The Glorious Instruction

The Glorious Flight; Across the Channel with Louis Blériot

Published by: Puffin Books

Written by: Alice and Martin Provensen

Ever heard of Louis Blériot?  Well, he's not part of the Virginia SOLs but that does not mean he isn't worth reading about.  Blériot was the first person to fly across the English Channel back on July 25, 1909 in his innovative flying machine, Bléroit XI.  This text would be an excellent addition to any lesson covering the history of flight or general scientific exploration.  I was drawn to the unique illustrations on both the front and back covers (and, of course, the Caldecott Medal that confirmed my admiration).  This book has a vintage feel that seems to evoke a time much earlier than when its 1983 publishing date.  In fact, the Provensens recently won the Society of Illustrators Lifetime Achievement Award.

Louis Blériot and his large family are portrayed as a loving, curious, and quirky crew in the Provensens' somber illustrations and whimsical, almost poetic, text.  This is not your average non-fiction book because "Fact is turned into magic" throughout the text (The New York Times Book Review).  Though Alice and Martin Provensen did not win any awards for their writing, their approach to Blériot's historic journey is wonderful for older readers.  I particularly enjoyed how the Provensens portrayed Blériot's inspiration, exploration, failures, and eventual success.  We see brilliant sketches of the Blériot I, II, IV, V, VI, VII, and some of their crash landings.  By the time Blériot builds and tests the Blériot XI, we have experienced his frustration and cross our fingers for his success.  He is portrayed as much more compassionate than the typical scientists that are often studied in school as his family and family pets are frequently referenced for their support and inspiration. You can watch a short clip of Louis Blériot piloting one of his airplanes at CriticalPast.com.