Amelia And Eleanor Go For A Ride [Hardcover]

Pam Munoz Ryan (Author), Brian Selznick (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

An inspiring true story of Amelia Earheart and Eleanor Roosevelt -- and a thrilling night when they made history together! On a brisk and cloudless evening in April 1933, Amelia Earheart and Eleanor Roosevelt did the unprecedented: They stole away from a White House dinner, commandeered an Eastern Air Transport plane and took off on a glorious adventure -- while still dressed in their glamorous evening gowns! This large-format lavishly produced picture book celebrates the courage and pioneering spirit of two friends who defied convention in the name of fulfillment, conviction, and fun. Breathtaking black and white drawings -- which create the look of a vintage movie -- make this a visual tour de force for young adventurers, historians and any one else who dares to dream.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

On a clear April evening in 1933, two outspoken and strong-minded friends slipped away from a formal dinner party to have a little unconventional fun. What made this event remarkable was that the two were Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt, dining at the White House; their entertainment of choice was to fly an airplane on a loop from Washington D.C. to Baltimore. Pooh-poohing Secret Service agents' concerns that this activity hadn't been "approved," the celebrated aviator and the First Lady stole away before dessert was served, and took to the sky.

Inspired by the true facts of this little-known event, based on diaries, book transcripts, and newspaper accounts, Pam Munoz Ryan brings the thrilling evening to life as if she had been on that plane herself. Emphasizing the mettle and independent spirits of the two women, Ryan presents a pair of pioneering social and political activists any woman--or man--even today would be proud to claim as role models. An author's note gives some intriguing background information on these two exceptional women. Award-winning illustrator Brian Selznick lived in Washington D.C. while researching the graphite and colored pencil drawings for this book, which include authentic wallpaper and china patterns. (Ages 6 to 10) --Emilie Coulter

From Publishers Weekly

In this sparkling picture book based on a true incident, Ryan (Riding Freedom, with Selznick) proves that Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt truly were "birds of a feather." Friends in real life, America's First Lady invited the "First Lady of the Air" to dinner at the White House in 1933. Eleanor, inspired by Amelia's descriptions of Washington viewed from her plane at night, accepts the pilot's offer of an after-dinner flight over the capital. Before dessert can be served, and over the protests of the Secret Service agents, the two are off to the airport and up in the sky, thrilling to the brilliance of the city below. Hewing closely to documented accounts, Ryan's inviting text adds drama and draws parallels between the two protagonists with fictional touches: she places them alone together in the plane (an author's note explains that in fact they were accompanied by two male pilots) and adds a final scene in which Eleanor takes Amelia for a zippy ride around the city in her brand-new car. Selznick's illustrations, black-and-white graphite accented with touches of purple pencil, both capture the vibrancy of his subjects and evoke the feel of a more glamorous era. A brief but compelling slice from the lives of two determined, outspoken and passionate women. Ages 5-9. (Oct.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Press; 1st edition (October 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 059096075X
• ISBN-13: 978-0590960755
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 12.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #69,218 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #35 in Books > Children's Books > Biographies > United States

More About the Author

PAM Muñoz Ryan is the author of more that thirty books for young readers, including four beloved novels, Riding Freedom, Esperanza Rising, Becoming Naomi León, and Paint the Wind, which collectively have garnered, among countless accolades, the Pura Belpré Medal, the Jane Addams Award, and the Schneider Family Award. She lives in Southern California with her family. You can visit her at www.PamMunozRyan.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Gift for Little Girls, March 22, 2003

By 

Flynn (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Amelia And Eleanor Go For A Ride (Hardcover)

As the parent of a curious 5-year-old, I've been disappointed by the scarcity of historical and biographical books aimed at very young children. My daughter had an interest in Amelia Earhart since she first saw her "red plane" at the Smithsonian, so I took a gamble and bought this book for her at Christmas time...and she loved it. In fact, she liked it so much that she's insisted on giving it to several of her girl friends as gifts. It was a big hit with them as well. In fact a couple of their mothers have asked me where I got it (Amazon, of course), and whether the author has written any other children's books.

The story is simple, fun, historical, and symbolically significant (without being didactic or political). The black and white illustrations are interesting to look at, and very detailed (even the pattern on the White House china in the background is historically accurate).

With their colorful personalities, and the strength to defy cultural expectations, Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt make great role models for little girls -- and it doesn't hurt for them to understand that the freedoms they will surely take for granted in their lives were won for all of us by women like these.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful, magical adventure with two famous women., October 14, 1999

By 

susan cassidy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Amelia And Eleanor Go For A Ride (Hardcover)

This is a really wonderful adventure book that is based on a true story about two famous women in history, Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt. It tells the story of a special night when Amelia Earhart took the First Lady of the United States flying in an airliner over Washington, D.C. The illustrations, in mostly black and white, are elegant and add to the wonderful look of this book. Let your imagination soar, and fly with Amelia and Eleanor on a starry night!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Picture this flight!, January 23, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Amelia And Eleanor Go For A Ride (Hardcover)

This book discusses a little-known newspaper bite about the First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and Amelia Earhart. They both find the male-dominated formal dinner not to their liking and slip away for a quiet flight over D.C. The book does a good job of showing how well-rounded both of these women were. They could be serious when they had to be, but would much rather break away for a little fun. Also, this book shows that these women were fundamentally the same as every other woman in the country. The only thing that distinguished them was the positions they held; Eleanor being the First Lady and Amelia being a woman and a pilot. I picked this book up in the bookstore to just take a look and ended up sitting down to read the whole thing! The pictures bring the words to life and will delight both parent and child.