Wind Flyers

by Angela Johnson, Loren Long (Illustrator)

Three-time Coretta Scott King Award–winning author Angela Johnson and New York Times bestselling illustrator Loren Long introduce readers to a band of under-celebrated World War II heroes—the Tuskegee Airmen.

All he ever wanted to do was fly.

With fleeting prose and transcendent imagery, this book reveals how a boy’s love of flight takes him on a journey from the dusty dirt roads of Alabama to the war-torn skies of Europe and into the hearts of those who are only now beginning to understand the part these brave souls played in the history of America.

Genres: Picture Books, Historical Fiction, Childrens, Historical, 1st Grade, World War II, Aviation

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 9, 2007

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Angela Johnson is the author of the Coretta Scott King Honor picture book When I Am Old with You; as well as A Sweet Smell of Roses, illustrated by Eric Velasquez; Just Like Josh Gibson, illustrated by Beth Peck; and I Dream of Trains, which was also illustrated by Loren Long. She has won three Coretta Scott King Awards, one each for her novels Heaven, Toning the Sweep, and The First Part Last. In recognition of her outstanding talent, Angela was named a 2003 MacArthur Fellow. She lives in Kent, Ohio.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

2017-2018

[Sophie McKenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wind Flyers is a book about the African American pilots for the United States during World War II. There were only four different squadrons of African Americans in the war and they were very important. I had never know that there were African American squadrons in World War II or that the Air Force would have segregated them during a war. I think this is a very important book to incorporate into a classroom so that students understand what a remarkable moment in history this was. This book also conveys a message about following your dreams. In the book, the narrators uncle was one of the wind flyers and it was his dream for his entire life. He did whatever he could to get up into the air and soar with the clouds so being able to pilot a real airplane for his country was something he was immensely proud of. He followed his dreams and made them come true. This was a great book that taught me something about World War II that I did not know and I would love to incorporate it into my classroom someday.

[Victoria Swisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young boy growing up on a farm in Alabama dreams of being a pilot and exploring the skies in his airplane. The boy grows up to fulfill that dream by flying a plane in the war, as one of the Tuskegee Airmen. The story describes the man's bravery and love of flying, and how he goes on to inspire others, like his young nephew who dreams of flying just like his uncle.
I really liked how this book was written from the perspective of a young boy telling the story about his uncle. The illustrations were really beautiful and I liked the very poetic descriptions of what it was like for the boy's uncle to fly. I think this is also a book that children could easily relate to, especially if they have a family member who is a pilot or who fought in the war. This is a book i would include in my classroom to talk about important historical figures and events.

[Olivia LaFountain]

Wind Flyers by Angela Johnson is the story told by a young boy that follows what his great-great-uncle did during his young age. It tells the story of his uncle's experience in the Tuskegee Airmen. Before reading this books I did not know this story, and although it was written from a fictional perspective I ended up doing research when I finished the book.

I believe that books shows an important part of history to children that is not well acknowledged. I also believe that the story is told in an enjoyable and age appropriate way. I also felt that this would be a good book that could be read aloud in a class room setting.

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book as an addition to my unit on flight for my 4th graders. As we study the courage of women flyers during the time of WWII, it imperative to also look at the accomplishments and courage of the Tuskegee airmen fighting so many similar battles. This story is quiet but shows what is won and lost when people are excluded from possibilities and when they gain entrance. This is one that I will read and allow my students to enjoy as "homework" listening so that have an introduction and an "in" to ask questions about such an important group of men that they may never have heard of before.

[Joy Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet story about a little boy and telling the story of his uncle and how he always wanted to fly ever since he was a little boy. His uncle was in the 332nd Air Force and he said it was around the time no one wanted someone of color to be involved. The little boy talks about how his uncle would take him flying in the sky and how it was such a special memory for him.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story about a young man who became part of the Tuskegee Airmen is simple and good for younger children.

[Donna Mork · Rating 4 out of 5]

Follows the life of a young black boy who wants to fly. Becomes part of the Tuskegee flyers. Loved flying his whole life.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ages 5-9

[Rebecca Caufman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simply written story about the Tuskegee Airman told from the perspective of a great nephew.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Courageous story- Tuskegee Airmen. Fabulous illustrations

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A poetic tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen. Told from the perspective of the nephew of one of the airmen, this picture book is simple and provides a brief introduction to the WWII heroes.

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book’s text was a bit repetitive, but that was just its poetic style. The illustrations were absolutely beautiful and it tells an important story.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

"It's what heaven must be ... with clouds, like soft blankets, saying, Come on in, get warm. Stay awhile and be a wind flyer too."

A poetic tribute to members of the Tuskegee Airmen.

[Alex Baugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream.

Today we honor him and his dream.

Wing Flyers is the story of another man who also had a dream. His dream was to fly and his story is told by his young and very proud nephew, who now shares his love of flying. It is interesting that we never learn the names of uncle and nephew, making it feel like a collective honor for all the men who were part of the original Tuskegee Airmen.

His uncle had wanted to fly from the time he was a little boy. He tried to fly at the age of 7 by jumping off the barn and flapping his arms like a bird.

At 11, he paid 75¢ to a barnstormer for a ride. Eventually, his uncle became a Tuskegee Airmen. In 1941, the US Air Force created the 99th Pursuit Squadron. This was their first squadron made up entirely of African-America men. In 1942, the 332nd Fighter Group was formed (three squadrons form a group.) Training these men t become pilots took place in Tuskegee, Alabama, where everything had to be built from scratch or brought in because segregation was still in effect in the south.

This is a beautiful book. There is minimal text, yet so much is conveyed. Much of that is in conjunction with the outstanding artwork by Loren Long. It is also an excellent book to use as a springboard for introducing younger readers to the Tuskegee Airmen and their outstanding history.

The story of the Wind Flyers is proof that dreams can come true.

This book is recommended for readers age 5-8
This book was borrowed from the 97th Street Branch of the NYPL

Wind Flyers received the follow well-deserved awards
Bank Street Best Books of the Year
Delaware Diamonds Award Program Master List
Emphasis on Reading Program Master List (AL)

More information on Wind Flyers may be found at Wind Flyers
and at Wind Flyers (yes, they are different sites)

An excellent source for more information on the Tuskegee Airmen may be found on their website at Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.

The Tuskegee Airmen served as escort planes, escorting bombers and as the narrator’s uncle tells him, they never lost a plane they were escorting. That is the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen. The Tuskegee Airmen flew over 3,000 missions in Europe and destroyed hundreds of enemy aircraft.

The Tuskegee Airmen were give the following awards for the achievements in World War II
150 Distinguished Flying Crosses earned
744 Air Medals
8 Purple Hearts
14 Bronze Stars

More information on Martin Luther King, Jr. may be found at Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford University

Dr, King’s complete “I Have a Dream Speech” may be seen and heard at YouTube: I Have a Dream Speech

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Activities may be found at Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Activities

[Jordan Smith]

Summary: Wind Flyers is a book that emphasizes the heroes of World War 2 which are the Tuskegee Airmen. When he was still a very little boy Great-great-uncle dreamed of flying. It was all he wanted to do. When he was just five he jumped off the chicken coop and when he was seven he jumped off the barn. When he was a eleven he paid to go up a little plane and he knew then “what it was like to go into the wind, against the wind, beyond the wind.” When Uncle grew up he became a Tuskegee Airman with the 332nd Fighter Group. At first, he and the rest of his group were not wanted because they were black. But they did their duty. They did it very so well in fact that they did not lose a single plane that they were there to protect.

Activity: I would use this book when teaching about WW2 and the various important heroes of that time. This book represents an accurate image of how African American men were first denied positions in the military, and then were accepted because they were the only men signing up to do the job. Unfortunately, these men were not at all recognized for their heroism, but this book does show the impact they had during WW2 and their bravery to fly in such dangerous air. After reading Wind Flyers, as a group my students and I will discuss how great-great-uncle mentions that planes have changed. We will then brainstorm some differences and compare the design of the wind flyers to modern day jets. After doing this, I will allow my students to get into groups and make their own jets (paper airplanes). I will project multiple examples of different jets on the board and let them pick which one they want to construct. I will then have each group predict which group’s jet they believe will fly the farthest and record the predictions. I will call small groups to the front of the room to launch their planes. Students will use a measuring tool to measure the distance and record the information on a graph. Whichever group’s plane flies the farthest will win.

[Ethelen V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Johnson, A., & Long, L. (2007). Wind flyers. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

This book tells the story of the Tuskegee Airmen, an all black fighter pilot quad who served during World War II. This troop was not only unique because they were all black but because they were the only escort fighter pilot troop that never lost a single bomber plane they protected. The story is shared between an uncle and his nephew. They share a love for flying. The uncle who was initially a crop duster in Alabama, later became a Tuskegee Airman. This troop was never intended to be used but under much pressure was sent to North Africa during World War II. While facing much racism, these men fought for the country that saw them as inferior to most and until recently became a forgotten part of history.

This story is beautifully written as a poem. The illustrations are intricate and exquisite, extending the text. They are authentic for the time period and are a key part to the story. This book would make a great addition to an elementary classroom. It can be used as a read aloud to younger students to introduce history in an easy to understand tone as well as encourage young students love for planes. For the older students, it is can be used as a read aloud or independent reader for history.

[Kaytlyn Witcher]

Wind Flyers is a book that emphasizes the heroes of World War 2- the Tuskegee Airmen. It tells the story about a great-great African American uncle that loved to fly, the inviting sensation he got from clouds is what he enjoyed most. All he ever wanted to do was fly, he jumped off barns to fly, he paid money to fly in a plane as a co-pilot, and when he was old enough he enlisted into the Air Force. When he enlisted into the Air Force, he tells the young boy that they didn’t want him at first. However, they were all thrilled when his plane took off that first time from the red Alabama dirt. He protected his planes that went up in the air, but sometimes they never came back.

Classroom: I would use this book when teaching about WW2 and the important heroes of that time. This book represents an accurate image of how African American men were first denied positions in the military, and then were accepted because they were the only men signing up to do the job this was evidence of stereotyping in this book. Unfortunately, these men were not all recognized for their heroism, but this book shows the impact they had on in World War 2 and their bravery to fly in such dangerous air. I would honor these men that fought for our country. This book will not only show the importance of these wars but also how American citizens pledged their life to our country.

[Karissa Kelly]

Wind Flyers is a book based on the all-black 99th Pursuit Squadron called the 332nd Fighter Group. A great-great-nephew tells the story of his great-great-uncle flying as a Tuskegee wind flyer.

Uncle was always interested in flying. He would jump off chicken coops and barns, flap his arms, and fall into hay just to feel like he was flying. When he was eleven, he got to go up in a flying barnstormer, and he never wanted to come down. As he got older, Uncle joined the 332nd as a Tuskegee Airman. He shows pictures of his wind flyer from the war days to his nephew. Then, sometimes, he takes his nephew up in his wind flyer because the wind is magical.

This book was alright, but I think I enjoyed the pictures more than I liked the story. Although I did find it interesting to learn about the 332nd Pursuit Squadron, I've honestly never heard of it. The writer Angela Johnston did do a good job of writing a story that is understandable for kids, and the illustrator, Loren Long, did an amazing job on her illustrations. They were really beautiful.

Overall, I think this book would be a good read, just because it pertains to history. Other than that though, I don't know if I would recommend reading Wind Flyers.

[Elizabeth Woodruff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a young boys uncle and his dream of flying. His uncle had always wanted to fly a plane since he was five years old. The young boys uncle became a Tuskegee Airman when he was older. Since he was African American, not many squadrons wanted him and his friends. As time went by he had finally become a wind flyer. A Tuskegee wind flyer. The young boy's uncle tells about all the adventures he had flying as a wind flyer. Sometimes his uncle would take him up in the air to fly upon the magical wind.

I loved reading this book! I had never really heard of the Tuskegee Wind Flyers before so ths book taught me a little bit! I love books about flying so this book was very enjoyable for me. I would say this is a must read!

I would use this book to read with a lesson about WWII. These Tuskegee Airmen were heroes. You could even ask your students about their grandfathers or great-grandfathers to see if they were involved in WWII like the young boy's uncle in the book. You could have many text-world stories. This book has great illustrations that would be very appealing to young children. GREAT book!

[Safina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary: A young African American boy tells the story of his uncle who always wanted to fly. Uncle jumps from the top of the chicken coop and then from the barn and one day he becomes a Tuskegee Flyer in the war. He comes back and becomes a crop duster, because this job allows him to continue flying.
Review: The story is set in the time before during and after the Second World War, when African Americans were reluctantly taken in to the army and given more responsibility and respect. It is told in language easily accessible to young children and focuses on the experience of flying rather than the war. It does highlight the political change of equality for people of color, specifically African Americans. While the language may be simple for fourth graders I would still recommend it because of it 19s historical content and theme of personal perseverance.

In class uses:
-use as literary text when studying transportation
-make connections to student 19s friends and family members who served in the Air Force
-identify and learn new vocabulary

[Cheriee Weichel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm in awe of the creators of this book.

A young girl tells the story of her great, great uncle, a man who was was passionate about flying as a child. He was a pilot with the Tuskegee Airman during the war, and a crop duster afterwards. It's the uncle's experiences that compel us to read - his passion for flying, his challenges during the war, and at the same time as we learn about him, this book takes on powerful issues.

Racism:
"Air force didn't want us at first.
Only four squadrons like us," he says,
touching his mahogany face.

War:
When I ask him if it was a big war, Uncle says,
"They all are. But that's over now...."

This book is a sublime marriage between text and image. If the one doesn't take your breath away, the other will. So much is revealed in a few words or an image.

I'm telling you, these two artists have as much magic in them as the air does.

From my blog at http://dickenslibrary.blogspot.ca/

[Lindsay Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Wind Flyers" by Angela Johnson is a wonderfully written story of a little boy enamored by the stories his uncle tells of his lifelong love of flying. Eventually, his uncle became a Tuskegee Airman. This would be a wonderful book to read during black history month or when learning about WWII. The illustrations are beautifully done by Loren Long and really contribute to the storyline and effectiveness.
I chose this book for my read aloud because it is a book that ties in wonderfully with social studies core content, and is likely a book that children would not pick up off the shelf, but would love after reading. This book requires expression from the reader which is excellent to display and model through read alouds. I would recommend this book to anyone.

[Kacie Blakley · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all have our biggest dreams, including young children. Wind Flyers is a story of a little black boy who dreamed of being able to fly up in the sky among the clouds. He grew up to become a Tuskegee Airman in World War II, and lived to tell many generations about his adventures “into the wind, against the wind, and beyond the wind”. This informative picture book creatively teaches a unique story from World War II and addresses the discrimination against black people. A picture of the Tuskegee Flyers is even included in the book, giving readers a better idea of what these men looked like in the clothing they wore for their important job. This interesting book informs readers of an event that is sometimes overlooked through descriptive words and correlating pictures.

[Ashlynn Armstrong · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was about a boy whose uncle is telling him about when he became a wind flyer. The uncle's entire life all the wanted to was fly planes and one day he finally got the opportunity. He told his nephew that when he was at war some people did not come home but they never left the plane they were protecting. He is now a crop duster, and he says while the planes are different the clouds still sound the same.

This was not one of my favorite books. I had a hard time following exactly what was happening at first. The ending did great tying it all together for me though, and I loved the pictures.

This book would be great for a child who wants to be a pilot when he or she grows up.

[Demi Sienna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this story because it is very inspiring and touching. This story refers to the Tuskegee airmen during World War II. These men were heroes. The author brings up their story through a little boy who loves flying. This little boy leaves his native Alabama for Europe to serve his country America.
This story is a historical genre but it is very family-oriented without a doubt. It is age-appropriate and multicultural. The illustrations are very realistic. It relates to my topic of African-American culture.

[Kaitlyn Tankersley]

This story is about the WWII Tuskegee Airmen and emphasis the effect the had on the war. It tells the story from the point of view of a little boys Uncle who fought in the war. He tells of his desire to fly and how he enlisted in the Air Force as soon as he could. He tells tales of his flights and how some of his friends never made it back. I would use this book to teach my students about World War 2 and the impact it had on our country. I would use this story to emphasis that African American men played an important role in this war, although they are not always mentioned.

[Maddie Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wing Flyers is the story of man who dreamed of flying since he was a little boy! He ended up being one of the Tuskeegee Airmen. This story is told by his nephew who also loves to fly! How cool is that? I appreciated this book and will definitely use this in my library! The illustrations are stunning! This book would be great to use for counseling. For kids who may be depressed or extremely unconfident, this book shows how dreams really do come true and how you can become anything you want to be, not matter where you came from!

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wind Flyers is a beautifully illustrated story of the Tuskegee Airman, the WWII heroes who never lost a bomber to enemy fighters. This brave, segregated squadron was trained in Tuskegee, Alabama, although the Army had no intention of using them in combat. Under pressure, however, the Roosevelt Administration sent these men to North Africa and flew with loyalty, bravery, and determination. A lost historical perspective that which celebrates heroes which were all but forgotten.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a motif that Johnson has used before, the grandparent describing the past to a grandchild. This time, it's a pilot and former Tuskegee Airman describing the life that led to such a prolific career in aviation. It's all about the love of flying and perseverance to over needed to overcome adversity. The endnotes do a good job of describing the role the Tuskegee Airmen played in American military success. Another solid book from Angela Johnson, a true master.