"This book is destined to become a classic, thanks to its charming prose and illustrations." — Lisa's Reading (book review blog)

"Children will resonate with this story as they grapple with the question: 'What can I achieve, even if I’m the smallest and weakest in the family?' It encourages a positive sense of self and the discovery of one’s own unique strengths." — Life Is What It's Called (book review)

"Charming, entertaining, and one-of-a-kind—this book comes highly recommended for the picture-book collections of families, daycare centers, preschools, elementary schools, and community libraries, specifically for children aged 4–7." — Midwest Book Review

"A truly adorable story about a plane that is smaller than all its peers. It feels inadequate because it cannot do what the larger planes can. However, when people become stranded during a blizzard and call for help, the larger planes are too big to land—but the little plane is able to reach them and pull off a rescue. The illustrations are delightful; I especially love the expressive faces on the planes... Four stars." — Youth Services Book Review

"The text stands out against Joseph’s brilliant illustrations, with the words and images working in perfect tandem to drive the narrative. The scenes are grand and vibrantly colored—clear enough to be seen from a distance, making this an excellent choice for storytime. In short, Hartman has delivered another wonderful 'flight.' It’s a fantastic rhyming read-aloud for young children, introducing various types of aircraft while shining a light on the often-overlooked 'bush plane.'" — School Library Journal

"Told in melodic rhyme, the story is brought to life by anthropomorphic, expressive planes set against the backdrop of beautiful Alaskan landscapes. The book concludes with factual information about bush planes and a labeled diagram of an aircraft. Young children will relate to the desire to be 'small yet significant,' making this a perfect companion to *The Little Engine That Could*." — Children's Literature Comprehensive Database (Literature Comprehensive Database)

"Launched in the spring... this book—written by Brooke Hartman and illustrated by John Joseph—tells the story of a remarkable little bush plane called upon to rescue people trapped on a snowy mountain during a storm." — *Publishers Weekly*

"If you know a child who loves all kinds of vehicles—especially airplanes—pick up a copy and read it together. Take off, take off, here we go!" — *The Fairview Review*

★ Highly recommended by *Publishers Weekly*, *Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database*, *School Library Journal*, *Midwest Book Review*, and more. Through rhyming verse and vibrant illustrations, this book takes readers on a soaring journey filled with both heart and high-stakes adventure.
★ At a time when concepts like "seeing every child" and "even the smallest can make a big difference" have become central to discussions on child psychology and parent-child reading, this story—featuring a tiny Bush plan that succeeds in a rescue mission where larger aircraft fail—gently reminds children that being the "smallest" or "weakest" is no reason to feel inferior. Everyone has their own moment to shine.
★ Written entirely in rhyme, this book is perfect for read-aloud storytime. It concludes with an informative section on small jungle aircraft, seamlessly weaving in insights about the natural environment and basic aviation—making it both engaging and educational. Ideal for parent-child reading or kindergarten story sessions (ages 4–7).

Brooke Hartman (Author)
An award-winning children’s book author. Her debut picture book, *Dream Flights on Arctic Nights*, received a starred review from *Kirkus* and was named a "Best Book" on the *Children’s Bookshelf*. Her other well-received works include *The Magic Paper-Doll Shop* (2020), *Pegeen and Peggo Go Camping*, *Clyde the Sea Monster Wants a Friend* (2023), *Beware of the Lion!* (2023, which earned a starred review from *SLJ*), *The Lost Little Narwhal*, and *All Aboard the Alaska Train*.
The daughter of an aircraft mechanic and the wife of a pilot, Brooke Hartman has a deep love for aviation and all kinds of aircraft—with a special fondness for small bush planes. She currently resides in Chugiak, Alaska. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys flying, fishing, and spending time with her family under the vast Alaskan sky. Her writing has garnered numerous national-level awards and honors, including recognition from *Writer's Digest*, the Pacific Northwest Writers Association, and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). She also serves as an adjunct instructor for writing and publishing courses at Alaska Pacific University and is a board member of the Alaska Writers Guild.

John Joseph (Illustrator)
John Joseph is an artist, illustrator, elementary school art teacher, and community leader. A recipient of the "Best Picture Book" honor at the ACP Excellence in Publishing Awards, he has illustrated a variety of children’s books, including *The Smallest Plane* and *Chicken Chaos*. He currently resides in Colorado with his wife, their two sons, and a German Shepherd.

This is a profound picture book written in verse, conveying a deep lesson in a vivid, natural, and accessible way: sometimes, the one who gets the job done isn’t the biggest, strongest, or fastest—it’s the smallest.
On a simple airstrip in the far north, a tiny bush plane watches as larger, stronger, and faster aircraft take off for their own adventures. But when a blizzard strikes and hikers become stranded on a mountain peak, who will come to the rescue?

Origin of the Story (Author Interview): While flying over the Alaskan wilderness in a Cessna 185 (a type of bush plane) with her family, the author was surprised to discover that local bookstores and libraries lacked any picture books featuring small planes. Upon landing, she immediately began writing this book—drawing inspiration from the sentiment of the classic Christmas song "The Littlest Snowman," which celebrates how even the smallest among us can achieve great things.