Aircraft and aviation gifts

Push, pull and slide the tabs to hop aboard a plane at the Busy Airport! Enjoy watching your baggage go round the carousel, waving goodbye to the planes as they take off, and then flying through the sky on your own aeroplane! Children will love playing with this bright and colourful board book, which features a gentle rhyme and wonderful...

Beep-beep! Chug-chug! Zooooom! Delve into the mesmerising world of vehicles with Vehicles for Kiwi Babies, a bilingual board book by Matthew Williamson and Fraser Williamson that introduces our youngest readers to the fascinating machines that move across Aotearoa. This enchanting board book is perfect for little ones eager to discover the joy of vehicles, encapsulating their vibrant sounds and dynamic...

Another Day Like Yesterday is a collection of rollicking tales – some tall, most true – from Guy Clapshaw’s early days flying for Air New Zealand. Back in the mid-1960s, the airline had just begun to expand from Tasman Empire Airways, a tiny three-aeroplane regional airline into Air New Zealand, the international giant it is today.Much like the airline itself, this book flits...

It's time for takeoff! Keep curious kids flying high with this fun activity book that's packed with more than 80 aviation-themed word and picture games. The perfect accompaniment for a flight, long-distance trip, or a rainy day spent indoors, kids can while away the hours exploring word searches, roaming mazes, and discovering top aviation facts. What is the largest plane...

A fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of a hustling-bustling busy airport in this wonderful and innovative new flap book. See behind the scenes at a bustling airport, as planes speed along the runway and soar into the sky in this fascinating book with over 50 flaps to lift. Young children will be fascinated to find out how an airport works,...

On the road, on the rails, by sea or by air, imaginations travel far and wide with this extra-thick wooden puzzle. Featuring nine easy-grasp, chunky vehicle pieces that can stand upright for pretend play.  Each vehicle has a full-color, matching picture underneath. Encourages hand-eye, fine motor and creative expression skills.  9-piece wooden puzzle with "things that go" theme Thick puzzle...

In the Little People, Big Dreams series, discover the lives of outstanding people from designers and artists to scientists. All of them went on to achieve incredible things, yet all of them began life as a little child with a dream. The book follows Amelia Earhart, whose strong will and self-belief helped her overcome prejudice and technical problems to become...

A fact-filled book packed with everything you need to know about jumbo jets, high-flying planes, and other fantastic flying machines. Travel through history and reach new heights with this breath-taking children's reference book, all about jets, planes, and other sensational flying machines. Hop aboard the agile blackbird spy plane as you become a pilot for the secret service, perform loops...

The definitive account of the rise and fall of the iconic Concorde plane from British Airways' former Chief Concorde Pilot. October 24th 2023 will mark 20 years since Concorde disappeared from our skies. Yet still, Mike Bannister, the last Concorde Chief Pilot, faces the same questions: Why is she no longer flying? Where is her replacement? And what really happened...

The sky above war-torn Europe was ablaze during the third week of February 1944, as the combined Allied air forces launched an unprecedented round-the-clock bomber offensive against Germany. Big Week by bestselling author James Holland delves into this pivotal moment in World War II history with unmatched depth and intensity. This battle sought to cripple the main factories and production...

Press the buttons in this exciting novelty book to hear the planes and helicopters and switch on their bright little lights. From an old-fashioned biplane taking off to a helicopter flying over a canyon, there are all kinds of exciting flying machines to discover in this novelty book. When you press the button on each page, you can hear each...

How does a plane stay up in the air? Does the Mile-High Club actually exist? When you flush the toilet, where does it all go? Buckle up for some turbulence because nothing flies under the radar for Captain Jeremy Burfoot. With more than 35 years of airline experience, the former Qantas pilot presents an Airbus-load of stories about unruly passengers...

Build Your Own Planes Sticker Book offers an exciting opportunity to construct various types of planes. Children can enjoy building 20 amazing aircraft, from fighter jets to flying boats, by adding wings, cockpits, and engines. Find the correct stickers and fit them in place to complete each image. The detailed illustrations are accompanied by fascinating facts about each plane, including...

Prepare for take-off as Maisy Goes by Plane when Maisy hops on a passenger plane for the very first time! Join Maisy on her thrilling journey crafted by the multi-award-winning Lucy Cousins. Maisy is excited to visit her friend Ella, but with Ella living so far away, a plane trip is the only option. This becomes an exciting adventure! As...

Through compelling eye-witness testimony and renowned historian James Holland's expert analysis, Brothers in Arms brings to vivid life the final bloody scramble across Europe from the powerful perspective of one of the greatest tank regiments - the Sherwood Rangers. It took a certain type of courage to serve in a tank in World War Two. Encased in steel, surrounded by...

Little pilots can learn all about exciting airplanes and famous aviators in this high-flying Little Golden Book! Climb aboard and soar the skies with this adventure-filled look at a subject all children are fascinated by—airplanes! Full of exciting illustrations, simple sentences, and unbelievable facts and stories about some of the most memorable aviators (the Wright brothers, Charles Lindbergh, Bessie Coleman,...

A woman is killed by a poisoned dart in the enclosed confines of a commercial passenger plane… From seat No.9, Hercule Poirot was ideally placed to observe his fellow air passengers. Over to his right sat a pretty young woman, clearly infatuated with the man opposite; ahead, in seat No.13, sat a Countess with a poorly-concealed cocaine habit; across the...

This book is bursting with cars, buses, planes, trains, trucks, diggers and many more things that go. Add to that a text that is read aloud to the tune of ‘Baa, Baa, Black Sheep’ and ... What a combination! Car, car, truck, jeep, have you any fuel? Yes, sir, yes, sir, three tanks full. One for the red bus, one...

Pivotal to modern warfare, tanks have dominated the battlefield for over a century. Get up close to more than 400 military colossuses with this definitive visual guide to armoured vehicles.In 1916, the British built a vehicle that could pound the battlefield impervious to enemy fire, crushing obstacles and barbed wire in its path. The first tank, or "Mother" as it...

Explore the busy town, bustling seaside, and look up in the air in First Explorers: Things That Go! Spot cars, boats, and fire engines, as well as lots of other things that go all around us. Each scene has chunky push, pull, and slide mechanisms perfect for little hands and vehicles to spot, with fun facts about them. Beautifully illustrated...

From the esteemed author John Nichol comes Lancaster, a compelling, poignant, and deeply human tribute to the Avro Lancaster bomber and the courageous individuals who flew and maintained her during one of the most tumultuous times in history. Nichol, a former RAF Tornado Navigator and Gulf War veteran, weaves a narrative that blends meticulous historical research with gripping personal stories,...

Masters of the Air by Donald L. Miller is an electrifying narrative that delves into the lives and exploits of the men of the American Eighth Air Force during World War II. These brave airmen, piloting the renowned Flying Fortresses, played a pivotal role in crippling Nazi Germany’s grip on Europe. Their valiant efforts are brought vividly to life, taking...

Where does luggage go after check-in? What happens in the control tower? How do aeroplanes actually take off? From a peek inside the maintenance hangar to the hustle and bustle of departures, this interactive, lift-the-flaps book reveals the hidden secrets of the airport, ensuring kids and parents never look at their holidays in the same way again. Lonely Planet Kids...

The holiday begins at the airport, and in this fun introduction to air travel for very young children, find out all about what happens before and after you take to the skies. Packed full of vivid, eye-catching illustrations by James Gulliver Hancock and easy-to-read, simple text, this engaging book is a great introduction to the wonderful world of planes and...

Bizzy Bear: Aeroplane Pilot (18) introduces Bizzy Bear and his flight crew as they take to the skies! Designed for little readers, this robust board book allows them to use chunky mechanisms to help Bizzy take off and land, making it an interactive and engaging experience. With wonderfully detailed illustrations by Benji Davies, this book is perfect for captivating the...

The Wright Brothers by David McCullough offers readers an enthralling account of the incredible journey undertaken by two pioneering brothers, Wilbur and Orville Wright, whose groundbreaking achievements would forever change human history. On a brisk December day in 1903, amidst the sandy dunes of North Carolina's Outer Banks, these unassuming bicycle mechanics from Dayton, Ohio, launched the world's first powered,...

Rev up the learning with car, truck, and plane activities for kids ages 3 to 5. Discover new ways to learn and play with all kinds of exciting and amazing vehicles in this standout among preschool activity books. Whether it's finding digging sites for the excavator or spotting the differences between a pair of superfast jets, these activities help kids...

Failure Is Not an Option is an enthralling memoir by Gene Kranz, the charismatic and steely NASA flight director, whose resolve and tenacity helped shape the success of America's space program. The narrative journeys through the spine-tingling challenges and triumphs from the nascent days of the Mercury program, through the iconic Apollo 11 moon landing, and the dramatic Apollo 13...

In Let's Fly a Plane! by Chris Ferrie, young readers are invited on a high-flying adventure with Red Kangaroo, who is eager to understand how airplanes defy gravity and soar through the skies. With a pressing question about the mysteries of flight, Red Kangaroo seeks the expertise of Dr. Chris, a knowledgeable and engaging guide. Together, they explore the four...

A visual encyclopedia of every vehicle Calling all speed demons! Get your motor running with this exciting and educational visual encyclopedia for children. You'll enjoy the ride on more than 1,000 different types of transport. Gently take to the skies in a hot air balloon or race into space on a rocket. Experience life in the fast lane in a...

Meet Moose, a bush pilot who lives in a treehouse. He's had a very busy day when he gets a radio call for one more job—a rescue mission! Moose, the dashing bush pilot from Puffin the Architect, is to the rescue! With a full plane and bad weather, too, but three youngsters need his help, and this is the job...

90 classic titles celebrating 90 years of Penguin Books Fabien tonight was wandering over the vast splendour of a sea of clouds, but below him lay eternity. Inspired by his career as an aviator, Saint-Exupéry's soaring novel follows the journeys of three pilots delivering mail overnight. The author's beautiful, weightless prose is as haunting as his own disappearance in flight,...

The founder of the Topgun Navy Fighter School shares the remarkable inside story of how he and eight other risk-takers revolutionised the art of aerial combat. March 1969. American jets are getting shot down at an unprecedented rate over Vietnam. In an urgent effort to regain the advantage, the Admirals turn to a young naval aviator called Dan Pedersen. Officially,...

In 1926, de Saint-Exupery began flying for the pioneering airline Latécoère—later known as Aéropostale—opening up the first mail routes across the Sahara and the Andes. Wind, Sand and Stars is drawn from this experience. Interweaving encounters with nomadic Arabs and other adventures, the book presents a richly textured autobiographical narrative. It includes the extraordinary story of his crash in the...

Listen, play, and learn about the wonderful world of vehicles! My First Tonies are soft and squeezable, perfect for 1–3-year-olds. Fly high in an airplane, plough through the waves on a ship, or go on a journey by train! With short, lovingly told stories about airplanes, ships, and trains, they help build vocabulary, boost listening skills, and encourage early language...

An expanded and updated edition of the history of aviation Discover the enthralling story of how we took to the skies, in this journey through over 100 years of airborne innovation and adventure. From the Wright brothers' first powered flight to Concorde's final voyage, Flight takes you sky-high, swooping you through world aviation history. Featuring spectacular photography of iconic aircraft,...

Learn all about incredible flying machines and the history of flight in this picture-packed reference guide for young readers. Soar into the high-flying world of aircraft with this picture-packed, fact-filled book. Eyewitness Flight is an essential guide to the history and science of humanity's most incredible feat – flying! Young readers will pore over stunning photography and fascinating facts, featuring...

The most iconic planes of WWII, the Supermarine Spitfire, Hawker Hurricane, DeHavilland Mosquito, and the Avro Lancaster, were all powered by one engine, the Rolls-Royce Merlin. The story of the Merlin is one of British ingenuity at its height, of artistry and problem-solving that resulted in a war-winning design. Published to coincide with the 75th anniversary of VE Day and...

Strap in and hold on tight for the first ever first-hand account of the RAF's world-beating Typhoon jet in combat, from the Wing Commander who led them into the war against ISIS. The Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 is the most advanced multi-role combat aircraft in the world. Capable of flying at nearly twice the speed of sound and powering to a...

Fans of airplanes can count down from ten to one as they follow ten different planes soaring through the air. 10 Little Airplanes invites young readers to count down as ten little airplanes pass their preflight check. All clear to go—Yay! Time to start their trek. Get ready to fly! This sturdy, action-packed board book encourages children to count down...

Ravensburger puzzles are known for their high quality and unique features. They are a popular choice for puzzle enthusiasts due to their durable construction, precise fit, and varied themes. Ravensburger puzzles are crafted with a linen-structured paper and extra-thick cardboard, resulting in a glare-free image and a satisfying puzzling experience. They are also known for their hand-drawn puzzle templates, making...

Take to the skies with this fun, visual miscellany for children who love anything aircraft related! Each double-page spread features a different group of aircraft to explore, such as helpful helicopters, record-breaking planes, and soaring spacecraft. Discover some of the more surprising things to have flown, including flying cars and jet packs. Readers can also learn how planes fly and...

Launch glider planes, test out parachutes and spin a helicopter rotor Discover the fearsome forces involved in flight and check out death-defying flying facts Based on the bestselling books written by Nick Arnold and illustrated by Tony De Saulles Contains rotor launcher, circular rotor, printed foam glider plane pieces, 2 nose weights, 4 mini fibre pens, 2 parachutes, white string,...

'Readers look for and admire good writers and great writing. They will find it, in spades, in The Battle of the Bismarck Sea.' -The Canberra Times In the thick of World War II, during the first week of March 1943, Japan made a final, desperate lunge for control of the South West Pacific. In the ensuing Battle of the Bismarck...

Beginners Planes invites you to jet off on a fun, fact-filled flight, exploring planes past, present, and future. Who flew the very first planes? Which pilot was the first to fly around the world? When were Spitfires used? What was it like to fly from the very first airports? Which planes are flying now, and what will air travel be...

Get ready to explore airports inside and out in this jam-packed activity and sticker book! Design your own passport, get through the runway maze, colour in a futuristic airport, unscramble anagrams, fill the skies with aeroplane stickers and much more. With over 200 stickers, bright illustrations and amazing facts about airports around the world, this is the perfect way to...

From Rowland White, one of the leading voices in aviation non-fiction and the bestselling author of Vulcan 607, comes Harrier 809, the gripping and untold story of the Falklands War and the legendary 809 Squadron. This book is a thrilling read for those captivated by the history and heroics of aerial combat, particularly fans of Spitfire. April 1982. Argentina invades...

Welcome to Flight School! It's Day One and you're in the pilot's seat! Strap yourself in for your very own flying lessons! Step by step, find out how to take off and land, fly solo, and perform thrilling stunts. At Ground School, plan your route, discover what keeps you up in the air, and explore the power of an engine....

This is the incredible story of Silva McLeod, the first Tongan woman to become an airline pilot, told with frankness and wit by Silva herself. Silva was a Tongan girl from a small island with little hope of anything beyond getting married and having babies. Her dreams of becoming an airline pilot seemed just that — dreams — until Ken...

Meet Amelia, the fearless female flier! Now available as a board book in the Little People, Big Dreams series, this inspiring and informative little biography follows the life of Amelia Earhart, from her childhood as a tomboy to becoming the first female pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean to her eventual disappearance. With stylish and quirky illustrations and...

The story of Robin Miller - the woman who single-handedly flew life-saving vaccines in her own plane to remote communities. Imagine flying solo, crisscrossing the north-west of Australia in your own plane, and single-handedly delivering life-saving vaccines to remote communities. Robin Miller did this, and at a time when most people didn't think women should be pilots at all. Her...

Aircraft of World War 2 by Kieran Whitworth and The Imperial War Museum is the definitive visual history of key World War Two aircraft. This visually stunning, accessible, and fascinating account covers 50 key aircraft from World War Two, illustrated by the outstanding photograph archive of the Imperial War Museum. Delve into the origins, development, and operations of the iconic...

A thrilling, real-life journey of a young woman who flew solo around the world, capturing breathtaking moments and overcoming incredible challenges. Join Zara Rutherford on her inspiring solo flight around the world! At just 19 years old, Zara embarked on a daring adventure to become the youngest woman to fly solo across the globe. This captivating book chronicles her journey...

In Defiant, Robert Verkaik presents a gripping and meticulously researched account of an often-overlooked aspect of the Battle of Britain. The narrative centres around the Boulton Paul Defiant, a two-seat gun-turret fighter that played a vital yet largely unacknowledged role in this crucial period of the Second World War. Verkaik's painstaking research uncovers the remarkable story of the Defiant and...

Beginning on August 17, 1942, American heavy bomber crews of the Eighth Air Force took off for combat in the hostile skies over occupied Europe. The final price was staggering. 4,300 B-17s and B-24s failed to return; nearly 28,000 men were taken prisoner or interned in a neutral country, and a further 26,000 made the ultimate sacrifice. Luck of the...

Discover the wonder of planes and air travel with this delightful picture book from the bestselling creator of The Train at the End of My Street. Planes soar over my backyard – big ones, small ones, bright ones and some with special markings. I love to see them gliding to and from the airport at all hours. But today is...

A 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle from Holdson’s Take to the Sky series, featuring beautifully illustrated aviation-themed scenes that celebrate iconic aircraft and moments in aviation history. The puzzle showcases detailed artwork with realistic aircraft, dramatic skies, and dynamic settings, creating an engaging and rewarding puzzle experience. Titles are: Changing of the Guard, Lighting up the Dawn, Ruling the Skies in Afghanistan...

The autobiography of the classic author of A Town Like Alice and On the Beach. Nevil Shute was a power and a pioneer in the world of flying long before he began to write the stories that made him a bestselling novelist. This autobiography charts Shute's path from childhood to his career as a gifted aeronautical engineer working at the...

Sixteen year old Valya knows what it feels like to fly. She's a pilot who's always felt more at home soaring through the sky than down on earth. But since the Germans surrounded Stalingrad, Valya's been forced to stay on the ground and watch her city crumble.When her mother is killed during the siege, Valya is left with one burning...

The Super Wings are pretty super – a team of aeroplanes that transform into robots whenever somebody needs help. There’s nothing they like more than zooming off around the world to deliver packages and hope to children who need it. Little ones just pop Jett on their Toniebox and they’re all set to fly off on an air-mazing adventure. Featuring...

A magical journey of scientific discovery begins here! Four friends, the Museum Kids, are off on an incredible adventure to discover the history of flight and space travel at the Air and Space Museum. A magical lift takes them to the studio of Leonardo da Vinci, to see the Wright Brothers make their first flight, to the International Space Station,...

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER From bestselling historian Saul David, a riveting new history of the British airborne experience across the Second World War. The legendary ‘Red Devils’ were among the finest combat troops of the Second World War. Created at Churchill’s instigation in June 1940, they began as a single parachute battalion of 500 men and grew into three 10,000-strong...

DK's best-selling, richly illustrated encyclopedia series explores the wonderful world of transport. A complete children's transport encyclopedia, explaining how road, rail, air, and water vehicles get us from A to B. Knowledge Encyclopedia Transport! uses incredibly detailed 3D illustrations to show you everything you need to know about how vehicles work. Peer inside a car engine, feel the roar of...

'This is aerial drama at its best. Fast, powerful, and moving.' - Erik Larson 'A must read.' - New York Post Devotion is the gripping story of the US Navy's most famous aviator duo - Tom Hudner, a white, blue-blooded New Englander, and Jesse Brown, a black sharecropper's son from Mississippi. Against all odds, Jesse beat back racism to become...

Vintage & Iconic Aircraft

A myth-busting, page-turning history of the Battle of Britain History is swamped by patriotic myths about the aerial combat fought between the RAF and the Luftwaffe over the summer of 1940. In his gripping history of the Battle of Britain, Len Deighton drew on a decade of research and his own wartime experiences to puncture these myths and point towards...

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER "In the pursuit of authenticity, of accurate history and undeniable courage, no words matter more than, 'I was there.' Read Luck of the Draw and the life of Frank Murphy and ponder this: how did those boys do such things?" --Tom Hanks The epic true story of an American hero who flew during WWII,...

Dresden by Sinclair McKay is a powerful and evocative narrative that delves into one of World War II’s most controversial and tragic events – the Allied bombing of the German city of Dresden. This bestselling historian presents a gripping account that marks the 75th anniversary of this catastrophic episode. In February 1945, as the war in Europe neared its devastating...

A 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle from Holdson’s Take to the Sky series, featuring beautifully illustrated aviation-themed scenes that celebrate iconic aircraft and moments in aviation history. The puzzle showcases detailed artwork with realistic aircraft, dramatic skies, and dynamic settings, creating an engaging and rewarding puzzle experience.

A 1000 - piece jigsaw puzzle from Holdson’s Take to the Sky series, featuring beautifully illustrated aviation - themed scenes that celebrate iconic aircraft and moments in aviation history. The puzzle showcases detailed artwork with realistic aircraft, dramatic skies, and dynamic settings, creating an engaging and rewarding puzzle experience.

A 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle from Holdson’s Take to the Sky series, featuring beautifully illustrated aviation-themed scenes that celebrate iconic aircraft and moments in aviation history. The puzzle showcases detailed artwork with realistic aircraft, dramatic skies, and dynamic settings, creating an engaging and rewarding puzzle experience. Titles are: Changing of the Guard, Lighting up the Dawn, Ruling the Skies in Afghanistan...

Mark Lax is one of Australia’s foremost air force historians. A former senior RAAF officer with over 45 years of service, combined with a PhD in military history, Lax brings unmatched authority and insider perspective to Australia’s aviation story. His work is known for combining rigorous research with highly readable narrative, making complex military historyaccessible and compelling. Previously released as...

Douglas Bader was a legend in his lifetime. After losing both legs in an air crash in 1931 and being dismissed as a cripple by the Royal Air Force, he fought his way back into the cockpit of a Spitfire to become one of the great heroes of the Battle of Britain. This inspiring biography of the famous World War...

Excitement and suspense 18,000 feet over the Atlantic! Read this classic uplifting, moving, and heartwarming story about life in the face of the Cold War. Theodore Honey is a shy, inconspicuous aircraft engineer whose eccentric interests in quantum mechanics and spiritualism are frowned upon in aviation circles. But when a passenger plane crashes in unexplained circumstances, Honey must convince his...

A gruesome discovery at an aircraft hangar leads Albert Campion into a turbulent mystery set in Cambridge in the middle of the Cold War. "Ripley again marries a crafty plotline with a persuasive evocation of Allingham's style and characterizations. Fans of the originals will be delighted" — Publishers Weekly Starred Review "I have often said that my wife is a...

A sensational tale of crime and courage in the shadow of the Berlin airlift. The Soviets have cut off food and fuel supplies to West Berlin in a final attempt to force a stranglehold over the city. The Allied response is the Berlin airlift—thousands of planes carrying supplies—a lifeline to the people of the city. A chance for heroism perhaps,...

Many New Zealanders do not realise that New Zealand is home to one of the most significant collections of World War One aircraft in the world. This is the work of Sir Peter Jackson's company, The Vintage Aviator, who restore and build replicas and reproductions of Great War aircraft from their Wairarapa base. New Zealand's leading aviation photographer, Gavin Conroy,...