Attia
Recommended Ages: 2-5 years old
This sweet little lift-the-flap book does a great job of letting curious kids know what’s going on at the airport and inside a plane by keeping it simple. The colorful illustrations present just enough detail to pique a kid’s interest without overburdening them. You can peep at the different equipment that helps a plane get ready for a flight, the inner workings of the plane itself, and what happens for landing. This board book is light and compact enough to bring if your kid would prefer to have a reference guide accompany them on their travels. As you read this book with your kid, if they have any questions, encourage them to save those questions for the flight attendants on their journey. It’ll be a great way to get them excited and build rapport with the best allies on a plane!
Links to buy: Thriftbooks
Ask A Pilot
Written by: Justin Kelley | Illustrated by: David Miles
Recommended Ages: 7-12 years old
If you have an experienced jet setter on your hands who isn’t too keen on flying because it’s old news, this book might be the one to get them excited again. As a jaded traveler myself, I thought this book would be fun to flip through—well, 100 pages later I can confirm it’s a terrific read. The book is essentially a Q&A broken into sections. The sections touch upon what happens at the airport, on the airplane, how planes work, and information about pilots. The answers certainly contain some complex topics (i.e. hydraulics) but the author (a pilot himself) has done a nice job of providing examples that are relatable to big kids. For example, when explaining turbulence:
Have you ever been on a boat? Or maybe you have watched the ripples in the water while standing on the shore. Just like the water, when air moves over uneven ground like mountains and valleys, it swirls and ripples. These ripples can be small or large, and sometimes they’re big enough that you can feel them thousands of feet above ground.
The graphics are easy to understand and do a great job of visualizing concepts. I can imagine this being a good book for a big kid to bring with them and find the relevant Q&A based on whatever has piqued their interest at that moment. A great win to keep them engaged, occupied, and learning / rediscovering the coolness of air travel!
Links to buy: Bookshop.org*
*Thank you for using (at no additional cost to you) the affiliate links in this post.
I totally love the same thing about this community. My 10-year-old daughter asked me last night if I’ll ever run out of ideas for writing about kids’ books. I told her, no, I have too many actually. There’s so much to write about!
For someone who is about to take two three-year-olds on a plane for the first time, this is very timely! Is there also a book to prep grownups for what to expect from their children??? (Ha!) Thanks for the recommendations!