About This Book
Reach for this book when you want to turn a child's impulsive mistake into a moment of shared laughter and gentle learning. Whether your little one has pushed a button they shouldn't have or wandered off in a busy place, this story provides a safe, humorous way to talk about curiosity and the importance of staying close to grown-ups. The book follows young Angela, who finds herself accidentally piloting a plane after her curiosity gets the better of her in an airport cockpit. While the premise of a child alone in the sky might sound stressful, Robert Munsch's signature slapstick humor keeps the tone light and absurd rather than frightening. It is a perfect choice for children aged 3 to 7 who are beginning to explore their independence and need to see that even big, scary mistakes can be resolved with a little help and a lot of love. Parents will appreciate the relatable, if exaggerated, depiction of a frantic father and the comforting resolution that brings Angela safely back to earth.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
A child wandering away from a parent in a crowded airport and being alone in a moving vehicle. While the tone is humorous and the illustrations are cartoonish, sensitive children may find the initial separation or the high-stakes situation distressing.
Ideal Reader
A preschooler or kindergartner who is famously 'into everything.' It is particularly suited for children who love buttons, levers, and machinery, or those who have ever felt the panic of losing sight of a parent in a public place.
Parent Prep
Parents should be ready to discuss airport safety or what to do if separated from a caregiver, as the theme of being lost may require some reassurance. It is also helpful to adopt different voices for the radio controller and the crying father to emphasize the humor. A child wandering away in a crowded airport and being missing for an extended period.
Age Experience
Three-year-olds will enjoy the 'vroom' sounds and the physical comedy of the buttons. Six and seven-year-olds will better understand the irony of a child doing an 'adult' job and the cheeky foreshadowing in the final pages.
What Makes It Special
Munsch excels at taking a parent's worst nightmare and turning it into a tall tale where the child is the capable, if accidental, hero.
Read plot summary
While at the airport with her father, Angela wanders into an empty airplane cockpit. Her curiosity leads her to push a series of buttons, eventually causing the plane to take off. After a series of humorous radio exchanges with ground control, Angela safely lands the plane (though it is quite a bumpy finish) and is reunited with her frantic father. The story ends with a classic Munsch twist: Angela promises never to fly a plane again, but she might have her eye on a spaceship next.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Angela saw a lot of buttons in the cockpit. If you were in a room full of mysterious buttons, which one would you want to push first?
2
How did the people on the ground help Angela even though they weren't in the plane with her?
3
Angela's dad was very worried when he couldn't find her. What should you do if you ever lose your grown-up in a big place like an airport?
4
At the end, Angela says she will never fly a plane again, but then she looks at a rocket ship. Do you think she learned her lesson?
