Learning how the world works—day by day, book by book—is such an exciting part of being a kid. Each moment brings another marvel… above and below, by land, water, and air. When a picture book brings readers close to the color, sound, feel and function of those fascinating details, in a way that feels both fresh and familiar, it definitely stands out. And that is precisely the case with the On the Move series, written by Kelly Rice Schmitt, illustrated by Jam Dong (Millbrook Press).
On Oct. 6, a fourth book will join the On the Move collection. This time, readers are going up, up and away with I FLY: An Airplane’s Fantastic Flight. Here’s a summary of the story:
Sleek, regal, gravity-defying, I fly the open skies.
Every day, tens of thousands of airplanes crisscross the globe, delivering people and cargo of all sorts—from mail to medicine to dinosaur fossils—exactly where they need to go. Join one long-haul commercial airplane as it prepares for takeoff and follow the flight all the way to a safe landing at the destination.
Mechanics mend parts, pilots check the cockpit, dispatchers make a flight plan, and flight attendants tend to passengers in the course of this important journey. Along its journey, the plane encounters course corrections, weather challenges, and a sky full of other aircraft—but it flies through, delivering its passengers exactly where they want to be. From the creators of I Ship, I Fuel, and I Truck comes an adventure that will send readers' imaginations soaring!
In I FLY, the On the Move team does it again, bringing readers right into the action, as people work hard and work together to keep things moving for their community and their world. What is it like growing a successful picture book series? Author Kelly Rice Schmitt joins us on the blog this week to tell us all about it. Come along as we go… Behind the Book!
How did this story come to you?
When my publisher asked me for more ideas in the On the Move series which included a I SHIP (a container ship) and I FUEL (how energy works) at the time, we were at a bit of a crossroads in which direction to take the series – more details behind how industry and science concepts work, or focus on the vehicle crowd? The team wanted to go the vehicle route BUT ensure that the books still had that insider feeling to reveal surprises most people don’t know about these everyday vehicles and the humans that work in these important industries. I knew an airplane just had to be pitched! Not only does I FLY have the vehicle lover appeal, it also allows for a deeper STEM connection with lyrical text conveying the science of flight. I sold I FLY on proposal, which is great—but then I had to write it!
How did it evolve, as it came fully into being?
One challenge in writing I FLY came in that this was the first book in the On the Move series that featured a vehicle in which children themselves would commonly ride. The other books all encounter problems like dangerous weather or terrain on the journey. We wanted to have some tension in the book, but we couldn’t make the flight itself scary, or we may deter readers from wanting to fly. Inspiration for the direction to go on this actually came from my research—with real pilots! As in all my On the Move books, I worked with experts in the field. In this case, I worked with some close friends who are commercial air pilots. When I heard how they spoke about thunderstorms and unexpected weather as they fly, it was obvious that this was routine for them and they were highly skilled and trained to be able to find a safe way around bad weather. I also learned about how the teams on the ground monitor weather and relay detailed flight plan instructions to keep flights safe. I knew that adding a thunderstorm and a bit of turbulence was the way to add manageable tension. I chose to focus on the cockpit’s command and calm to demonstrate to kids that they don’t need to worry about it being “bumpy” because their leaders of the airplane have it completely under control.
What is your biggest hope for this story?
I hope families can use I FLY for preparing kids for their first airplane flight, that vehicle lovers can learn more about the behind the scenes of commercial jets, and that families working in the airline industry can feel seen. The books features many important jobs that aren’t always shown in typical airplane trip books.
How might an educator bring your story into classroom activities or learning?
I FLY is a great jumping off point for discussing the science of flight and also how important teamwork and communication are. AND it’s just a really fun read aloud with lots of onomatopoeia! The teacher’s guide we created includes experiments and activities discussing how weather affects flying; how different design factors impact an airplane’s performance in the air; how air traffic control, dispatch, and pilots work together to safely navigate busy skies, writing prompts, and more.
What sustains and nourishes you, as you travel this picture book journey?
Creating picture books isn’t for the faint of heart. It takes a long time and a lot of dedication to keep going in the face of competition, rejection, and overwhelm, just to name a few. What really keeps me going is meeting families or teachers I have no prior connection to that have found joy and meaning in the books I’ve helped create. I love bringing more curiosity and joy into the world! It’s also so lovely meeting creative kids who are working on their own art or writing. I hope I can inspire them to keep going and believe in themselves. My favorite part is seeing sketches and final art for the first time on a book. It’s just amazing seeing the book come to life when the illustrator has added their imprint to the text! And finally – I love thinking of the world through a kids’ lens. It’s just a better view. Kids are amazing and deserve incredible books that help them laugh, grow, and learn. I love being able to struggle through the tough creative parts to see the end result!
Thank you, Kelly, for visiting Behind the Book! Readers, be sure to check out the other titles in the On the Move series, as well as Kelly’s latest book, THE FARM NEXT DOOR, illustrated by Charles Santoso (Knopf), which released this summer—a sweet fiction story about community that also illuminates how local economies work. Excited for all the books to come from you, Kelly!
