Captivated by airplanes from childhood, eight-year-old Betty Skelton sent letters to manufacturers requesting information because "my father wants to buy an airplane." She studied the pamphlets that arrived, and by age twelve was flying by herself, although "It wasn't quite legal then so I couldn't tell anybody," she later recalled. At sixteen she had a pilot's license, but couldn't become a commercial pilot according to the gender constraints of the 1940s. Instead she became a stunt pilot and broke altitude records before retiring in the 1950s. Betty's passion for flying was transferred to race-car driving, and then boat jumping. She successfully trained to return to the air as the first female astronaut with the Mercury 7, but NASA did not include her in the final crew. Although the text glosses over some relevant details (just how did young Betty learn to pilot?), it captures her relentless energy and drive, as do the lively acrylic paint illustrations. (Ages 4-8)

A riveting picture book biography of Betty Skelton, aviation and auto racing pioneer, from award-winning author/illustrator Megan McCarthy. Includes audio!

In the 1930s most girls were happy playing with dolls. But one girl, Betty Skelton, liked playing with airplanes, watching them fly around outside, and even flying airplanes herself! She lived for an adventure—in the air, the water, and on land—and nothing could stop her, especially not being a girl.

When Betty Skelton was young there weren’t many women flying airplanes or racing cars, but she wouldn’t let that stop her. She was always ready to take on a challenge, and she loved to have fun. Beetty rode motorcycles, raced cars, jumped out of planes, and flew jets, helicoptors, gliders, and blimps. And by the time she was an adult, Betty was known in the press as the “First Lady of Firsts!”

This vibrantly illustrated picture book biography with audio reveals the exciting life of a brave pioneer who followed her dreams and showed the world that women can do anything!