From School Library Journal
Grade 2-5?Herbert Hoover called Amelia Earhart a "pioneering woman." Adler emphasizes this characteristic as he recounts the life of the famous pilot, describing her days as a schoolgirl when she engaged in activities typically enjoyed by boys and wore bloomers that were a departure from the dress expected of ladies. She was well educated as well as compassionate, and her career endeavors were many before concentrating on flying. The author details his subject's renown flights across the Atlantic and her fatal trip around the world. Readers glean a sense of Earhart's courage and determination. Realistic, double-page watercolor illustrations complement the text. A good addition to biography or women's collections for beginning or reluctant readers.?Cheryl Cufari, Glencliff Elementary School, Niskayuna, NYCopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews
Adler (A Picture Book of Jackie Robinson, 1994, etc.) draws even young onlookers into the life of Earhart, whose Kansas childhood included firing a .22 rifle at barn rats and fashioning a roller coaster from fence rails and roller skates. Her social work, medical research, and study of engine repair are outlined, along with her growing passion for airplanes and flying, which resulted in several initial crash landings. Historic flights and accomplishments characterize Earhart's adulthood, told in a factual, yet anecdotal style sure to interest early readers. Earhart's disappearance, the source of much speculation, is skillfully handled. A brief author's note cites theories about that disappearance as well as the lack of evidence to support them. Fisher's illustrations, though clumsy in depicting perspective (e.g., a plane in flight on the cover is curiously close to Earhart's head), are pleasing in that they do not idealize the subject. This is a cogent tribute to an aviation pioneer. (Picture book/biography. 5-9) -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Card catalog description
Discusses the life of the pilot who was the first woman to cross the Atlantic by herself in a plane.

ANNOTATION

Discusses the life of the pilot who was the first woman to cross the Atlantic by herself in a plane.

FROM THE CRITICS

Children's Literature - Susie Wilde

In this, his twenty-seventh book of the series, Adler stresses the qualities of Earhart's life that are most meaningful to children. He presents the facts of her life stressing her fierce independence, love of flight, diverse gifts, intelligence, and outlook that when women fail, " their failures must be but a challenge to others." Adler has a gift of making history accessible to young children. There is a simplicity with which he tells of their lives. A good title for March, women's history month, as well as any time during the year when one wants to celebrate women's contributions to the world.

Children's Literature - Susie Wilde

With the recent release of Amelia Earhart, David Adler's Picture Book biography series is now twenty-seven books long. Adler has a gift for making history accessible to young children. It is in the way he presents historic figures and the simplicity with which he tells of their lives. In this book, he writes about the facts of Earhart's life, stressing the qualities that will mean something to children. The qualities mentioned include her fierce independence, love of flight, diverse gifts, intelligence, and her outlook on life; that when women fail, "their failures must be but a challenge to others."

Children's Literature - Karen Saxe

This is one of several dozen in Adler's "Picture Book Biography" series. It is a successful telling of the famous woman's life, containing information on both the personal and professional aspects. It is well-written, and includes a selected bibliography. As an introduction to the biography format, this book should hit the mark. This would be a very good book for a preschool or elementary school library to own.

Children's Literature - Jan Lieberman

Amelia came by her derring-do naturally. Her mother was the first woman to climb Pike's Peak in 1890! Her first view of a plane at eleven didn't empress her. She was a tomboy who liked to play football, but had a scientific aptitude and studied automobile engine repair. Her future was determined at age twenty-three when she took her first plane ride. Adler gives young readers the highlights of Amelia's life and focuses on her dedication to be the first woman pilot to cross the Atlantic alone. The pictures provide an accurate setting for the time period in this fine introduction to the life of Amelia Earhart.

School Library Journal