I'd give the illustrations in this an easy five, but the story is about a three. Four seems just overall. ( )

A very impressive bed time story. It breaths hope, inspiration, encouragement and determination even in your dreams. I love this simple story about flying. I love the family and community that supported each other and enjoyed how the author expressed that support. Love the illustrations and how they did not not over the pages and how the provided the right amount of visual information which added to the story. Great story. ( )

Joe-Joe's first flight was an adventurous story about a boy that brings the moon back to his town by flying in the air and singing the moon a song. The boy and his father have always dreamt of flying but they never could because they were black. This book was set back in times of segregation. Blacks did not have many privileges. I think this book was written to make a point that blacks can and should do the same things as whites. It also shows kids why they should never be prejudice. Not only does this book teach a lesson to kids but it also is fun for them to read because they can imagine going to the moon too. ( )

In the small town of Blind Eye, it’s 1922, segregation is commonplace, and the airport workers [known as the All-Original Flying Men] who dream of flying have lost hope in the meaningless promise of “in due time” whenever they ask when it will be their turn to fly. Joe-Joe’s father is one of the All-Original Flying Men; his sparkly gold wings, given to him when he went to work at the airport, seem like a miniature star in Joe-Joe’s hand. Inspired, he makes a wish . . . and one magical night his wish comes true.

The charming watercolor illustrations accompanying this touching tale of a young boy’s dream are magical. But the book is bit of a mish-mash, part historical, part reality, part fantasy. Readers are certain to empathize with the All-Original Flying Men although it’s unclear whether the promise made to the men was for an opportunity to fly in the planes they serviced or if it was to have the opportunity to become pilots. Whatever the promise, the story makes it clear that the unfulfilled promise was the reason the men lost hope.

There is a great deal of text in this book; skilled independent readers may be able to read Joe-Joe’s story without difficulty, but younger readers are not likely to be able to navigate this much text independently. With a Lexile rating of 580 [fourth/fifth grade], this picture book is classified as Adult Directed, meaning the book is designed for an adult to read to the child. Parents who read this story with their child will find the book easily serves as a springboard for an important discussion on the unfairness of segregation, the narrow-mindedness and bigotry of discrimination, and the vital importance of honoring your word.

The Author’s Note following the story provides some historical background regarding African Americans in aviation.

Recommended. ( )

Joe-Joe’s First Flight is about a young boy who watches his father long to fly a plane for years, and decides one day he is going to do it himself. Through E.B. Lewis’s illustrations, the reader can see the pure happiness in the boy’s face as he is flying the plane. In a classroom, have students write down their biggest dream and how they plan to accomplish it. ( )