About the Author

Judith E. Rinard was a staff writer for National Geographic, where she specialized in scientific subjects for more than 20 years.

Reviews

[Review of 1st edition: ] A photo-documentary ... [with] dramatic sharply detailed illustrations.--John Peters "School Library Journal" (12/1/2001 12:00:00 AM)

[Review of 1st edition: ] A superbly illustrated book, this informal pictorial history of flight will delight any aerospace enthusiast, young or old.-- "Science Books and Films" (10/15/2003 12:00:00 AM)

[Review of 1st edition: ] Large colorful photographs and a fast-moving text are sure to make this ... a crowd pleaser. ... Well-written, succinct text.--Todd Morning "Booklist" (11/1/2001 12:00:00 AM)

[Review of 1st edition: ] The appealing format, replete with color photos and fascinating snippets of information, will make this book tempting for teens and adults alike.--Caitlin Augusta "VOYA [Voice of Youth Advocates]" (2/1/2002 12:00:00 AM)

The Book of Flight could be used for recreation and also in the classroom.--Thomas F. Chambers, retired college teacher "Canadian Materials, Vol 14, No. 16" (4/4/2008 12:00:00 AM)

Gr 4-7-These large-sized, profusely illustrated surveys cover the same territory, but with very different emphases. Both are organized as sequences of topical spreads, on each of which large pictures of aircraft or spacecraft and smaller scenes or schematics mingle with detailed explanatory captions. Flight, aimed at somewhat less proficient readers, takes an overall subject approach, devoting one section to military uses of flight, four to civil or research aviation, then closing with a gallery of pioneer machines. Its art, which is mostly painted or computer generated, has a clean, uncluttered look. In contrast, The Book of Flight is a photo-documentary, with a chronological structure, more images per page on average, and relatively more space allotted to fighting machines and those designed to travel into space. It focuses largely on the United States's contributions to aviation and astronautics. Flight has but half the page count, but takes a more international view and contains information-on hang gliding, for instance, and NASA's recent cancellation of the X-33 space-plane project-which is missing from the Smithsonian title. The differences between the two books are enough to make them complementary, rather than rival, additions to library collections; consider Flight as a systematic, visually appealing update for older picture albums, and even though there is little new material in The Book of Flight, the dramatic, sharply detailed illustrations make it a viable alternative to Century of Flight (Time-Life, 1999).-John Peters, New York Public Library Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

[Review of 1st edition: ] A photo-documentary ... [with] dramatic sharply detailed illustrations.--John Peters "School Library Journal" (12/1/2001 12:00:00 AM)
[Review of 1st edition: ] A superbly illustrated book, this informal pictorial history of flight will delight any aerospace enthusiast, young or old.-- "Science Books and Films" (10/15/2003 12:00:00 AM)
[Review of 1st edition: ] Large colorful photographs and a fast-moving text are sure to make this ... a crowd pleaser. ... Well-written, succinct text.--Todd Morning "Booklist" (11/1/2001 12:00:00 AM)
[Review of 1st edition: ] The appealing format, replete with color photos and fascinating snippets of information, will make this book tempting for teens and adults alike.--Caitlin Augusta "VOYA [Voice of Youth Advocates]" (2/1/2002 12:00:00 AM)
The Book of Flight could be used for recreation and also in the classroom.--Thomas F. Chambers, retired college teacher "Canadian Materials, Vol 14, No. 16" (4/4/2008 12:00:00 AM)