Jumbo: The Making of the Boeing 747

K-Gr 3—Gall marks the 50th anniversary of the Boeing 747 with a wonderfully illustrated picture book about the plane's history and an overview of aerodynamics. The text explains the huge undertaking involved in building the Boeing 747, aka the "Jumbo Jet," and how it allowed more people to fly less expensively. The aerodynamics of how to fly the large plane are examined, and the uniqueness of the plane's construction is detailed. Throughout the book, a young girl explains the concepts with everyday examples, such as how holding your hand out of a car window creates drag. Overall, the book is well organized and easy to follow. Gall provides enough information to excite younger readers without overwhelming them. His dynamic illustrations will have children marveling for hours at the plane's awe-inspiring details. VERDICT This informative picture book is a fantastic purchase for all libraries and is destined to be loved by young airplane enthusiasts.—Katherine Rao, Palos Verdes Lib. Dist., CA

Between its first flight in 1970 and its last in 2018, the Boeing 747 "transported the equivalent of 78 percent of the world's population." It's an incredible statistic, but a fraught legacy given the realities of climate change. Gall avoids any discussion of the 747's ecological consequences, centering instead the engineering challenge Boeing faced in designing the world's largest passenger plane, then building it in just 28 months per the demands of Pan American Airlines. Incisive explanations of concepts such as gravity, lift, drag, and thrust; turbojets; the design process; and plane construction ("over 4.5 million pieces in a 747!") shine alongside lucid, highly detailed realistic color illustrations and schematics peppered with plane parts, cross-sections, and relatable images, such as a girl braking a bike to depict hydraulics. Gall's attention to detail dazzles, but the institutional-feeling narrative never quite soars. Includes "Fun Facts," a glossary, and an author's note about building a plane. Ages 5-8. (Aug.)