The true story of Barrington Irving, who broke records as the youngest person and first Black man to fly solo around the world—co-authored by Barrington and award-winning author Chana Stiefel, with art by New York Times bestselling illustrator Shamar Knight-Justice
As a kid, Barrington Irving moved from Jamaica to Miami and played football—his ticket to success, he thought. But then Captain Gary Robinson swooped into his life. Barrington had never seen a Black pilot before. Captain Robinson showed Barrington a jet, a cockpit, and what it was like to actually fly a plane— WHOAAA!
After that, Barrington had big plans, and two words: Let's Fly!
Barrington Irving worked hard to become a pilot, and even harder to inspire other people to think big too. How big? A flight around the WORLD big. Climb aboard for the true story of how Barrington Irving went from tinkering kid to towering pilot and flew solo around the world—breaking records as the youngest person and first Black man ever to do it. With maps, labels, lists, and cool backmatter, including news of what Barring Irving is doing today, this book soars.
Buckle up! Sky-high dreams ahead.
“Rich and inspiring . . . Will have young flying enthusiasts riveted.” —SLJ “High-octane [and] heroic. —Booklist. “Uplifting . . . Will put the wind under readers’ wings.” —Kirkus
“Energetic illustrations effectively convey the narrator’s personal drive, ambitions, achievements, the wonders of flight, and diagrams. . . . This rich and inspiring true story will have young flying enthusiasts riveted.” —School Library Journal
“Uplifting [and] attractive . . . Will put the wind under readers’ wings.” —Kirkus
“High-octane [and] heroic . . . An afterword and time line supply more detail about [Captain Barrington Irving’s] flight and his subsequent work with young people. —Booklist.
Captain Barrington Irving, at age twenty-three, broke records to become the youngest and first Black pilot to fly solo around the world. He grew up in Jamaica and Miami, and has flown to more than fifty countries. Barrington also has conducted more than eighty STEM expeditions to motivate youth around the world through his nonprofit Experience Aviation and his Flying Classroom, an interactive STEM+ learning adventure. Barrington is the author of the memoir Touch the Sky: My Solo Flight Around the World. Let’s Fly! is his debut picture book.
Chana Stiefel is the award-winning author of more than thirty humorous, heartfelt, and enlightening books for kids, including Let Liberty Rise!, Bravo Avocado!, and The Tower of Life, which won the Sydney Taylor Book Award. Chana loves visiting schools and libraries and sharing her passion for reading and writing with children.
Shamar Knight-Justice is a New York Times best-selling illustrator and educator based in Atlanta. His artwork intentionally highlights Black and Brown children to celebrate the fullness of their identities in picture books. Shamar is the illustrator of Ari J.’s Kinky, Curly, Crown; Big Tune: Rise of the Dancehall Prince; Repeat After Me: Big Things to Say Every Day; and Forever and Always.
The true story of Barrington Irving, who broke records as the youngest person and first Black man to fly solo around the world—co-authored by Barrington and award-winning author Chana Stiefel, with art by New York Times bestselling illustrator Shamar Knight-Justice
As a kid, Barrington Irving moved from Jamaica to Miami and played football—his ticket to success, he thought. But then Captain Gary Robinson swooped into his life. Barrington had never seen a Black pilot before. Captain Robinson showed Barrington a jet, a cockpit, and what it was like to actually fly a plane— WHOAAA!
After that, Barrington had big plans, and two words: Let's Fly!
Barrington Irving worked hard to become a pilot, and even harder to inspire other people to think big too. How big? A flight around the WORLD big. Climb aboard for the true story of how Barrington Irving went from tinkering kid to towering pilot and flew solo around the world—breaking records as the youngest person and first Black man ever to do it. With maps, labels, lists, and cool backmatter, including news of what Barring Irving is doing today, this book soars.
Buckle up! Sky-high dreams ahead.
“Rich and inspiring . . . Will have young flying enthusiasts riveted.” —SLJ “High-octane [and] heroic. —Booklist. “Uplifting . . . Will put the wind under readers’ wings.” —Kirkus
Reviews
“Energetic illustrations effectively convey the narrator’s personal drive, ambitions, achievements, the wonders of flight, and diagrams. . . . This rich and inspiring true story will have young flying enthusiasts riveted.” —School Library Journal
“Uplifting [and] attractive . . . Will put the wind under readers’ wings.” —Kirkus
“High-octane [and] heroic . . . An afterword and time line supply more detail about [Captain Barrington Irving’s] flight and his subsequent work with young people. —Booklist.
Author
Captain Barrington Irving, at age twenty-three, broke records to become the youngest and first Black pilot to fly solo around the world. He grew up in Jamaica and Miami, and has flown to more than fifty countries. Barrington also has conducted more than eighty STEM expeditions to motivate youth around the world through his nonprofit Experience Aviation and his Flying Classroom, an interactive STEM+ learning adventure. Barrington is the author of the memoir Touch the Sky: My Solo Flight Around the World. Let’s Fly! is his debut picture book.
Chana Stiefel is the award-winning author of more than thirty humorous, heartfelt, and enlightening books for kids, including Let Liberty Rise!, Bravo Avocado!, and The Tower of Life, which won the Sydney Taylor Book Award. Chana loves visiting schools and libraries and sharing her passion for reading and writing with children.
Shamar Knight-Justice is a New York Times best-selling illustrator and educator based in Atlanta. His artwork intentionally highlights Black and Brown children to celebrate the fullness of their identities in picture books. Shamar is the illustrator of Ari J.’s Kinky, Curly, Crown; Big Tune: Rise of the Dancehall Prince; Repeat After Me: Big Things to Say Every Day; and Forever and Always.
