Kevin Burgemeestre has an established career as a cartoonist and an illustrator of children's books but B Is for Bravo is the first published book that he has both written and illustrated. Subtitled An Australian Aviation Alphabet Almanac, this book presents an eclectic assortment of stories and facts about the history and current technology of flight, with a strong but not exclusive focus on the Australian context. The text includes diverse examples and the author has made an effort to be balanced, topical and inclusive in selecting his material. The almanac is ordered alphabetically with each entry linked to one of the call signs used by pilots and radio operators. Burgemeestre's enthusiasm for his subject is infectious. The ingenuity and daring demonstrated by the pioneer aviators profiled intrigued even this most earthbound reviewer. This high-interest title will act as a 'taster' for young aeronautics and model-making enthusiasts who can then learn more from the references included as end matter. The history of the call signs and the rationale behind their selection remains a story to be written but Burgemeestre's book, illustrated with his painstakingly created dioramas, will help whet the appetites of a new generation who dream of flight.

Lizzie Whyte works for Heinemann Library. C. 2003 Thorpe-Bowker and contributors

This review from Australian Bookseller & Publisher magazine is reproduced by kind permission of Thorpe-Bowker, a division of R R Bowker LLC. © Copyright 2004, Thorpe-Bowker