Sprouting Wings: The True Story of James Herman Banning, the First African American Pilot to Fly Across the United States

Sprouting Wings: The True Story of James Herman Banning, the First African American Pilot to Fly Across the United States by Floyd Cooper, Louisa Jaggar, Shari Becker
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers on January 5, 2021
ISBN: 1984847627
Pages: 48
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This is the true story of James Herman Banning, the first African American pilot to fly across the country. Banning, a farm boy from Oklahoma, always dreamed of flying. After many struggles, he achieves a journey in an airplane that would span 3,300 miles, take twenty-one days, and inspire a nation. A well researched book, including Banning’s own writings and an interview with the aviator’s great-nephew, that is complemented by Floyd Cooper’s earth-toned dreamlike illustrations. This picture book biography content will appeal to fans of Hidden Figures and upper elementary and middle school students.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer. Liberty Library