Well before AI was “born”, before Graphing Calculators were available to solve algebraic, geometric and trigonometric problems, the Wright Brothers designed an airplane that actually took flight.
Before there was GPS, before there were navigation and weather satellites, and before the first turbo-jet aircraft, Amelia Earhart bravely flew across oceans and against bias.
The courage and dedication of those three aviators are spoken of here, in grandparent-grandchild conversations.
“Wilbur and Orville had endured periods of ridicule and abuse such as seldom been known in the history of scientific investigations. Through straightforwardness, intelligence, and tenacity, the Wright brothers achieved one of the most beautiful inventions of the human genius.”
at an awards ceremony
November 1908
Amelia Earhart had flown over the Atlantic Ocean, alone. She had been in the air almost 16 hours. As she climbed down from her plane, a farmer approached and asked where she’d come from. She replied, “America.” She then asked, “Where exactly am I?” The surprised farmer replied, as if it was obvious, “Gallagher’s pasture!”
as reported in several newspapers published in Ireland, May 1932
KIRKUS REVIEW
HOW'D THEY DO THAT?
Grandparents Answer Questions About
the Wright Brothers and Amelia Earhart
Joseph Howard Cooper
Illustrated by Patricia DeWitt and Robin Dewitt
FriesenPress (132 pages)
BOOK REVIEW
An informative and engaging survey of aviation pioneers, perfect for kids, adult caregivers, and STEM educators.
Two grandparents convey the histories of famous fliers in Joseph Howard Cooper’s new book.
As the book opens, a grandfather recounts the Wright Brothers’ journey – from their early birdwatching to their constructing wind tunnels for experiments and choosing North Carolina as an ideal flight-test site.
Cooper touches on key themes of commitment, dedication, preparation, and perseverance while telling how the siblings outpaced their better-funded rivals. The book’s first part depicts a conversation between a granddad and grandson, interspersing dialogue with helpful clarifications of complex vocabulary, including terms such as equilibrium (“compensated for”) and altimeter to ensure that technical aspects of aviation are accessible for young readers.
The detailed, full-color illustrations by Patricia DeWitt and Robin DeWitt will appeal to young audiences; the main characters are depicted as anthropomorphized animals in human clothing.
The grandfather is a wise, jolly dog with white whiskers, and the grandson is an enthusiastic young reptile, often dressed in a karate gi.
The book’s second part moves into a furry, rabbitlike grandmother’s story of Amelia Earhart, told to two young mammals who look like lion cubs. After a smooth transition, Earhart’s story begins with her visit to see the Wright Brothers National Memorial at Kitty Hawk before moving into her historic solo flight across the Atlantic. This section hews closely to Earhart’s memoirs, including some of her most poetic descriptions of flying. In this way, Earhart’s pioneering spirit is effectively shown to inspire the gathered grandkids and is likely to similarly resonate with youngsters considering engineering or piloting careers.
Detailed endnotes, including Earhart’s flight maps, links to online databases, and key primary source excerpts, help round out the book as a potentially useful teaching tool.
An informative and engaging survey of aviation pioneers, perfect for kids, adult caregivers, and STEM educators.
AviationBookReviews.com
The title of this book tells it all. Especially for kids who want to learn more about the great adventures of the heroes who conquered the skies in the early years of the last century.
Within, we have the Wright Brothers who invented powered flying. Within, we have Aemelia Earhart, the first woman to fly over the Atlantic Ocean from the United States to Europe and many more solo flights all over the world thereafter covering many continents, but who tragically disappeared during her attempt to fly around the world.
In clear explanations the author answers obvious questions about how the Wright Brothers with sheer determination, self-education and patience developed a heavier-than-air flying machine. Within, their developments are supported by beautiful illustrations.
Further reading this book I also found out that many details about both stories were also completely unknown to me. Hence the book is not limited to young readers only. It would not misfit in history lessons about American aviation history in primary schools and homes. The stories about the exploits of Amelia are even more fascinating. The long preparations, detailed exploits of local weather and landing sites, achieving navigation charts etcetera are accompanied by illustrations of the routes she flew.
In both stories it appears that nothing was achieved easily. Courage and a strong will to succeed were the tools for all the characters in this book. Good lessons for young readers!
Besides the detailed backgrounds of the Wright Brothers and Amelia Earhart which show that Joe Cooper had done a lot of research, there are also the many coloured illustrations and card drawings that make this book special.
Age is certainly not a limiting factor for reading “How’d they do that?” My advice: purchase it as a hardcover or paperback handy for reading it aloud but also for a better reflecting on the illustrations.
- Max Heldring
The Netherlands AviationBookReviews
The adorable photo of grandparent Cooper and his Ninja grandchild (page 121) explains to me the inspiration Mr. Cooper needed to write this book.
He takes his grandchild’s questions seriously; no childish talk but with to-the-point language which invites the juvenile listeners, and obviously also much older readers, to ask the next questions.
Being a Dutch grandparent, and ex-Fokker Aircraft employee in my situation, I would tell my grandchildren about Anthony Fokker and Albert Plesman, but the example of Mr. Cooper is an inspiration for fellow grandparents !
- Joris Gonggrijp
Foreword Clarion Review
An easygoing introduction to the history of aviation and the values that helped early innovators accomplish their goals, How’d They Do That? is an informative text.
In Joseph Howard Cooper’s educational picture book How’d They Do That?, grandparents introduce their grandchildren to innovations in human flight through the stories of the Wright brothers and Amelia Earhart . . .
The duos’ edifying conversations include leading questions about how birds fly, what words like equilibrium mean, and where early pilots and aeronautic engineers found the courage to try out their new ideas. The grandparents’ answers to the children’s questions are orderly and didactic, touching on key events including the Wright brothers’ thirty-three-minute-long flight demonstration in 1909 and Earhart’s 1932 record-breaking crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. And the book’s appendixes include extended selections from Earhart’s and the Wrights’ writings and speeches.
Beyond the history of aviation, the grandparents emphasize the values that helped Earhart and the Wrights accomplish their goals. Earhart’s groundbreaking role as a woman aviator and the Wrights’ inauspicious beginnings as bicycle repairmen are noted alongside lessons about courage, curiosity, and determination in the face of adversity. And the children’s enthusiasm is clear: they are enthralled by their grandparents’ stories and decide to continue learning about flight . . .
In the wholesome, knowledgeable book How’d They Do That?, children learn about the beginnings of modern aviation from their grandparents.
Professor Emeritus Introduction to the Book
For reading with youngsters and
for delving into by all generations,
a resource to be held onto for reference:
I’m confident that readers will share my delight in this
excellent description of how the Wright Brothers and
Amelia Earhart employed creative, resourceful, and
deliberate methods to conceive and advance human flight.
This reader enjoys a long interest in these aviation
pioneers, beginning with an early position at a laboratory
named for the famous brothers, followed by extended
service at the university where Earhart once functioned as
“Career Counselor for Women.” Indeed, my eight-year
assignment at the Wright Laboratories in Dayton, Ohio
provided daily views of Huffman Prairie where Orville and
Wilbur continued their flight experiments after returning
from Kitty Hawk.
The majority of my career, however, was at Purdue
University in the department where Amelia Earhart briefly
advised on aeronautics. Although tragically lost during her
ill-fated flight around the world in an aircraft partially
funded by Purdue, I was privileged to witness how Amelia
continues to inspire young women to pursue productive
STEM careers in fields once limited to men.
While the Wrights and Earhart are subjects of many
previous biographies, Mr. Cooper’s contribution provides
fresh insight into their preparation and search for great
discovery. The fact that he describes a little-known
personal friendship between Orville and Amelia is but one
interesting example of Mr. Cooper’s detailed examination
of these aviation giants.
His discussion of how the Wrights’ and Earhart’s character
and commitment led to significant advancements is a truly
impressive explanation for scientific and engineering
innovation. Although claiming to be “unscientific and
unmechanical,” Mr. Cooper has developed exceptional
insight into the personal traits needed for notable
discovery. This manuscript certainly reflects his own
passion for learning how things are discovered as well as
his continuing thirst for new knowledge.
Mr. Cooper’s “picture book anomaly” employs novel
“Grandparent-Grandchild dialogues” to instruct new
generations about the qualities needed for personal
success. The many fascinating illustrations and vintage
photographs are sure to hold the attention of young
readers, while the accompanying Grandparent-Grandchild
conversations provide adults the opportunity to encourage
commitment to further study.
Mr. Cooper’s message for how today’s youth can secure
rewarding and productive careers is aptly demonstrated by
the Wright Brother’s quest to understand fundamentals of
flight. He notes that they began by carefully studying all
that was available before setting out on their own research,
showing that a rigorous education can be obtained through
a systematic program of self-study and hard work. Their
wide-ranging study of birds clearly establishes their
resourcefulness in proving basic concepts, not just in being
able to “perform a trick.” Moreover, the fact that they used
their bicycle business to support their research, unlike the
government funding employed by many of their
contemporaries, gave them an inspired focus on the key
issues.
Likewise, Amelia Earhart followed deliberate, resourceful
steps to become one of the most well-known aviators of
her time. Mr. Cooper emphasizes that Amelia’s passion
went beyond proving her own ability, as she sought to
demonstrate that young women should not be limited by
stereotypes regarding what girls can and cannot do.
Undeniably, that attitude motivated Purdue President
Elliot to recruit her to not only advise aeronautics, but also
to a special new position as career counselor for women
(she’s believed to be the first to hold that university title).
Although aerospace engineering continues to be a male
dominated field, recent increases in female participation
certainly benefit from Amelia’s early encouragement for
STEM related activities.
In summary, this volume succeeds on many levels. It is a
fresh look at the inventive attributes connecting the
Wright Brothers and Amelia Earhart. The extensive
quotations from their personal writings, and those of their
contemporaries, are quite effective in demonstrating the
resourcefulness and creativity needed for scientific
advancement. Indeed, the many vintage photographs,
letters, and newspaper articles represent a valuable
household resource to be cherished and held for future
reference. Finally, while also an effective vehicle for adults
to teach the principles of flight and other scientific
terminology, most importantly the volume is a wonderful
means for encouraging one’s offspring to dedicate
themselves to further study and hard work to achieve
personal aspirations.
Alten F. Grandt, Jr., Ph.D.
Distinguished Professor Emeritus
of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Purdue University
About the Book:
Juvenile Non-Fiction BISAC Codes
for “How’d they do that? . . . ”
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY /
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
FAMILY / MULTIGENERATIONAL
SCIENCE & NATURE / PHYSICS
Still more about the Book
About the Author:
Joseph Howard Cooper published book, movie, and stage-play appreciations at the Huffington Post, and The Christian Science Monitor. His “Pauses and Moments” stories appeared at PsychologyToday.com.
His one-act plays were performed at the New Haven International Festival of Arts & Ideas. More recently, his screenplays – the semi-autobiographical “Life after Lebanon” and the whimsical “Escapes: The Grandpa Chronicles” – have been recognized in a dozen global film-festival script competitions.
Cooper’s own experience as a grandfather during the COVID-19 pandemic inspired “Grandpa’s lonely, isn’t he?”, his 2022 debut picture book. “His FaceTime with Grandma” and “What was it like? D-Day June 1944” along with “The Here, and The After” are works in progress. He lives in Culver City, California.
