Amelia and Eleanor go for a Ride

This story is based on the true story of the night that Eleanor Roosevelt invited her good friend, Amelia Earhart, to dinner at the White House. Halfway through dinner, as Amelia tells the guests about the wonders of flying at night, the two women decide to charter a flight to Baltimore that night!

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They leave dinner to have an adventure.

The plot is straightforward and exciting. The setting is Washington DC in the 1930s, in the White House and in the airplane. The theme of adventure (specifically, of woman as adventurers) is a constant thread throughout the story. The poetic text and the beautiful illustrations work wonderfully together. The book is exquisite!

According to author's note at the end, both author and illustrator did significant research on personal correspondence between the women and the events of this evening.

Highly recommended for an elementary school library.

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This is a story about Eleanor Roosevelt and Amelia Earhart. Amelia is invited to attend dinner with Eleanor at the Witehouse. They exchange scarfs. At dinner they had George Washington's crab chowder. Earhart told about flying at night, and Eleanor wanted to ride. Amelia and Eleanor when for a ride

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in the airplane.

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This is based upon an actual incident (the afterword explains where the author took a few liberties with history) where Amelia Earhart took Eleanor Roosevelt (apparently they were friends...?) up in a plane at night.

I love the black-and-white illustrations, and the descriptions of how different

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their formalwear was from the clothes they wore when defying gender boundaries, one by flying and the other by driving in a car. Bit wordy, but not overly so.

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Personal Response:

This book is another example of strong women who aren’t afraid to let the “rules” stop them from doing what they want to do. I have always been content to stay in the background but I am learning to step up and take chances. These women are great role models.

Personal Response:
While reading this book I wondered whether Eleanor Roosevelt actually went for a night airplane ride with Amelia Earhart. It was a fun read full of good ideals about not letting yourself be held back just because other people think you shouldn’t do things. However, I was really

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impressed when I read how much research the author did to make sure the events really did take place (though slightly fictionalized for narrative effect). This is a great book about strong women who enjoy life and stand up for themselves and others.
(However there are two rides in the book so the title isn't quite accurate ;)

Curricular/Programming Connections:
Learn more about the lives of Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt. Compare their lives
Read books about other women who broke out of gender norms.

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Fun, imaginary story of two favorite, courageous women meeting

Pleasant, quick read! I kept seeing this on one of our displays at the library, and the intriguing black & white cover art kept catching my eye -- enough so that I ultimately went back to grab this and read it during a 15-minute break. The art is simple yet distinctive, and the two women's

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appearance is true to the photographs I've seen. The story is very simple -- one evening's adventuresome activities by two icons of American history. I'm an adult, and I enjoyed it. I would hope that kids will appreciate it too!

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An inspiring tale based on a true story where friends Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt snuck away from a White House dinner to take a short flight in the sky around Washington DC and Baltimore. Set in 1933, the book contains facts and anecdotes about Earhart and Roosevelt. This is a great

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introduction into historical fiction for young readers.

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This book was wonderful. The pencil art done by Brian Selznick was fabulous! Especially the landscapes! In fact, there are a couple I could see doing as full-wall murals. (The clouds/airplane or the cherry blossoms in D.C.) I looked him up but didn't see anything else in this style, but was

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surprised to learn we own several other books he's illustrated. I highly recommend this book. The story is pleasant and it makes two very famous, influential women seem approachable but the art definitely makes it worth a look IMHO.

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This is a great book for students to read when learning about various topics in history such as achievements of women and other topics within history. This book is a story that describes a mythical adventure that two very famous women in history take together!

Summary: This book was based off a true story, of Amelia Earnhart, and Eleanor Rosevelt go on a plane ride, and escape the white house.
Personal Reaction: I thought this book was pretty interesting.
Classroom Extension:
1. I would use this as a lesson on Eleanor Rosevelt and who exactly she was.
2.

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I would also use this as a way to read other books where women did not abide by the rules that were forced upon them back then.

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a fictionalized account of the night Amelia Earhart flew Eleanor Roosevelt over Washington, D.C. in an airplane.

An excellent read for civil rights studies, women's studies (even with older students), and during history studies of the 30s.

Summary:
This is a very interesting story about Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt taking a sneaky flight out of the white house.

My Reaction
I love the idea of basing real events in a story theme that seem as if it couldn't possibly be true. This is a great book to read to young girls.

Classroom

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Extensions:
1. This would be a great book to read during a women's history thematic unit.
2. You could have the children draw out a timeline of Amelia's life or career.

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This is a fun book because it is a peek into a fascinating time in our country. This fiction story is based on a true event. It shows us what free spirits Roosevelt and Earhart were.

AMELIA and ELEANOR by Pam Ryan was enjoyable read. It tells of the friendship of two remarkable women and their love of adventure. A reader might wonder if the book is non-fiction. It is important to read the Author's Note. The illustrations by Brian Selznick add to the beauty of the story. This is

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a great book to read if one is interested in strong women leaders.

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Realistic Fiction about Amelia Earnheart and Elenore Roosevely two famous strong women befriending each other.

This story tells of the friendship of two remarkable women in history and their first plane ride together. Although the overall story is fiction, it is a delightful tale of friendship between two ladies.

I like this book because of it's context, despite it not being a completely true story. I think

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this is a good book to share with students because it is an enjoyable read. I would use this book for first through fifth grade, just to see how the difference of opinions in its context vary.

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Summary: Amelia is going to Washington D.C. and tries to meet up with her good friend Eleanor Roosevelt. When they get together for dinner, the women along with the other guests, start talking about flying. Since both women were very adventurous, they decided to go on a quick flight to Baltimore at

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night. Both women were loving the flight so much because you could see the entire city. When they got back, the women decided to do something Eleanor loved to do, go driving. The women got in the car and Eleanor drove them around the city of DC. They got back to the White House and laughed at their adventures over Eleanor's special desert.

Argument: I really liked this book because it brought historical females to tell a story. The message I got out of it was just because these women were females and high up in society doesn't mean they can't do the same thing men did. Many people were shocked to find Eleanor felt comfortable with a female flying her in a plane. This is something that our society does a lot, stereotyping by gender roles. Another aspect of this book I liked was that it was a made-up story but it brought in elements from history. It talked about landmarks in DC and in Baltimore as well as the name of Amelia Earheart's plane. For some children, this would make learning about important females in history as well as important landmarks more interesting.

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I really enjoyed reading this book! I personally had no idea that Eleanor Roosevelt and Amelia Earhart had a friendship since they were such famous women. But having these two women in one story and explaining their friendship through fabulous illustrations and riveting dialouge definitely captures

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the readers attention. With the illustrations being in black and white, the reader can imagine what both Eleanor and Amelia were seeing in both the airplane and the car. I also like this book because students can make a personal connection to flying in a plane or driving in a car. However, if this book is being read to students who have not flown in an airplane or ridden in a car, they could use their imagination along with the book illustrations to think about what they would see and feel. Finally, I like how they added an actual photograph of Eleanor Roosevelt and Amelia Earhart on the last page because then the students can see how there is some truth to the story.

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Amelia and Eleanor were best friends, and Eleanor invited Amelia for dinner at the White House in Washington DC. Eleanor was the first lady, and Amelia was the first lady to fly a plane. Amelia told Eleanor how the view of the city was from above, and Eleanor became excited about that. Many people

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told Eleanor and Amelia not to get on the plane that night, but Amelia and Eleanor insisted and got their way. They both got on the plane with their gowns, and flew over to Baltimore. After that trip Eleanor was convinced that she wanted to learn to fly a plane, and the only person that she wanted to learn from was Amelia. After that trip Eleanor and Amelia attend another dinner, and Eleanor invites Amelia to a car drive around the city. The illustrations of the book is very vivid despite it being in black and white. The book reflects the lives and dreams of these two women. The book also shows the beginning of women’s changing role in the USA.

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Amelia and Eleanor Go For A Ride by Pam Muñoz Ryan is a charming story, and boasts drawings by Brian Selznick. The book is about the friendship between First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and the celebrated aviator Amelia Earhart, also conveying some of the ways in which both women were daring pioneers

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for their time.

At a dinner at the White House, Earhart offered to take the First Lady for a ride, and, in spite of opposition from the Secret Service, they set off to Baltimore. They were back at the White House in time for dessert - Eleanor Roosevelt’s angel food cake, the recipe for which is included at the end of the book. An Author’s Note at the end of the book provides the historical background for the largely unknown flight of the two women on April 20, 1933.

Evaluation: In addition to telling a great story, the illustrations by Selznick add immeasurably to the tale. Selznick did extensive research for the book; we learn that even the wallpaper and china patterns on the plates used at the dinner at the White House are authentic. Selznick, of course, is the award-winning author/illustrator of The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Every book he illustrates is magical.

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The richness that Brian brings to this book through his illustrations are magical. We are immersed in these two amazing woman's lives in such a vivid way.

Amelia visits the white house to see her friend Elenore. They have lunch and talk about going for a fly together. Amelia takes Elenore into the sky with her. This book helps to teach that friends will do things with each other even if they are scared. Elenore flew with Amelia because she was her

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friends and she wanted to experience something she loved.

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