Svoboda, Tomas Smot. Up, up, and Away: The History of Aviation. Tomas Smot Svoboda, Illus. Translated from the Czech by Andrew Oakland. Albatross, 07/2025. 57pp. Nonfiction. Trade $19.95. 978-80-00-07460-3. GRADES 3–5. ADDITIONAL.
Readers interested in the history of flight — how humans began to fly, who developed various theories of aviation, and what early flying machines looked like — will find this title useful. Beginning with the ancient discoveries by the Greeks, Svoboda provides a broad and informative overview of the many advances which led up to today’s planes and helicopters. Short text blocks are positioned in various parts of the pages, along with many detailed digital illustrations demonstrating the various mechanical principles behind flight, and various examples of flying machines. Svoboda’s engaging presentation keeps the years moving as the pages turn, with only one small issue where a plane (the Voyager) is written about twice, instead of providing the description of a different plane on the next page (shown with solar panels on the wings). Useful for those exploring the story of flight.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library