Lisa Prend L'Avion by Anne Gutman

Lisa Prend L'Avion (Lisa's Airplane Trip)
By Anne Gutman; Illustrated by Georg Hallensleben
Hachette Livre, 2002
Complex Chinese Translation copyright 2005 by Muses Publishing House
Hardcover; 32 pages
ISBN 986-7399-14-5
Ages 3 and up
No author or illustrator websites.

This is one of the books in the Misadventures of Gaspard and Lisa series. In this book, Lisa (a French dog) experiences her first airplane flight while traveling to see her uncle in the U.S. The typical happenings of a long flight (dinner, a movie, and difficult passengers) entertain Lisa. A mistake of spilling a her orange juice brings Lisa to have the special opportunity of sitting in the cockpit next to the pilots. The event is told in humorous way and transforms a mistake into something that is not catastrophic or bad. The experience and adventure is happily concluded with the plane's arrival.

This would be a good book to read to a child before her or his first flight. The point of view comes from Lisa (a small dog) which may help give a young child this first time perspective without talking down to the child. It also makes the experience 'cute,' not to mention a lot less overwhelming for a child about to experience flight for the first time. Parents can remind the child that if Lisa a dog can fly then surely they can too. This book is also good for children who like airplanes or dogs

The rich oil painting illustrations by Hallensleben vibrantly and artistically communicate the storyline. The  pending accident of the orange juice spilling is captured brilliantly with the splashes and careless brushstrokes of bright yellow orange paint that glows against the planes green interior. This is an entertaining and amusing book. This is a review from the Chinese translated text.