Hello, airplane!

It's time to fly! Lyrical, accessible text ("The airplane says good-bye to the ground. / The airplane says hello to the sky") and pleasant, focused illustrations from various perspectives introduce the very young to the world of flight in this descriptive selection reminiscent of the work of Byron Barton and Donald Crews. From takeoff to landing, this brief tale offers a straightforward, accurate and child-friendly account of some of the aspects of an aircraft journey (who is in the plane, where it flies, who and what it passes over and through, when it flies, etc.) as well as what the pilot might see from the cockpita particularly arresting image. While there is nothing startlingly new here, and a board-book format might be preferable given the intended audience, toddlers and young listeners will still enjoy the various images of the plane and its surroundings as the aircraft makes its way to a satisfying destination. Adults hoping to introduce first-time passengers to the experience should note that there is no discussion of what a child should expect in the airport. A nice choice for those who love planes or who are about to fly for the first time. (Picture book. 2-5) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.