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Sprouting Wings: The True Story of James Herman Banning, the First African American Pilot to Fly Across the United States
The inspirational and true story of James Herman Banning, the first African American pilot to fly across the country, comes to life in this picture book biography perfect for fans of Hidden Figures and Little Leaders. Includes art from a Coretta Scott King award-winning illustrator.
James Herman Banning always dreamed of touching the sky. But how could a farm boy from Oklahoma find a plane? And how would he learn to fly it? None of the other pilots looked like him. Despite the challenges and prejudices that stood in his way, James knew he belonged above the clouds.
In a journey that would span 3,300 miles, take twenty-one days, and inspire a nation, James Herman Banning proved that you can't put barriers on dreams. Louisa Jaggar incorporates over seven years of research, including Banning's own writings and an interview with the aviator's great-nephew. She teams up with cowriter Shari Becker and award-winning illustrator Floyd Cooper to capture Banning's historic flight across the United States.
"A pathos-filled picture book that celebrates the life of a figure in American history who hasn't been featured often." -School Library Journal, Starred Review
James Herman Banning always dreamed of touching the sky. But how could a farm boy from Oklahoma find a plane? And how would he learn to fly it? None of the other pilots looked like him. Despite the challenges and prejudices that stood in his way, James knew he belonged above the clouds.
In a journey that would span 3,300 miles, take twenty-one days, and inspire a nation, James Herman Banning proved that you can't put barriers on dreams. Louisa Jaggar incorporates over seven years of research, including Banning's own writings and an interview with the aviator's great-nephew. She teams up with cowriter Shari Becker and award-winning illustrator Floyd Cooper to capture Banning's historic flight across the United States.
"A pathos-filled picture book that celebrates the life of a figure in American history who hasn't been featured often." -School Library Journal, Starred Review
48 pages, Library Binding
First published January 5, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
May 6, 2021
This book for kids is, as the subtitle says, “The True Story of James Herman Banning, the First African American Pilot to Fly Across the United States.”
The book begins by describing how five-year-old James (he was born on November 5, 1900 in Oklahoma) loved flying kites and declared “One day, I’m goin’ to build a kite big enough to ride on.” (The authors availed themselves of a number of primary documents, referenced in the back matter.)
James was able to read about new “flying machines” in the first and only Black library in Oklahoma, eighty-two miles away. James’ parents took their kids there twice a year.
When James heard that there would be an airplane at a local fair in 1911, he not only went, but dashed into the plane and sat in the seat. He was chased off, but the experience only fueled his dreams of flying.
As an adult, James opened a machinery repair shop. One day a pilot came in, and James asked if he would teach him to fly. Lieutenant Raymond Fisher miraculously didn’t care that James was Black, and agreed to teach him. A year later, in April 1926, it was finally time for James to solo. But when he arrived at Fisher’s field, he found Fisher had died in a plane crash that very morning. No one else would lend him a plane to earn his pilot’s license, so he decided to build his own.
He finally received his pilot’s license but wanted more:
“He wanted to learn to barnstorm: to loop-the-loop, to barrel roll, and to make a dead-stick landing.”
Clearly nothing was going to stop James, and he accomplished these feats as well.
Meanwhile, in California, William Powell was looking for Black pilots for a flight school. James read about it, packed his things, moved to Los Angeles, and was hired by Powell on the spot as chief pilot.
For the next three years, James taught Black men and women to fly as well as to perform stunts. In 1931 they put on the first all-Black air show.
In 1932, the author writes, “Banning left the aero club to follow a new dream: he wanted to be the first Black man to fly from Los Angeles to New York.” He needed a plane, though, and a friend had an old dilapidated one he could use. Thomas Cox Allen, a local Black mechanic, knew how to fix plane engines and shared James’s dream, so they worked together. They had little money for the trip, however, and decided to call themselves “The Flying Hobos.”
On September 19, 1932, the two took off from Los Angeles. The engine died several times during the trip. They finally made it to New York after traveling for twenty-one days over 3,300 miles, having gotten a lot of help from contributions along the way. The author ends:
“That night they celebrated with the biggest stars in Harlem: Cab Calloway, Mrs. Bill ‘Bojangles’ Robinson, and Louis Armstrong. After years of dreaming, Banning and Allen were stars, too.”
Banning would die just four months after his epic flight, in an airshow crash.
The book concludes with a note, quotation sources, and lists of articles, interviews, and further resources.
Illustrator Floyd Cooper has won multiple awards for his artwork. He uses a technique he calls “a subtractive process” by painting an illustration board with oil paint, and then applying an eraser to the paintings. The result lends softness, warmth, and texture to his pictures, as well as the suggestion (enhanced by his research) that readers are seeing historical representations.
Discussion: Many school kids learn about the pioneering flights of Charles Lindberg, who, at age 25 in 1927 made a nonstop flight from New York City to Paris. Lindberg was hardly a role model: he was a Nazi sympathizer and was believed to have had a hand in the kidnapping of his own child. But he was white. The flight of Banning and Allen, unsupported financially unlike Lindberg’s, was exciting and heroic, but remains fairly unknown.
As an Air & Space Magazine history of the cross-country flight by Bannning and Allen reports:
"The Eaglerock [their plane] featured a sputtering, 14-year-old Curtiss OXX-6 engine, and was badly underpowered; according to Banning (who later wrote a series of newspaper articles about the flight), the Eaglerock was ‘put together [with] various cracked-up airplane parts.’ The instruments were also unreliable, including a compass that was off by 30 degrees. Their biggest worry, though, wasn’t the airworthiness of their crate. Although their final destination was a continent away, they’d taken off with just $25 between them.”
Yet these two men persisted, and through ingenuity, talent, and ultimately some luck, realized their goals.
It is a story all school children should know in addition to that of Lindberg’s. They will learn the lesson that an achievement by an execrable white man is considered more notable in American history than a much more amazing feat accomplished by black men.
Evaluation: This book for readers aged 6 and up shows a real-life example of how someone with a strong dream persisted in overcoming considerable obstacles to make it come to fruition. Banning’s story is not only inspiring, but imparts important aspects of history at the turn of the 20th Century.
The book begins by describing how five-year-old James (he was born on November 5, 1900 in Oklahoma) loved flying kites and declared “One day, I’m goin’ to build a kite big enough to ride on.” (The authors availed themselves of a number of primary documents, referenced in the back matter.)
James was able to read about new “flying machines” in the first and only Black library in Oklahoma, eighty-two miles away. James’ parents took their kids there twice a year.
When James heard that there would be an airplane at a local fair in 1911, he not only went, but dashed into the plane and sat in the seat. He was chased off, but the experience only fueled his dreams of flying.
As an adult, James opened a machinery repair shop. One day a pilot came in, and James asked if he would teach him to fly. Lieutenant Raymond Fisher miraculously didn’t care that James was Black, and agreed to teach him. A year later, in April 1926, it was finally time for James to solo. But when he arrived at Fisher’s field, he found Fisher had died in a plane crash that very morning. No one else would lend him a plane to earn his pilot’s license, so he decided to build his own.
He finally received his pilot’s license but wanted more:
“He wanted to learn to barnstorm: to loop-the-loop, to barrel roll, and to make a dead-stick landing.”
Clearly nothing was going to stop James, and he accomplished these feats as well.
Meanwhile, in California, William Powell was looking for Black pilots for a flight school. James read about it, packed his things, moved to Los Angeles, and was hired by Powell on the spot as chief pilot.
For the next three years, James taught Black men and women to fly as well as to perform stunts. In 1931 they put on the first all-Black air show.
In 1932, the author writes, “Banning left the aero club to follow a new dream: he wanted to be the first Black man to fly from Los Angeles to New York.” He needed a plane, though, and a friend had an old dilapidated one he could use. Thomas Cox Allen, a local Black mechanic, knew how to fix plane engines and shared James’s dream, so they worked together. They had little money for the trip, however, and decided to call themselves “The Flying Hobos.”
On September 19, 1932, the two took off from Los Angeles. The engine died several times during the trip. They finally made it to New York after traveling for twenty-one days over 3,300 miles, having gotten a lot of help from contributions along the way. The author ends:
“That night they celebrated with the biggest stars in Harlem: Cab Calloway, Mrs. Bill ‘Bojangles’ Robinson, and Louis Armstrong. After years of dreaming, Banning and Allen were stars, too.”
Banning would die just four months after his epic flight, in an airshow crash.
The book concludes with a note, quotation sources, and lists of articles, interviews, and further resources.
Illustrator Floyd Cooper has won multiple awards for his artwork. He uses a technique he calls “a subtractive process” by painting an illustration board with oil paint, and then applying an eraser to the paintings. The result lends softness, warmth, and texture to his pictures, as well as the suggestion (enhanced by his research) that readers are seeing historical representations.
Discussion: Many school kids learn about the pioneering flights of Charles Lindberg, who, at age 25 in 1927 made a nonstop flight from New York City to Paris. Lindberg was hardly a role model: he was a Nazi sympathizer and was believed to have had a hand in the kidnapping of his own child. But he was white. The flight of Banning and Allen, unsupported financially unlike Lindberg’s, was exciting and heroic, but remains fairly unknown.
As an Air & Space Magazine history of the cross-country flight by Bannning and Allen reports:
"The Eaglerock [their plane] featured a sputtering, 14-year-old Curtiss OXX-6 engine, and was badly underpowered; according to Banning (who later wrote a series of newspaper articles about the flight), the Eaglerock was ‘put together [with] various cracked-up airplane parts.’ The instruments were also unreliable, including a compass that was off by 30 degrees. Their biggest worry, though, wasn’t the airworthiness of their crate. Although their final destination was a continent away, they’d taken off with just $25 between them.”
Yet these two men persisted, and through ingenuity, talent, and ultimately some luck, realized their goals.
It is a story all school children should know in addition to that of Lindberg’s. They will learn the lesson that an achievement by an execrable white man is considered more notable in American history than a much more amazing feat accomplished by black men.
Evaluation: This book for readers aged 6 and up shows a real-life example of how someone with a strong dream persisted in overcoming considerable obstacles to make it come to fruition. Banning’s story is not only inspiring, but imparts important aspects of history at the turn of the 20th Century.
January 12, 2021
Like many youngsters, I love picture books about flying and pilots. But I also adore biographies about individuals who made a difference in the world around them and whose stories are little known or forgotten. All of these needs are met in this well-written and well-researched biography of James Herman Banning, a groundbreaking African-American who dreamed of taking to the skies and then made his dreams come true. Growing up in Oklahoma, James was fascinated by flight, a fascination fueled by the books he found in the Excelsior library in Guthrie, a plane he saw at the fair, and WWI newsreels. After starting his own business, he searched for someone to give him flying lessons. Eventually he found a teacher and earned his pilot's license after building his own plane. After moving to Los Angeles in order to work as the chief pilot for a flight school run by William Powell. In 1932 he joined forces with Thomas Cox Allen, a mechanic, to achieve his dream of being the first Black man to fly cross-country from LA to New York City. Short of funds for the trip, Banning came up with the idea to allow those who helped them along the way to sign their names on the wings of their plane, the Eaglerock. And that's exactly what they did, halting briefly at various spots along the way to refuel, eat or rest. The text reinforces this idea by the repetition of the line "XXX friends flying along with them" (unpaged). By the time the two men reach their destination, the wings are filled with names--72 of them--from 24 different towns. Talk about a community effort and great determination! The 3,300-mile flight cost them $150 and earned them a lot of goodwill. Readers won't want to miss the note from the author giving background on the research into this story as well as the list of sources, references, and suggested additional reading. Illustrator Floyd Cooper's oil paints are a perfect complement to this inspiring story as he plays with perspective on some pages, showing the Eaglerock flying above fascinated onlookers whose faces are tilted toward the sky and other scenes that show the plane turning sideways in order to make a safe landing. My favorite image, though, portrays Banning himself when he finally got his home-built "ground plane" off the ground and into the air, making him feel as though he had, indeed, "sprouted wings" (unpaged). It would hard to finish reading this picture book and not feel impressed with Banning's determination to achieve his dreams no matter the obstacles. This book would be an excellent addition to a collection devoted to flight, groundbreakers, civil rights, and social justice as well as one acknowledging the impact one individual can have on the world around him/her.
January 21, 2022
Sprouting Wings is the story of James Herman Manning, A Black aviation pioneer. In 1932, James Banning, accompanied by Thomas C. Allen, became America's first black aviator to fly coast-to-coast. I am always floored by the lives of the many hidden figures I learn about when reading picture book biographies. I'd never heard of James Banning prior t0 reading this book . I am so grateful that the lives of extraordinary African Americans are being written about more frequently so that children are able to bear witness to the many great contributions of Black people to our nation's history.
June 18, 2021
An awesome picture book bio of the first black aviator to fly across America and the trials he faced to reach his dreams. Sad to say I knew nothing of James Herman Banning before reading this book! And sad to find out that, like other legendary early aviators, Banning met an early death in an airplane accident. (He was a passenger and probably made an unlucky choice in helping another man have an opportunity.)
February 18, 2021
The true story of James Herman Banning, the first African American pilot to fly across the United States. A lesson in determination and never giving up. The author's note is important and a great example of research and the quest for primary sources.
February 9, 2022
Pair this with biographies of pilot Bessie Coleman. Some people are just meant for flying. I especially enjoyed reading the author's afterword, talking about how they got all the information to write the book.
March 27, 2021
Excellent story and pictures
May 22, 2021
Extremely well-researched! And well-written. Also very interesting. I learned a lot! :-)
July 30, 2021
5 stars for this fascinating biography with luminous illustrations
February 17, 2022
2023 children’s Sequoyah master list
June 24, 2022
Excellent and inspired me to add real stories I’ve read about people of color into ALOL.
February 16, 2021
Ever since he was a little boy, James Herman Banning has wanted to fly. He learned everything he could about flight, flying machines and pilots, and in 1911 he saw his first real flying machine. By the time he was 21 he could fix most automobiles, motorcycles and farm equipment, but he still had not learned to fly. Because Banning was Black, many opportunities were closed to him, but through the kindness of a white pilot who needed a motorcycle repair eventually Banning learned and by 1932 was determined to be the first black pilot to fly cross country. With a partner as mechanic and financing the trip themselves, Banning relied on the kindness of the people in the towns they landed in to keep them going all the way from Los Angeles to New York.
Well researched from primary sources, this little known hero had to be innovative and determined. I loved that they let the people who helped them sign the plane (I wonder where is it now?). Includes a nice authors note with details about their research, quotation sources, newspaper articles, interviews and documents. Also a list of further reading if you want to know more about black aviators.
Cross posted to: https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
Well researched from primary sources, this little known hero had to be innovative and determined. I loved that they let the people who helped them sign the plane (I wonder where is it now?). Includes a nice authors note with details about their research, quotation sources, newspaper articles, interviews and documents. Also a list of further reading if you want to know more about black aviators.
Cross posted to: https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
January 28, 2023
This picture book biography has wonderful illustrations and tells a fascinating true story that had previously been lost to time. I read this today while preparing books for a Black History Month display, and was extremely impressed with the storytelling style, the atmospheric illustrations, and the insight into the research process included in the backmatter.
Since my display is for the 0-5 age range, I decided not to include this book, since it includes a friend's sudden death in a plane crash and later involves this man's death in a plane crash as well. The latter is only mentioned in the author's note, but the friend's death is part of the unfolding story, with an illustration of the destroyed plane. I wanted to avoid anything too brutal for my display, given the intended age range, but this is wonderful for school-age kids, teens, and adults who are interested in Black history, aircraft, or little-known people who made a difference in the world.
Since my display is for the 0-5 age range, I decided not to include this book, since it includes a friend's sudden death in a plane crash and later involves this man's death in a plane crash as well. The latter is only mentioned in the author's note, but the friend's death is part of the unfolding story, with an illustration of the destroyed plane. I wanted to avoid anything too brutal for my display, given the intended age range, but this is wonderful for school-age kids, teens, and adults who are interested in Black history, aircraft, or little-known people who made a difference in the world.
January 21, 2021
Fascinating picture book biography of African American pilot James Herman Banning who made a transatlantic flight from Los Angeles to California with the support other African Americans. Certain passages make you feel as if you're flying. Particularly heart-warming was the fact that the voyage was only possible because of people willing to help repair the plane and feed and house both the pilot and mechanic. To commemorate that support, the plane was covered with the signatures of all those who helped out. The book also contains heart-breaking details such as the death of Banning's first flight instructor in a crash just hours before Banning was scheduled to take his first solo flight and his untimely death in an airshow crash as a passenger to an inexperienced flyer. Especially impressive is the research information at the end of the book. A good read.
February 17, 2021
This biography stands out for several reasons. Although Banning faced hardships in his attempt to be the first African American to fly across the country (ex: finding places to stop & re-fuel safely; funding), the focus is truly on how communities of black and, in some cities, white Americans came together to help Banning reach this goal in 1931. People who helped Banning were invited to write their names in the "Gold Book" which started out as the wings of the airplane and eventually the entire aircraft by the time he landed in NY. Many lovely illustrations by Cooper depicting communities and individuals supporting Banning's endeavor.
January 8, 2022
This is the story of James Herman Banning, the first black pilot to fly across the United States. He did so with his mechanic, Thomas Cox Allen. While the story focuses on Banning, it does illustrate that the flight was a team effort, even though Banning and Allen do not get along.
The story itself is inspiring, especially Banning' sheer persistence in the face of setbacks. The book is illustrated with beautiful, muted, realistic pictures. The book is also sprinkled throughout with actual quotes from Banning and Allen that the authors found in their research. (I also loved the fact that Banning's parents took him twice a year to the black library that was over 80 miles from his home.)
However, the text is dense, and I personally found it a bit dry. I think this book would work best for older kids, rather than the K-2nd graders I am currently focusing on.
The story itself is inspiring, especially Banning' sheer persistence in the face of setbacks. The book is illustrated with beautiful, muted, realistic pictures. The book is also sprinkled throughout with actual quotes from Banning and Allen that the authors found in their research. (I also loved the fact that Banning's parents took him twice a year to the black library that was over 80 miles from his home.)
However, the text is dense, and I personally found it a bit dry. I think this book would work best for older kids, rather than the K-2nd graders I am currently focusing on.
June 8, 2023
The true story of James Herman Banning, who history was almost lost, but through sheer luck, and determined research, his story is brought to the pages and his determination to learn how to fly, and become the first African American pilot to fly from California to New York. A detailed and inspiring story of another first in African American history.
February 1, 2021
This inspiring story of aviation pioneer James Herman Banning is well researched and beautifully illustrated. This story is a great example of dedication and perseverance. Be warned parents, the authors note at the end about Banning's death may be a bit dark for younger readers.
February 3, 2021
A fascinating introduction to pilot James Herman Banning who became the first African American pilot to fly across the United States.
February 3, 2021
The inspiring true story of James Herman Banning, the first African American pilot to fly across the country. Great illustrations by Floyd Cooper.
Read
February 23, 2021Gorgeous illustrations & gorgeously
woven account.
woven account.
Read
March 14, 2021Learn about the life of James Herman Banning. Passionate about all thing related to airplanes and flight, Banning became the first Black man to fly across the United States.
June 6, 2021
An amazing and fun story about a man determined to fly no matter what obstacles!
December 27, 2021
Fascinating true adventure of the first African American pilot to complete a transcontinental flight. Exciting!
March 6, 2022
An interesting picture book biography. Amazing illustrations.
September 26, 2022
Kudos to the authors for their diligent research in finding and bringing to life the story of this historical figure. The illustrations were especially delightful and captivating.
February 3, 2023
Outstanding story of persistence!
November 28, 2024
Completely amazing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews