Abstract

Traveling by plane can be a stressful experience for anxious children (and their parents!) Prepare children for the unfamiliar sights and sounds of the airport experience in advance with this fun and gently humorous picture book.

Children will join Janet as she learns what to expect at each stage of a plane journey - from packing and getting ready to leave home, to traveling to the airport, checking in, going through security, boarding the plane, taking off, turbulence, using the on-board bathroom, landing, and baggage reclaim. Particular emphasis is placed on coping with sensory issues, and the book provides many welcome ideas for distractions and suggestions for activities to relieve boredom during the flight. It closes with a useful list of practical hints and tips for parents and caregivers.

With bright and cheerful illustrations, and a timeline on each page allowing children to keep track of where they are on their journey, this book will be an enjoyable read for children aged 3 to 12, and will be especially useful for those on the autism spectrum.

Stories like these, with clear and attractive graphics, are perfect for children with Asperger syndrome, most of whom are visual learners...this book will be a great gift to families!
Stephanie Loo, Editor, AANE Journal
Flying to See Janet takes a creative, light-hearted approach to comprehensively preparing children for airline travel and alleviating common worries. Both the story and the suggestions for parents offer invaluable, practical tips to make airline travel a more positive experience for all children, including those with sensory sensitivities. It will surely become a favorite read for both first-time and experienced young travelers!
Jennifer LeBovidge, Ph.D., Psychologist, Children's Hospital Boston
This is a super resource for children and their families, disabled or not.
Healthy Books
As the Executive Director for 38 years of a school for young children with emotional and complex neurological disabilities, I applaud the book Flying to See Janet. Laura Vickers and Peggy Wargelin have captured the need for pragmatic and clear information and guidance for children regarding the experience of flying in an airplane and being in an airport. Their descriptions are spot on and they are sensitive to the need for concrete information. This is an excellent resource for families of typically developing children as well as children with special needs.
Nancy Fuller, Executive Director, Community Therapeutic Day School, Lexington, Massachusetts
This book is aimed at preparing children, and others who've never flown before, for plane journeys (and similar experiences)... The notes at the back offer parents advice about ideas that can be used to distract their child during the journey, to help them stay calm. Colourful illustrations and easy to read text will make reading this book an enjoyable experience for parents and children alike.
Youth in Mind
This is a charming little book, perfect for young children embarking upon a big trip. Laura Vickers' attention to detail about the many obstacles encountered during air travel is sure to calm a sensitive child unacquainted with airport protocol. Flying to See Janet is a wonderful example of how anticipatory guidance through visual media and storytelling can help youngsters overwhelmed by new and sometimes intimidating experiences.
Jane Whelan Banks, author of the The Lovable Liam Series
Laura Vickers is a school teacher. She wrote this book for her niece, Janet, who has Asperger Syndrome and severe anxiety. Peggy Wargelin is Janet's mother. After a career in mechanical engineering and time at home with children, she is launching a new career in graphic design. She completed the illustrations for the book as part of a graphic design course at Middlesex Community College in Massachusetts, USA.
What is it like to fly in a plane?... From starting-off point to final destination, this descriptive tale provides a well-thought-out, gently humorous depiction of an airplane trip. When Janet asks her Aunt Laura what it was like to fly up for a visit, Aunt Laura answers in great detail, going through each step of the process, from packing and security to bathroom breaks and landing, giving particular attention to the smells, sounds, sights and little surprises she encountered on her journey. Simplified, digital illustrations replete with relevant detail work closely with the text to show what the experience is like; general descriptions appear atop the pages, while speech bubbles reveal Aunt Laura’s and Uncle Mark’s thoughts and comments. The humorous detail and in-depth description will fascinate any child interested in airports and planes. Initially created for the author’s niece and illustrator’s daughter, who has Asperger’s syndrome and is anxious, this was intended to help prepare children for an unfamiliar experience and focuses on sensory issues that may come up, always in a positive manner. Though the story skews younger, older children with similar disabilities or anxieties may find it helpful as well. Endnotes contain suggestions for helping a child become less apprehensive and more acclimated to the experience of flying... Elucidating, descriptive and full of details to fascinate...
Kirkus Reviews
With bright and cheerful illustrations, and a timeline of each page allowing children to keep track of where they are on their journey, this book will be an enjoyable read for children aged three to twelve, and will be especially useful for those on the autism spectrum.
Centre 404, Islington
What a terrific resource for parents traveling with children who face unique challenges. As a special educator, I know how important it is to prepare students when facing new situations. This book covers every detail of travel, and the graphics make it accessible to both children and parents. The 'go bag' was an especially helpful suggestion!
Amy Wargelin, Special Educator, Paris, Kentucky
Parents of children with autism may be reluctant to venture abroad because of fears their child might have about flying. Flying to See Janet is a guide to the whole experience, from packing to getting ready to leave home, travelling to the airport, checking in, going through security, boarding the plane, taking off, and even dealing with turbulence. There are bright, cheerful illustrations and a timeline on each page that allows the child to keep track of where they are on their journey.
Autism eye