ABCs on Wings

by Ramon Olivera, Ramon Olivera (Illustrator)

Overview

The alphabet takes flight in this vividly illustrated picture book of aviation from A to Z!

From A is for ace to Z is for zeppelin, this high-flying alphabet book presents the ABCs through the amazing world of aviation. Get to know biplanes, carriers, gliders, jets, and many more vehicles of flight in this book filled with bold, graphic illustrations that soar off the pages!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781481432429
Publisher:	Little Simon
Publication date:	07/21/2015
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	9.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD390L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Ramon Olivera has been drawing things with wings ever since he was a kid. He grew up in Santa Clara, California, watching P-3C Orions (and an occasional Blue Angel) take to the skies from nearby Moffett Field. Ramon graduated from San Jose State University with a BS in illustration. Since then he’s been working as an illustrator in Kansas City, Missouri. Ramon lives with his wife, two kids, a big black dog, and a little black cat. Visit him online at RamonOlivera.com.

Ramon Olivera has been drawing things with wings ever since he was a kid. He grew up in Santa Clara, California, watching P-3C Orions (and an occasional Blue Angel) take to the skies from nearby Moffett Field. Ramon graduated from San Jose State University with a BS in illustration. Since then he’s been working as an illustrator in Kansas City, Missouri. Ramon lives with his wife, two kids, a big black dog, and a little black cat. Visit him online at RamonOlivera.com.

Editorial Reviews

06/08/2015
Olivera makes a polished and assured debut with this aeronautical alphabet book whose crisp, clean digital images, while not explicitly retro, still evoke a Pan Am–era chicness. Most spreads feature two well-paired letters/words—at sea under a pale yellow sky, an aircraft carrier covers both “Cc is for carrier” and “Dd is for deck.” Olivera also includes glancing references to aviation history (“Kk is for Kitty Hawk”), navigation, and interplanetary travel: in a humorous rural night scene, a grazing cow is shown wide-eyed under the beam of a UFO. On the facing page, for V, the cow has “vanished.” Ages 3–7. Agent: Jennifer Mattson, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. (July)

Publishers Weekly

06/01/2015
PreS-Gr 2—"Aa is for ace" and "Bb is for biplane" in this retro-style alphabet book that is all about aviation. Each letter is displayed in both upper- and lowercase, and paired with an item or term relating to flight. The bold illustrations are simple yet whimsical, and the color palette dominated by teal, red-orange, golden yellow, and black translates nicely to depictions ranging from Kitty Hawk to a rocket. Words and concepts vary from simple and familiar—F is for fuel, J is for jet—to more complex ones, likely to spark further questions and conversation from young readers: U is for U.F.O.; V is for vanished; and X is for "X axis," paired with an engineering blueprint image. The bright colors and popular theme will appeal to children interested in flight. VERDICT A smart addition for elementary collections with frequent requests for airplane books.—Whitney LeBlanc, Staten Island Academy, NY

School Library Journal

2015-04-01
Fasten your seat belts: here's another alphabet book featuring airplanes. Does this one take flight over the others? The geometric shapes and colorful graphic images make this one quite attractive. One or two words are assigned to each letter, displayed in both upper and lower cases, usually two letters to a double-page spread. Some words are natural choices—"Aa is for ace. / Bb is for biplane"—while others will require explanation. "Cc is for carrier. / Dd is for deck" shows a plane taking off from an aircraft carrier. "Kk is for Kitty Hawk" occupies a double-page spread of its own and depicts a triumphant Wilbur aboard the Wright Flyer with Orville running along behind in the sand. Olivera has mixed success for the tricky letters, offering up "quick," "UFO" (paired playfully if rather opaquely for the audience with "vanished"), "X axis," and "zeppelin." Most spreads include humans interacting with the key object. Though there is no legend, there are enough interesting terms to hold kids' attention, especially those who are fascinated with airplanes. Variations in perspective and the mood of the artwork keep the two-dimensional scenes from feelng static while retaining the posterlike style. This title lines up between a realistic approach and a comic one, soaring along nicely. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews