The Flying Feminist
This picturebook is based on the true story of the amazing Lilian Bland, the first woman to design, build and even fly her own airplane in 1910. Lilian’s story is one of bravery, tenacity, and the absolute refusal to give up on herself, even when everyone else had. Her indomitable spirit yearned to be as free as the birds in the sky, and her intelligence and drive made it possible for her to fly along with them.
The focus on celebrating the beauty of Lilian’s difference is what makes this picturebook so special: A woman who knew her mind and worked in different ways, who was full of imagination and optimism, and who had the remarkable ability to learn and find solutions to problems that had never been solved before.
Andrea Turk’s illustration style is full of details on every single page that help the story come to life; vibrant landscapes where you can almost feel the wind underneath Lilian’s plane, rusty engineering tools that you can smell on your fingertips as if you had used them yourself.
With an additional biography of Lilian Bland and other women who have left their mark in aviation history, this picturebook powerfully recognises the courageousness and dedication that it takes to follow one’s passion. This book is perfect for early readers, as its simple language and eye-catching illustrations can introduce non-fiction literature about a remarkable woman who did remarkable things in a most inspiring way.
