Motor Mix: Flight

Pages cut into three horizontal panels let children mix-and-match wings, propellers, landing gear, and various propulsion devices to create dozens of customized flying machines. Drawn in a chunky cartoon style, the vehicles appear on the left-hand pages, with accompanying sentences divided into three parts on the facing pages: a present-tense declaration, a sound effect, and a location. Thus, an airship that combines a rocket, blimp, and lunar lander reads (somewhat oddly), “I am launching/ whirr-a whirr-a/ around the moon.” Alexander’s young pilots have a variety of skin colors, and several bring pets or siblings along for the ride. High-flying interactive fun. Simultaneously available: Motor Mix: Emergency. Up to age 3. Illustrator’s agent: Stephen Barr, Writers House. (Aug.)