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First Flight by George Shea

First Flight

The Story of Tom Tate and the Wright Brothers

George Shea

HarperCollins · Print & ebook · February 18, 2003

This Level Four I Can Read book is a perfect bridge to chapter books for elementary-grade kids—and it introduces the thrilling story of the Wright Brothers, flight pioneers.

Chapter BooksPlanes & FlyingUS Biographies
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Who it’s for
Meet the Wright brothers through an eager young volunteer’s eyes.
Themes
Early flight and invention, Historical fiction, Youthful courage
Genres
Chapter Books, Planes & Flying, US Biographies

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About this book

This Level Four I Can Read book is a perfect bridge to chapter books for elementary-grade kids—and it introduces the thrilling story of the Wright Brothers, flight pioneers. When Tom Tate hears that Wilbur and Orville Wright are building a flying machine, he can't wait to try it. Tom's dad thinks it's dangerous. Some people think the Wrights are crazy. Can Tom help the brothers get their dream off the ground?

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"Children will identify with the spirit of this boy who enthusiastically volunteered to try out the glider when there wasn't enough wind to lift the grown men," commented School Library Journal, which also praised the "carefully researched" illustrations. First Flight helps build reading confidence and pleasure while engaging young readers with compelling historical fiction.

Early Flight Stories

Meet the Wright brothers through an eager young volunteer’s eyes.

Come here for

  • A young volunteer’s view of the Wrights’ flying machine
  • Historical fiction rooted in early aviation

Expect

  • A Level Four bridge toward chapter books
  • A story that builds reading confidence and pleasure

Where it sits

Chapter Books51%
Planes & Flying42%
US Biographies25%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Dinosaurs & Prehistory
  • Multigenerational Families
  • Sibling Stories
  • 20th-Century U.S.
Show all 8 publisher categories
  • Halloween Stories
  • School Stories
  • Planes & Flying
  • Beginner Readers
Authors
George Shea
Publisher
HarperCollins
Published
February 18, 2003
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Early flight and invention · Historical fiction · Youthful courage
Reading lane
Dinosaurs & Prehistory