In I Fly: An Airplane’s Fantastic Flight, long-haul commercial airplane narrates its flight, from mechanics getting it in tip-top shape and boarding passengers all the way through the pilot’s safe landing.
Today, we are joined by Kelly Rice Schmitt, the author of I Fly and the On the Move series, for an exclusive interview. Read on to discover writing process, how this title narrows in on STEM education, and more!
What is the most surprising thing you discovered while researching or writing the book?
I was surprised to learn that there are secret rest areas for the crew above first class on many long haul carriers! So of course we had to make sure to feature this in I Fly. I was also enthralled by the sheer volume of flights happening in the USA airspace on any given day—more than 5400 airplanes at a time at peak travel times! The backmatter facts were fun on this one.
Throughout the On the Move series Jam Dong has included so many delightful details in her art. What are some of your favorite details to look out for in I Fly?
Jam is such a talented artist and makes these books truly spectacular. This book features some watercolor in her art for some dreamy sky scenes that I just love. As always, the items she chooses to depict in the “what’s inside?” type spreads we have in each book are such fun! Even though I provide my research for her to use if she likes, it still is such a great surprise to see the final results! Also, keep and eye out for fun Easter egg connections between the books – there are some people and large vehicles to look for from I Ship, I Fuel, and I Truck. Can you find the characters here?
I Fly goes a bit deeper into the science part of the STEM themes than the previous books in the series. Can you tell us more?
As I worked on I Fly, I challenged myself to learn the science of jet airplane flight and distill it for children. I, like so many curious people of all ages, marvel at the wonder of flight and wanted to help kids understand how it happens when they fly in an airplane. The main text features the basic science of how take off happens in simple language and the backmatter includes a diagram and more detailed explanation of the science of flight.
What do you hope readers will take away from reading your book?
I hope readers develop a better understanding of how many people are involved in making an airplane flight happen safely and on time. It brings me joy for readers to experience one of my books and see parts of their everyday world in a new light. I hope they can notice workers and details they may have missed before and have a greater respect and patience for the people making the magic of commercial flight happen!
Praise for I Fly
“An informative trip through friendly skies.”—Kirkus Reviews
“As preparation for a child’s first flight or for anyone who loves to watch planes fly overhead, this picture book captures both the mechanics and the magic of traveling by air.”—School Library Journal
Free Educator Resource
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Connect with the Author
Kelly Rice Schmitt is an author of STEAM children’s literature. She holds a BBA in finance and Chinese from the University of Notre Dame and is an advocate for girls in STEM, business, and other fields with gender gaps. She can be found in North Carolina helping other traders grow their businesses, writing for children, and exploring, singing, and creating with her husband and young children.