Violet the Pilot
By Steve Breen
Violet Van Winkle, a mechanical genius, builds and pilots her own airplanes. The only people who appreciate her interests are her parents. Finally the day comes when Violet can prove her talents – and it turns out a bit differently than she expected.
While Violet is a positive role model for females in STEM, this book will captivate children of any gender. The various flying machines are imaginatively created from a variety of unexpected materials. The message: Anything is possible.
There are a couple of moments of schoolmates being mean to Violet, but the book does a good job of “show, not tell” – not narrating every unkind word. Violet’s outward response, ignoring them, is balanced by her inward dialogue about wanting the kids at school to be nice to her.
Gentle Kids Books 