Every airplane book is really two books at once. One is about the machine — the wheels folding up, the flaps sliding out, the baggage carts and fuel trucks swarming a jet like ants. The other is about the person strapped into seat 14C wondering whether something that heavy has any business leaving the ground. Children want both, usually before breakfast, and always with the same three questions: how does it stay up, who is driving, and can we go again.
Bookroo's collection of 97 airplane books runs from indestructible board books to the history of powered flight, and our editors picked twelve that answer those questions honestly for a given age. Start with the shortlist below, then browse board books for the toddler who names every plane overhead, picture books for a first trip through security, and chapter books for readers who want the engineering and the aviators behind it.
One family, one ordinary flight, and every single thing that happens between the front door and the baggage claim.
Maisy packs a suitcase, hands over her ticket, buckles her seat belt, and eats a very small lunch off a very small tray.
How a wing pushes against the air, and why birds, planes, and rockets all get off the ground — for someone still working on sitting up.
Angela climbs into an empty airplane at the airport, pushes one button, and discovers she is now flying it.
The construction crew takes on an airport expansion: new runways, planes to prep, and a snowstorm rolling in before the first departure.
Two kitten siblings board their first flight. One is thrilled. The other needs to know exactly what is holding this up.
Ms. Frizzle's class gets shrunk inside a model airplane and has to work out what keeps a wing in the air.
Papa Blériot builds flying machine after flying machine, crashes most of them, and then crosses the English Channel.
A girl who built a homemade ramp to fly off the roof grows up to cross the Atlantic alone.
In 1942 a Japanese pilot dropped bombs on an Oregon forest. Twenty years later the town invited him back.
Two bicycle mechanics from Dayton, Ohio, teach themselves aeronautics and solve the problem of controlled flight.
Jets, propellers, runway lights, and sturdy pages that survive the tray table. Ages 0–3.
A plane's adventures end with a comforting return home.
Discover indestructible books that introduce babies to vehicles that fly, drive, and sail.
Embark on a high-flying adventure with this plane journey.
Join a thrilling airport adventure with planes, cars, and trucks.
Explore the skies and discover the world of aviation through a pilot's eyes.
A plane soars high, revealing towns below. The sky's the limit.
Explore the skies with whimsical planes and flying machines.
Mix vehicles to create your own flying machine adventure.
Help a girl find her missing ticket on an airport train full of surprises.
Discover the daring spirit of a legendary pilot in a fun, interactive way.
Discover the wonders of flight with a colorful journey through planes, jets, and rockets.
A boy's imagination takes flight over New York City.
First flights, busy airports, how wings work, and the pilots who got there first. Ages 3–8.
A bear's kindness sparks unexpected rewards.
A self-taught engineer strives to design a working airplane in the early 1900s.
A homeless boy finds hope in an airport when a trapped bird gains freedom.
Sheep embark on a global adventure in a flying machine after a mysterious ZOOM overhead.
A family moves, meeting diverse travelers on a plane.
A firefighting plane faces a blaze only she can conquer.
Explore the airport with Huckle Cat and friends on a thrilling adventure.
A bear cub's first flight leads to a heartwarming family reunion.
A Brazilian aviator races to be the first to fly a self-propelled plane.
Explore a bustling town and discover the secrets of everyday life.
Two friends go on a trip and have various adventures.
A pilot braves a blizzard to save the US Air Mail Service. Can he succeed against the odds?
Aviation history, airport mysteries, wartime flying, and survival stories that begin with an engine going quiet. Ages 7–12.
A boy survives a plane crash and must endure the wilderness with only a hatchet.
Chaos at an airport intertwines the lives of twelve young Asian Americans, revealing identity and belonging.
A girl races against time to save a stranded pilot in the Arizona desert.
Kids stranded in the Amazon discover a map leading to a hidden secret.
A young boy and his family board the Hindenburg airship to travel from Germany to America, but their journey is disrupted by a mysterious spy and a catastrophic event
Discover the mystery behind the Hindenburg's fiery demise.
A young girl goes on a trip to Hawaii with her family and learns about the island's culture and wildlife.
Stranded WWII soldiers fight for survival in the vast Pacific Ocean.
A storm strands four kids at an airport, sparking unexpected connections.
A stolen plane at an airshow leads to a high-flying mystery. Can the Hardys uncover the truth before it's too late?
A stolen flag, a snowed-in airport, and a race against time to catch the thieves.
Stolen platinum, a pilot's mysterious death, and a shocking hometown discovery await two young detectives.
