{"product_id":"taking-off-airborne-with-mary-wilkins-ellis-paperback","title":"Taking Off: Airborne with Mary Wilkins Ellis - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eEmily Arnold McCully\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWitness the true story of how Mary Wilkins Ellis' childhood passion for flying led to an exciting career in the air, written and illustrated by a Caldecott Medalist.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAs a child, Mary Wilkins Ellis longed to fly, but she had to wait until she was 16 before she could have her first lesson. She soon became the youngest licensed pilot in her English county, but then all civilian flight was banned when Germany launched its attacks on Britain in 1940. Mary was grounded. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eOne day she chanced to hear a radio appeal for Britons with pilot's licenses--even women--to join the Air Transport Auxiliary and ferry brand new fighter planes to Royal Air Force bases. Mary immediately applied, and spent the rest of the war delivering hundreds of different kinds of aircraft--most of which she'd never flown before--forming lifelong bonds with her colleagues, surviving many a close call, and helping to save her country from destruction. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAfter the war she became a flight instructor, ran an air taxi service, then managed an airfield, the only woman in Europe to do so. In her spare time, she won rallies in her racing car. Mary's childhood dream became a thrilling lifetime aloft, lasting until she died at 101. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWith watercolor and ink illustrations which perfectly capture the exhilaration of flying, \u003ci\u003eTaking Off\u003c\/i\u003e brings this little-known figure and her can-do spirit to life. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eExtensive material in the back of the book includes additional information about Mary Wilkins Ellis and the Airport Transport Auxiliary, as well as sources.\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eEmily Arnold McCully\u003c\/b\u003e has illustrated many books for children including \u003ci\u003eMirette on the High Wire\u003c\/i\u003e which received a Caldecott Medal, \u003ci\u003eDreaming in Code: Ada Byron Lovelace, Computer Pioneer\u003c\/i\u003e, which received starred reviews in \u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eKate's Light\u003c\/i\u003e by Elizabeth Spires. She lives in Austerlitz, New York. You can visit her at emilyarnoldmccully.com.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 40\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.2 x 10.7 x 8.3 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e January 02, 2024\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51765347352864,"sku":"9780823456918","price":8.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/9764\/5344\/files\/98de2f3d6b2a22317227f2bbc047cc15.webp?v=1780266679","url":"https:\/\/ebocreations.com\/products\/taking-off-airborne-with-mary-wilkins-ellis-paperback","provider":"The E-Book Oasis LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}