Ruth Law Thrills a Nation

About the Book

“On November 19, 1916, Ruth Law tried to fly from Chicago to New York City in one day. It had never been done before.” Since her airplane had an open cockpit, she prepared for the cold by sleeping outside on a Chicago rooftop. A double-page spread shows her donning layer after layer of clothes for the flight, including a skirt: “In 1916, a polite lady always wore a skirt.” Law flew as far as Hornell, NY, in her biplane, setting a long-distance nonstop record (for men as well as women). After lunch in Hornell, she made it as far as Binghamton, NY, two hours short of NYC, which she reached the next day and was greeted by a military band. Pen-and-watercolor illustrations, some lovely and some droll, chart her progress and show her admirers along the way. Per the last line, her nonstop distance record was broken a year later–by another woman.

Why this Book?

Not only is this a totally cool story about a then-famous early aviator (who knew?), but it’s told skillfully through a crisp text and outstanding pictures. Don Brown was a pioneer in picture-book biographies for younger children and he set a high standard. This reads aloud well, creating dramatic tension throughout and then elation at Ruth Law’s success. Look for some of his other excellent historical picture books about Theodore Roosevelt, Albert Einstein, Mary Kingsley, Neil Armstrong, and the Alexander Hamilton/Aaron Burr duel. Keep in mind that some children prefer books that are informational, what they might call “true,” and love to learn about real people. Even kids who think they only like fiction will like this.