
Let's Fly!
Barrington Irving's Record-Breaking Flight Around the World
Bantam Books (Publisher)
Published on 14. January 2025
Book
Hardback
40 pages
978-0-593-53213-3 (ISBN)
Description
The true story of Barrington Irving, who broke records as the youngest person and first Black man to fly solo around the world—co-authored by Barrington and award-winning author Chana Stiefel, with art by New York Times bestselling illustrator Shamar Knight-Justice
As a kid, Barrington Irving moved from Jamaica to Miami and played football—his ticket to success, he thought. But then Captain Gary Robinson swooped into his life. Barrington had never seen a Black pilot before. Captain Robinson showed Barrington a jet, a cockpit, and what it was like to actually fly a plane—
WHOAAA!
After that, Barrington had big plans, and two words:
Let's Fly!
Barrington Irving worked hard to become a pilot, and even harder to inspire other people to think big too. How big? A flight around the WORLD big. Climb aboard for the true story of how Barrington Irving went from tinkering kid to towering pilot and flew solo around the world—breaking records as the youngest person and first Black man ever to do it. With maps, labels, lists, and cool backmatter, including news of what Barring Irving is doing today, this book soars.
Buckle up! Sky-high dreams ahead.
“Rich and inspiring . . . Will have young flying enthusiasts riveted.” —SLJ
“High-octane [and] heroic. —Booklist.
“Uplifting . . . Will put the wind under readers’ wings.” —Kirkus
As a kid, Barrington Irving moved from Jamaica to Miami and played football—his ticket to success, he thought. But then Captain Gary Robinson swooped into his life. Barrington had never seen a Black pilot before. Captain Robinson showed Barrington a jet, a cockpit, and what it was like to actually fly a plane—
WHOAAA!
After that, Barrington had big plans, and two words:
Let's Fly!
Barrington Irving worked hard to become a pilot, and even harder to inspire other people to think big too. How big? A flight around the WORLD big. Climb aboard for the true story of how Barrington Irving went from tinkering kid to towering pilot and flew solo around the world—breaking records as the youngest person and first Black man ever to do it. With maps, labels, lists, and cool backmatter, including news of what Barring Irving is doing today, this book soars.
Buckle up! Sky-high dreams ahead.
“Rich and inspiring . . . Will have young flying enthusiasts riveted.” —SLJ
“High-octane [and] heroic. —Booklist.
“Uplifting . . . Will put the wind under readers’ wings.” —Kirkus
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
Random House USA Inc
Target group
Children/juvenile
US School Grade: From Preschool to Second Grade, Interest Age: From 3 to 7 years
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Illustrations
FULL-COLOR ILLUSTRATIONS
Dimensions
Height: 284 mm
Width: 224 mm
Thickness: 10 mm
Weight
454 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-593-53213-3 (9780593532133)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Barrington Irving | Chana Stiefel
Let's Fly!
Barrington Irving's Record-Breaking Flight Around the World
E-Book
01/2025
Dial Books
€12.49
Available for download
Persons
Captain Barrington Irving, at age twenty-three, broke records to become the youngest and first Black pilot to fly solo around the world. He grew up in Jamaica and Miami, and has flown to more than fifty countries. Barrington also has conducted more than eighty STEM expeditions to motivate youth around the world through his nonprofit Experience Aviation and his Flying Classroom, an interactive STEM+ learning adventure. Barrington is the author of the memoir Touch the Sky: My Solo Flight Around the World. Let’s Fly! is his debut picture book.
Chana Stiefel is the award-winning author of more than thirty humorous, heartfelt, and enlightening books for kids, including Let Liberty Rise!, Bravo Avocado!, and The Tower of Life, which won the Sydney Taylor Book Award. Chana loves visiting schools and libraries and sharing her passion for reading and writing with children.
Shamar Knight-Justice is a New York Times best-selling illustrator and educator based in Atlanta. His artwork intentionally highlights Black and Brown children to celebrate the fullness of their identities in picture books. Shamar is the illustrator of Ari J.’s Kinky, Curly, Crown; Big Tune: Rise of the Dancehall Prince; Repeat After Me: Big Things to Say Every Day; and Forever and Always.
Chana Stiefel is the award-winning author of more than thirty humorous, heartfelt, and enlightening books for kids, including Let Liberty Rise!, Bravo Avocado!, and The Tower of Life, which won the Sydney Taylor Book Award. Chana loves visiting schools and libraries and sharing her passion for reading and writing with children.
Shamar Knight-Justice is a New York Times best-selling illustrator and educator based in Atlanta. His artwork intentionally highlights Black and Brown children to celebrate the fullness of their identities in picture books. Shamar is the illustrator of Ari J.’s Kinky, Curly, Crown; Big Tune: Rise of the Dancehall Prince; Repeat After Me: Big Things to Say Every Day; and Forever and Always.