Amelia and Eleanor Go For A Ride: Based On A True Story by Pam Muñoz Ryan and Brian Selznick

Ryan, Pam Muñoz, and Brian Selznick. 1999. Amelia and Eleanor Go For A Ride: Based On A True Story. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN: 978-0590960755.

Annotation

Amelia, the famous aviator Amelia Earhart who was the first woman to fly the Atlantic Ocean; and Eleanor was Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady of the United States and committed activist for human rights take to the sky in this picture book based on a true incident.

My thoughts

It’s great to see a book about these two historically strong women doing things that were out of the social norm of their time. This story is based on the night of April 20, 1933 when Eleanor Roosevelt invited Amelia Earhart to the White House for dinner. During the dinner, Amelia was asked what it is like to fly at night. “Very few people in the whole world had ever flown at night, and Amelia was one of them.” The guests listen with closed eyes imagining the experience of flying at night. Eleanor asks about the view of the Capital at night and Amelia arranges for a ride on an Eastern Air Transport Plane (a Curtis Condor twin-motor airplane). Within an hour, the two women were up in the air experiencing a clear night’s view of the area between Baltimore and Washington D.C.

This little known true account revealed a spontaneous side of Eleanor Roosevelt and takes the reader back to a time when flying at night was a big deal. So many things have changed over the last century, but hopefully the feeling of being completely in awe of the stars remains the same. With Eleanor and Amelia’s bold personalities, and Selznick’s breathtaking illustrations, readers are inspired to take actions to make their own dreams to come true.

Focus on the Art

Brian Selznick’s pencil illustrations capture this bygone era by resembling old photographs and carry this story beautifully. The details have been carefully researched (actual China patterns, an Evening Star newspaper from Washington D.C. with factual headlines, furniture and fashions of the time period, etc.) In addition, there is a beautifully illustrated nighttime view of Washington D.C that captures the Capital dome and famous monuments.

Curricular connections

Grade 4-6: Social studies lesson with focus on Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt and also the geography of the area described in the story.

Literary devices

Use of Metaphor: (p. 5) “Amelia and Eleanor were birds of a feather.”

Reading level/ Interest Age

Ages 5-9

Reviews and Awards

ALA Notable Children’s Book

Book Sense Book of the Year Finalist

Author website: http://www.pammunozryan.com/

Illustrator website: http://www.theinventionofhugocabret.com/

Media: Pencil on Paper

Genre: Juvenile picture books, nonfiction