First to Fly: How Wilbur & Orville Wright Invented the Airplane by Peter Busby, illustrated by David Craig (Crown), has been selected as the winner of the first annual James Madison Book Award.
Lynne Cheney, wife of Vice President Dick Cheney, created this award in April in conjunction with a charitable fund she established from the proceeds of her children's book America: A Patriotic Primer (S&S). The award is given to the book that best represents excellence in bringing knowledge and understanding of American history to children ages five to 14.
The author and illustrator were presented with the prize (a check for $10,000) last month by Mrs. Cheney at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, where the original Flyer (built in 1903 by the Wright Brothers) stands.
Additional information about the book award fund can be found at www.jamesmadisonbookaward.org.
