#23: The Hallelujah Flight

Title: The Hallelujah Flight

Author: Phil Bildner

Illustrator: John Holyfield

Publishing Company: Penguin

Copyright Date: 2010

# of pages: 31

Genre/category:

            I chose this book simply because of the illustrations on the front. When James Banning has a dream of flying a plane from sea to shining sea, he must figure out how he will be able to replace the engine. He comes up with the idea that as people gives him thing he will let them write their names on the wing so they will go down in the history books also. As Banning and Allen took off, the plane seemed to have a mind of its own. As they flew their plane many people decided to help them; however in other towns many of the people were very prejudice. With the help from the people Banning and Allen make their flight. One last time they raise their hands toward the heavens and say “hallelujah”.

            The illustrations in this book are very extravagant. They look to have been done by acrylics on a piece of canvas. Almost all of the pictures in this book are two-page spread. They contain a good bit of detail about the events that are taking place. The font of the words in this book is ITC Crushing.

            This book would be good for students in third grade and above. There are many ways that a book like this can be used in a classroom. One way to use this book is in a history lesson about the first two African American to fly across the United States. Another thing I would do in the classroom is have children to write a journal entry about if they were going to take a flight across the United States, what would you carry with you and how would you prepare for the trip. If I had fifth or six grades I would have them do some research on who these two people are, because they are not mentioned very much in the history books. This book has not won any awards.