The Little Bush Plane That Can

In the time-honored picture book tradition of “little engines that can,” Alaskan author Brooke Hartman’s The Littlest Airplane takes readers on a “small but mighty” challenge with a twist: rescuing stranded hikers in the northern wilderness.

                                

 

Hartman’s story in rhythmic, rhyming verse begins on a runway. First the mighty turboprop airplane displays its virtues, “sturdy and quick.” Next comes the cargo plane, “brawny and long,”

 

 

 

 

followed by the jet plane, “her engines a-blast.” Finally we see the little bush plane off to the side, wondering, “I’m not strong. I’m not speedy. What good can I do?”

 

 

                               

 

Well of course the little bush plane can — and does — do good. When the other planes fail to reach a pair of hikers caught in a snow storm, precisely because they are too big and too fast to land in a small clearing, the Littlest Airplane comes to the rescue.

 

 

 

If the outcome is predictable to adults, it is nonetheless wholeheartedly satisfying, especially to little readers who are routinely told they aren’t big enough to do things.

 

What distinguishes this story, in addition to the setting, is the information intriguing to young minds interested in “things that go.” Take for instance this description of the little bush plane’s landing approach: “His strut-mounted wings gave him excellent sight./His speed? Not too fast. His propeller? Just right.” Illustrations by John Joseph capture the personalities of the planes while adhering to mechanical details, as well as conveying the feelings of speed and motion. 

 

Endpapers extend the story by setting the wilderness scene with just a hint of the drama to come, and at the end, returning quietly to wilderness. Final pages include an illustrated guide to “Parts of a Bush Plane,” as well as a note with further information about bush planes.

I can't resist adding that my two-year-old grandson loves this book. He insists that we return repeatedly to the pages that feature all four airplanes so he can compare and identify them. He enjoys trying out interesting terms like “turboprop” and “propeller” and "cargo plane." Discussions of wing placement and wheels have given rise to explanations of landing on the ground with wheels and on water with floats. He now searches airplanes overhead for evidence of wheels vrs. pontoons. Perhaps the Littlest Airplane will venture onto the water next? I know one little boy who would be thrilled!

Listening to The Wind and the Trees

The Wind and the Trees by Canadian author/illustrator Todd Stewart is a deceptively simple story that conveys fundamental knowledge about the cycles of life and the interconnectedness of trees and their environment in a pitch-perfect synthesis of art and text.

The Wind and the Trees, written and illustrated by Todd Steward.
Published by Owl Kids Books in English in 2021.
Originally published as Quand le vent soufflé in 2019.

In 180 words (yes, I counted them!) Stewart tells the story of these relationships. In the beginning, one tree is mature and the other is a new seedling. By the end, much has changed, largely portrayed through an unspoken storyline provided by the illustrations.

Hello!/Hello.

The shape of clouds, movement of birds, bending of boughs, and slant of precipitation all express the impact of that invisible force, the wind. Vibrant, changing color palettes in double-page spreads add energy to the sparse conversation between the two trees, enlivening what might otherwise be a static story. 

Up here, the wind always blows, day and night, year after year.

Stewart’s restraint with words allows the illustrations to fully engage readers, while also leaving space to imagine and absorb. The tall trim size and orientation perfectly suit the topic.

So how do you feel about the wind?/I embrace it. Like this!

By the end, the reader is left feeling not only the poignancy of the life cycle for trees but for ourselves, too. In words, art, and design it is a beautiful story, beautifully told.

Who Lives Near a Glacier?

Glaciers are in the news, primarily because many are melting as a consequence of climate change. Susi Gregg Fowler, the author of a new picture book, Who Lives Near a Glacier: Alaska Animals in the Wild, and her husband, artist Jim Fowler, have teamed up to approach the topic of glaciers from a different viewpoint: that of the animals who live around or on glaciers.

The text is unusual, too. The author, who has written nine previous books for children, is also a poet. She applies those skills to present information about creatures ranging from moose to ice worms using a variety of poetic forms, voices, and devices suited to their subjects. Take “Voles”, which begins:

“Eek! Squeak!

Scurry. Streak.

From lakeside up

to mountain peak.

Voles!”

Or “Wolves”:

“I’m a creature of myth

and mystery.The stories folks tell?

They’d scare even me.

Of course I’m wild.

I’m meant to be.”

The Fowlers are long-time residents of Juneau, in Southeast Alaska, an area abounding with glaciers and wildlife. Familiarity with their subjects shines through both the text and the illustrations, which integrate well with the poems. Rich, saturated colors and brush strokes convey a sense of movement and energy. The illustrations accurately portray animals and landscape while also expressing a feeling of expansiveness, just a little bit dreamlike.

In addition to the information embedded within the poems, a brief note about each animal includes a few additional facts, a format that should attract the young naturalist looking for information, the young reader who loves words, and the young wordsmith who enjoys trying their hand at poetry. A double-page spread at the end, “How Are Glaciers Formed?”, offers insight into four types of glaciers and how they change over time.

As a former school librarian, I can imagine using this book with students in several ways. First, simply as an enjoyable reading experience, either out loud or for personal pleasure. The book also offers an enticing opportunity to teach poetry through wildlife, and conversely, wildlife (and glaciers and ecology) through poetry. Either way, Who Lives Near a Glacier?, is an informative springboard to exploring the world outdoors, as well as the language we use to describe it.

My only regret is that the book is currently available only in paperback. Perhaps the publishers will consider a hardcover edition for the school and library market.

Who Lives Near a Glacier? Alaska Animals in the Wild, written by Susi Gregg Fowler, illustrated by Jim Fowler. Published 2022 by Little Bigfoot, an imprint of Sasquatch Books.