The Hallelujah Flight

The Hallelujah Flight by Phil Bildner and illustrated by John Holyfield is another great picture book based on actual events. I must confess that I haven't even heard of James Banning before. So this book was a total new discovery to me, and I admit loving learning about the first black aviator that obtained a license and the first African American to complete a transcontinental flight.

James Banning had a dream and it was very clear to him. He wanted to fly a plane from sea to sea using his OXX6 Eagle Rock as their dream plane. There were a couple of problems with this dream:

1. their plane was too old. It's entire engine needs to be replaced.

2. They had no money

3. Times were hard, so people really didn't have much to even spare.

But a dream is a dream. And problems like such didn't stop James Banning and his copilot Thomas Allen to achieving their dreams. Both friends thought of creative ways to make their journey possible, collecting food along the way, receiving donations from people and sometimes experiencing discrimination along the way as well. But James Banning was an example of strength and perseverance, so these rocks along the way did not stop him from becoming the first African American to flight over the Atlantic ocean completing his dream! Hallelujah!