Sprouting Wings: The True Story of James Herman Banning, the First African American Pilot to Fly Across the United States - Hardcover

Jaggar, Louisa; Becker, Shari

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1984847627 ISBN 13: 9781984847621

Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers, 2021

Synopsis

The inspirational and true story of James Herman Banning, the first African American pilot to fly across the country, comes to life in this picture book biography perfect for fans of Hidden Figures and Little Leaders. Includes art from a Coretta Scott King award-winning illustrator.

James Herman Banning always dreamed of touching the sky. But how could a farm boy from Oklahoma find a plane? And how would he learn to fly it? None of the other pilots looked like him. Despite the challenges and prejudices that stood in his way, James knew he belonged above the clouds.

In a journey that would span 3,300 miles, take twenty-one days, and inspire a nation, James Herman Banning proved that you can't put barriers on dreams. Louisa Jaggar incorporates over seven years of research, including Banning's own writings and an interview with the aviator's great-nephew. She teams up with cowriter Shari Becker and award-winning illustrator Floyd Cooper to capture Banning's historic flight across the United States.
 
"A pathos-filled picture book that celebrates the life of a figure in American history who hasn't been featured often." -School Library Journal, Starred Review

About this title

About the Author

Louisa Jaggar has been a columnist for Washington Parent and has contributed articles to Diversion and the online site Family Travel Network. She has written for PBS and the University of Chicago, among others. She lives near Washington, D.C.

Shari Becker was born in Montreal, Quebec, and was raised speaking both English and French. She has an MA from New York University and has worked for Nickelodeon, several Disney-owned companies, and even an Emmy Award-winning puppeteer. She is the author of two picture books, including Maxwell's Mountain, a Junior Library Guild Selection and Charlotte Zolotow Honor Book. She lives in Massachusetts, with her husband, their two daughters, and their dog.

Floyd Cooper received a Coretta Scott King Award for his illustrations in The Blacker the Berry and a Coretta Scott King Honor for Brown Honey in Broomwheat Tea and I Have Heard of a Land. Born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Floyd received a degree in fine arts from the University of Oklahoma and, after graduating, worked as an artist for a major greeting card company. In 1984, he came to New York City to pursue a career as an illustrator of books, and he now lives in Easton, Pennsylvania, with his wife and children.

Reviews

K-Gr 2-This picture book biography recounts the story of James Herman Banning, from his first encounter with a real "birdman" in Thomas, OK, in 1911 to a lifelong love of flying. Despite his passion and hard work, Banning struggled to find someone willing to teach him to fly because he was a Black man. Ultimately, a white lieutenant named Raymond Fisher became his teacher and friend. After Fisher was killed in a plane crash in 1926, Banning had to build his own plane from scrap and spare parts to continue his career in aviation. In 1929 Banning took a position at William Powell's all-Black flight school, the Bessie Coleman Aero Club, in Los Angeles. Then in 1932 with airplane mechanic Thomas Cox Allen-the Flying Hobos, so named because of the help they received from the communities where they landed-he undertook a 21-day journey from Los Angeles to New York City in an Eaglerock plane. Back matter explains that Jaggar and researcher Pat Smith pieced together this account of the Flying Hobos based on articles from historical Black newspapers, interviews with Banning's descendants, and an unpublished manuscript written by Thomas Cox Allen that detailed their flight across the country. Cooper's expansive illustrations are rendered in muted earth tones, with an impressionistic, dreamlike quality. VERDICT A pathos-filled picture book that celebrates the life of a figure in American history who hasn't been featured often in children's books. Recommended for all nonfiction collections.-Kelly Topita, Anne Arundel County P.L., MDα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Edition details

• Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1984847627
• ISBN 13: 9781984847621
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Cooper Floyd
• Number of pages: 48