Featuring:

ages 8-12 years

ISBN: 1-882859-02-2

$14.95 Hardcover
112 pages 1999

Patria Press, Inc.

You can buy Amelia Earhart, Young Air PioneerVolume 1, Young Patriots Series now, from

Amelia Earhart, Young Air Pioneer
Volume 1, Young Patriots Series

by Jane Moore Howe

Amelia Earhart, Young Air Pioneer is the first book in a new series of fictional biographies for young readers. Finally, kids can re-visit the historical childhood adventures of famous Americans who contributed to the great American dream.

This book was originally published in 1950 and 1961 under the title, Amelia Earhart: Kansas Girl, in the Childhood of Famous Americans Series by the Bobbs-Merrill Co. However, Indiana publisher Patria Press, Inc. has redesigned and republished it with a new hardcover, format, illustrations and some editorial revisions. The series is expected to include 35 volumes which will re-introduce childhood adventures of famous Americans (in narrative form) to a new generation of kids.

My 7-year-old son, Tim, is a prolific reader and jumped at the opportunity to read this book. He found this book interesting and quickly identified with Amelia and her family. In fact, when asked to describe Amelia, he said she was "a very brave and smart girl".

Aimed at kids ages 8-12, teachers should note that the book meets US National Standards for United States History in grades K-4.

Girls and boys will likely identify with young Amelia in this 15-chapter book. The story is nicely laid out with 17 black and white illustrations, which keeps kids turning pages for more!

The story begins in the summer of 1904 as the Earhart family and 7-year-old Amelia travels a train heading to Atchison, Kansas for a visit to Grandma's House.

Author Jane Moore Howe does a delightful job in painting pictures with descriptive words and authentic details which help children experience young Amelia's adventures. Now an octogenarian, Ms. Howe corresponded with Amelia Earhart's sister, Muriel, while writing the book in 1949, to get an accurate portrayal and "necessary details" of her childhood by mentioning incidents which actually occurred.

On page 7, Amelia discovers the true meaning of being a pioneer in America, which sets the stage for the rest of her life.

Chapters include:

• Amelia Comes to Grandma's House
• James Ferocious
• It's Just Like Flying
• School Days in Atchison
• James Ferocious and the Stagecoach
• The State Fair in Des Moines
• Amelia Goes Exploring
• Christmastime at Grandma's
• Christmas Day
• The New Sled
• Mama Reads Black Beauty
• Graduation
• First Flight
• Flying Lessons
• A Real Pilot

After children finish reading the chapters, they can read about What Happened Next?, which details the record-breaking years in which Amelia became the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean as a passenger, and then as a solo pilot (the very first woman to do so!) and finally, the first person to fly alone across the Pacific Ocean from Hawaii to California.

Another page deals with The Mystery of Amelia Earhart and explains the tragedy that followed in 1937, where Ms. Earhart and a navigator disappeared on a record-breaking flight around the world. Teachers will find this a good lesson-planning topic and can involve children in a series of "what if's" in attempting to solve the mystery of Amelia Earhart.

By the way, the first six volumes in the Young Patriots Series will feature the childhood adventures of American heroes and heroines with Indiana connections. Planned releases will include William Henry Harrison, James Whitcomb Riley and Lew Wallace, author of Ben Hur.

What kids will learn by reading this book:

• American history
• In-depth look at a famous American heroine's childhood
• Reading/vocabulary skills
• Importance of courage and independence
• Importance of role models, especially for girls
• Importance of dreams and goals