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Animals in Flight
A vibrant foray into the world of animals that can fly, from little insects and flittering butterflies to soaring birds, is filled with stunning illustrations and fascinating facts about wings.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published October 29, 2001
5 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Steve Jenkins
137 books239 followersSteve was born in 1952 in Hickory, North Carolina. His father, who would become a physics professor and astronomer (and recently his co-author on a book about the Solar System), was in the military and, later, working on science degrees at several different universities. We moved often. Steve lived in North Carolina, Panama, Virginia, Kansas, and Colorado. Wherever he lived, he kept a menagerie of lizards, turtles, spiders, and other animals, collected rocks and fossils, and blew things up in his small chemistry lab.
Because he moved often, Steve didn't have a large group of friends, and he spent a lot of time with books. His parents read to him until he could read himself, and he became an obsessive reader.
His interest in science led me to believe that I'd be a scientist himself. At the last minute, he chose instead to go to art school in North Carolina, where he studied graphic design. After graduation he moved to New York City, where he worked in advertising and design, first in large firms and then with his wife, Robin Page, in their own small graphic design firm. Robin, also an author and illustrator, is his frequent collaborator — they've made sixteen children's books together.
Their daughter Page was born in 1986 and our son, Alec, two years later. They began reading to them when they were just a few months old, and Steve became interested in making children's books himself. My wife and I read to our two older children almost every night until hisdaughter was 12 or 13, long after they were reading on their own. It was, in many ways, the best part of the day.
In 1994 they moved to from New York City to Boulder, Colorado, where they work in a studio attached to their house, which was built in the 1880s and often functions as if it were still the 19th century.
Their youngest son, Jamie, was born in 1998. The questions his children asked over the years have been the inspiration for many of their books.
Librarian's Note: There is more than one author with this name in the Goodreads database.
Because he moved often, Steve didn't have a large group of friends, and he spent a lot of time with books. His parents read to him until he could read himself, and he became an obsessive reader.
His interest in science led me to believe that I'd be a scientist himself. At the last minute, he chose instead to go to art school in North Carolina, where he studied graphic design. After graduation he moved to New York City, where he worked in advertising and design, first in large firms and then with his wife, Robin Page, in their own small graphic design firm. Robin, also an author and illustrator, is his frequent collaborator — they've made sixteen children's books together.
Their daughter Page was born in 1986 and our son, Alec, two years later. They began reading to them when they were just a few months old, and Steve became interested in making children's books himself. My wife and I read to our two older children almost every night until hisdaughter was 12 or 13, long after they were reading on their own. It was, in many ways, the best part of the day.
In 1994 they moved to from New York City to Boulder, Colorado, where they work in a studio attached to their house, which was built in the 1880s and often functions as if it were still the 19th century.
Their youngest son, Jamie, was born in 1998. The questions his children asked over the years have been the inspiration for many of their books.
Librarian's Note: There is more than one author with this name in the Goodreads database.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 14, 2012
This beautifully illustrated book about animals that fly will hold your attention for hours. Each page is filled with information on many levels. You have a basic fact as well as more detailed information for those who are ready for more. Definitely a great book to share with almost any age.
Art: Using a similar technique to the “cut paper collage” in this book, try your hand at it with an animal from this story or one of your choice.
Math: Get our your measuring tools! There are many facts shared about the size of the animals. When given specific measurements, pull out the rulers, yard sticks, and tape measures to bring these facts to life!
Science: Make paper airplanes (decorated as birds if you’d like) and see how far you can fly them. See if the different designs play a factor in distance, etc.
Art: Using a similar technique to the “cut paper collage” in this book, try your hand at it with an animal from this story or one of your choice.
Math: Get our your measuring tools! There are many facts shared about the size of the animals. When given specific measurements, pull out the rulers, yard sticks, and tape measures to bring these facts to life!
Science: Make paper airplanes (decorated as birds if you’d like) and see how far you can fly them. See if the different designs play a factor in distance, etc.
April 22, 2020
I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars. This book is all about the different animals that can fly. This book even shows animals such as flying squirrels and goes into how they are not necessarily flying animals, but they are gliders. My favorite page is the one that has the bat on it. This page shows a lot of detail in the wings and the face as well as some full body images of the animal. I like that it is not just the pictures, but the words also go into detail about the different aspects of the wings and the animals themselves. I think this would be a great book to incorporate into a classroom for learning purposes. It overall is an amazing book and I strongly suggest reading it.
April 13, 2022
A fun and informative book about how different animals are able to achieve flight
The reader is brought a fun journey using Jenkins art and Pages word to understand the basics of natural flight. It examines all sorts of creatures, from insects to birds to bats, along with explaining Glider Animals and why they don't count as flyers.
Its a very fun read and if you enjoy learning more about the world around us and how it works, check this book out
The reader is brought a fun journey using Jenkins art and Pages word to understand the basics of natural flight. It examines all sorts of creatures, from insects to birds to bats, along with explaining Glider Animals and why they don't count as flyers.
Its a very fun read and if you enjoy learning more about the world around us and how it works, check this book out
May 2, 2018
An excellent book about birds and how they fly!!! Has a small portion about evolution.
February 6, 2021
Good book about animals that fly. Can be used for younger children as well as having more detailed information for older children.
October 14, 2013
Another beautifully done picture book! I guess I only do reviews on the picture books that I really like, so if they're in my shelve then kudos to the authors and illustrators.
As for this particular book- it's non-fiction and tells the story of flight thru the millennia, starting with insects and dinosaur-type birds and ending with facts about the wonderful birds we have today. The basic story line is great for pre-schoolers; my animal-loving 7 yr old enjoyed the facts and info that went along with each page and liked the pictures too. There are even more facts at the back of the book for a real bird-lover.
The artwork is excellent! All the birds and flying animal pictures were done with layered paper. They are gorgeous and very detailed.
As for this particular book- it's non-fiction and tells the story of flight thru the millennia, starting with insects and dinosaur-type birds and ending with facts about the wonderful birds we have today. The basic story line is great for pre-schoolers; my animal-loving 7 yr old enjoyed the facts and info that went along with each page and liked the pictures too. There are even more facts at the back of the book for a real bird-lover.
The artwork is excellent! All the birds and flying animal pictures were done with layered paper. They are gorgeous and very detailed.
January 18, 2009
This book gives an overview of the history of flight (i.e. evolution), basics on how flight is possible, and some amazing facts about animals that fly (speed records, wingspan records, etc.) As always, Steve Jenkins produces a wonderful non-fiction book that is entertaining, beautiful, and informative. I would have liked to see a little more information in this book. We've got another one here on flight by Nic Bishop that may fill the gaps!
June 8, 2008
Chock full of fascinating facts and gorgeous collages. They did it yet again.
January 13, 2010
I love the work of Steve Jenkins and Robin Page. Informative and fun.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews