Author Touches Down at South Elementary School

After Leanne Kerman’s library classes read “Soar Elinor!,” the true story of a girl who became the youngest pilot in the U.S. during the 1920s, students at the were treated to a visit from the book’s author Tuesday afternoon.

Tami Lewis Brown met with students in grades 1-5, telling them how she came to write this illustrated children’s book about Elinor Smith, who achieved fame by flying under four of New York City’s East River bridges.

As part of her research, Brown traveled to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, flew in an antique plane, similar to the plane Smith flew, and had the chance to interview Smith, who was in her late 90s at the time.

Brown met with the first and second grade classes towards the end the school day, and they were eager to hear the author speak and ask plenty of questions.

April 12 happened to be “Drop Everything and Read Day,” so the author told students they should go home and make sure to read a book.

“Before we do our homework?” one of the students asked. It was one of many light-hearted moments during her presentation.

Brown showed a picture of herself at the age of four and asked the children to guess what type of child she was.

“Smart?” one guessed. “Beautiful?" said another.

She was going for “curious,” but was quite fond of the flattery.

The well-rounded Brown is also a librarian, lawyer and pilot. Learn more about her and “Soar Elinor!” here.