Jax has gone through a lot of airplane books over the years. Here are the ones he keeps coming back to — ranked from his all-time favorite down.
1. The Ultimate Book of Airplanes and Airports
Ages 2+ · Interactive pop-up book
This pop-up book by Sophie Bordet-Petillon has flaps, pull tabs, and fold-out pages showing how airports work — from the cockpit to the luggage loading. Jax has had this book since he was two, and he still pulls it out. There's a lot packed into each page, so he notices something new every time.
Here is Jax reading this book:
What makes this book special is that it's genuinely educational without feeling like a textbook. Every page has interactive elements — pull a tab to see luggage go through the X-ray scanner, lift a flap to peek inside the cockpit, unfold a page to reveal the full length of a Concorde. The illustrations are detailed and colorful, and the large format (about 14 inches wide when open) makes the scenes feel immersive.
2. Look Inside an Airport
Ages 3+ · Flap book
This Usborne flap book has over 70 flaps to lift, each one revealing something about how airports work. It covers check-in, security, baggage handling, the control tower, and what happens inside the cockpit. Jax liked this one because the flaps are sturdy and the illustrations are packed with detail — he'd find a new flap he'd missed every time he read it. It's a board book, so it holds up well with younger kids.
3. Richard Scarry's A Day at the Airport
Ages 2-5 · Picture book
If your kid loves the Busytown books, this one is a must. Huckle Cat and his friends visit the airport and see everything — the check-in counter, baggage handling, the control tower, and the runway. Richard Scarry's detailed, busy illustrations give kids tons to look at and point out on every page. Jax liked spotting Lowly Worm hiding in the scenes. It's also a great way to introduce the airport experience before a first trip.
4. My First Airplane Ride
Ages 3-6 · Picture book
This book by Patricia Hubbell walks through the entire flying experience — from arriving at the airport to takeoff, cruising above the clouds, and landing. The rhyming text captures the excitement a kid feels on their first flight, and the illustrations are warm and detailed. Jax liked reading this one before trips because it follows a kid's perspective. Great for preparing a first-time flyer.
5. National Geographic Readers: Planes
Ages 4-8 · Early reader / nonfiction
When Jax started reading on his own, this was one of the first books he picked. It's a Level 1 reader with simple sentences and incredible National Geographic photographs of all types of aircraft — commercial jets, cargo planes, seaplanes, biplanes, and stunt planes. The photos are the star here. Jax flipped through it dozens of times before he could read the words, and then read it cover to cover once he could.
More Airplane Fun
Looking for more airplane activities? Check out our best airplane puzzles for kids and best airplane toys for kids. If your kid loves building, our best airplane LEGO sets guide has Jax's ranked favorites.
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