Hello, Airplane!

by Bill Cotter

Overview

Now in a board book edition, this vibrant and deceptively simple picture book from star author-illustrator Bill Cotter follows the stages of a long-distance flight from take-off to safe landing, with quietly breathtaking moments along the way.

The airplane says good-bye to the ground. 

The airplane says hello to the sky.

Now in board book for the first time, this simple story captures the familiar yet remarkable marvel of modern airplanes. Each vivid spread portrays a plane's journey from take-off to landing. As the airplane travels over miniature houses and through a starry night, wondrous details—such as the tiny plane's outline hiding among a flock of flying birds, and the plane's shadow gliding over clouds, will engage and delight future pilots, lovers of things that go, and any child about to embark on their first airplane trip.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781464275272
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Publication date:	06/02/2026
Pages:	24
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 6.00(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	3 Months to 3 Years

About the Author

Bill Cotter is the author and illustrator of the bestselling Don’t Push the Button! series, now with over 1 million copies sold worldwide. He has traveled to visit schools in China, Japan, and the Middle East to share his work with children. When he’s not making books, Bill likes to play video games, write music, and hang out with his cat Button.

Editorial Reviews

"It's time to fly! Lyrical, accessible text and pleasant, focused illustrations from various perspectives introduce the very young to the world of flight in this descriptive selection reminiscent of the work of Byron Barton and Donald Crews... A nice choice for those who love planes or who are about to fly for the first time. " — Kirkus Reviews

"This is a great book to introduce kids to air travel. Bill Cotter includes vibrant colors to accompany his simple text. This book is a great choice for young children who are non-readers and those emergent readers. It contains a repetitive storyline that makes the content easy to follow, while also encouraging safe and happy feelings about plane travel. Recommended" — Library Media Connection

From the Publisher

2014-08-20
It's time to fly! Lyrical, accessible text ("The airplane says good-bye to the ground. / The airplane says hello to the sky") and pleasant, focused illustrations from various perspectives introduce the very young to the world of flight in this descriptive selection reminiscent of the work of Byron Barton and Donald Crews. From takeoff to landing, this brief tale offers a straightforward, accurate and child-friendly account of some of the aspects of an aircraft journey (who is in the plane, where it flies, who and what it passes over and through, when it flies, etc.) as well as what the pilot might see from the cockpit—a particularly arresting image. While there is nothing startlingly new here, and a board-book format might be preferable given the intended audience, toddlers and young listeners will still enjoy the various images of the plane and its surroundings as the aircraft makes its way to a satisfying destination. Adults hoping to introduce first-time passengers to the experience should note that there is no discussion of what a child should expect in the airport. A nice choice for those who love planes or who are about to fly for the first time. (Picture book. 2-5)

Kirkus Reviews