Up, Up, and Away! My First Airplane Trip
The first airplane trip story, rewritten for your child
Every page is redrawn around the child you make it for. Keep the story’s own hero and give them your child’s name, or choose someone new — it takes a minute, and nothing is locked in.
From$34.99 USD
Free to start. No payment to see your child in the story.
- 32 pages, hardcover
- 5.9 × 5.9 in
- Ages 3-5
- Premium, thick pages
- Free standard shipping included
- Printed & delivered in 2-3 weeks (US)
Start with the story’s own hero or pick from our cast — then give them your child’s name.
A personalized social story that prepares toddlers for their first flight — step by step, seat to sky.
That’s the story. The rest is how it becomes your child’s.
How personalization works
Who is this story about?
Keep the story’s own hero
The hero is already written and drawn for this book. Give them your child’s name if you like — that’s the whole edit.
Or swap in one of our cast
Eight characters to start from, and you rename whoever you pick.
- Luna
- Theo
- Mateo
- Sofia
- Amara
- Layla
- Mei
- Ravi
Or make your own
Describe them in a sentence, or add a photo to guide the likeness. Either way, entirely optional.
The characters are just the start.
Every part of this book is yours to change. Not a name dropped into a template — the whole thing is redrawn around the child you’re making it for.
- Every illustrationAll 32 pages are drawn fresh, not stamped with a face.
- The rooms and placesYour child's actual bedroom, your street, the places the story visits.
- The objects that recurThe specific blanket, the toy they won’t sleep without — carried page to page.
- Everyone else in itSiblings, grandparents, the dog. Named and drawn as themselves.
- The story itselfChange what happens, and the words on the page change with it.
- Or change nothingPick a hero and read it tonight. The rest is there when you want it.
What's Inside This Book
1 of 17 spreads
Every character, scene, and object in this book can be replaced with your own — your child's name, your family photos, your home, your school.
What you get
Free to start. No payment to see your child in the story.
Start free
- Free to start — no card needed
- See your child in the story in minutes
- Rename the hero and edit the story text
- Choose a ready-made character, or add a photo later
- Export a PDF of what you make
Your perfect keepsake
Hardcover book
- Full-color hardcover, 15×15cm
- Free standard shipping included
- Printed & delivered in about 2-3 weeks (US)
- Personalize names, story text & style
- Add your own photos once you are in the editor
Quick summary of Up, Up, and Away! My First Airplane Trip
Up, Up, and Away! is a personalized social story designed for 3-5 year olds preparing for their first airplane trip. It walks children through each step—from arriving at the airport to takeoff—using familiar characters and reassuring language to reduce anxiety and build confidence about flying.
This personalized children's book is a 32-page social story for ages 3–5 about taking a first airplane trip. The child's name appears as the main character alongside a parent, check-in agent, and flight attendant, guiding them through every real step of air travel.
Key Takeaways
- Reduces pre-flight anxiety by previewing each airport and airplane step in sequence
- Builds brave self-talk through a child narrator who names both excitement and nervousness as normal
- Normalizes sensory surprises like engine rumbles and takeoff sounds before they happen
- Strengthens parent-child connection by positioning the caregiver as a calm, present travel companion
- Sparks post-trip confidence with a triumphant 'I did it!' ending that reinforces resilience
Why This Book Works
Social stories, developed by Carol Gray in 1991, are one of the most evidence-backed tools for preparing young children for unfamiliar experiences. By walking through each step in sequence — check-in, security, boarding, landing — this book gives the child's brain a mental rehearsal before the real event. A 2018 review in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders confirmed that sequential narrative previewing reduces behavioral distress across neurotypical and neurodiverse children alike.
The story deliberately names mixed emotions — 'excited and maybe a little bit nervous' — which mirrors Dr. John Gottman's emotion coaching framework. Rather than dismissing nervousness or over-reassuring, it validates both feelings as acceptable and coexistent. This emotional labeling, sometimes called 'name it to tame it' by neuroscientist Dr. Dan Siegel, helps activate the prefrontal cortex and calm the stress response in children as young as three.
Personalization amplifies impact: hearing their own name in the story shifts a child from passive listener to active protagonist. Research from the University of Sussex (2016) found that self-referential processing — seeing yourself in a narrative — significantly boosts memory retention and emotional engagement. When your child hears 'I did it! I went on an airplane!', they are rehearsing that belief about themselves before they ever board a plane.
Common Misconceptions
Reading one book won't make a difference for a nervous flyer
Even a single pre-event social story reading reduces anticipatory anxiety in 3–5-year-olds. Carol Gray's research shows narrative preview, not repetition volume alone, is the primary mechanism of effect.
Kids this age are too young to understand airport procedures
Children ages 3–5 are in Piaget's preoperational stage and learn best through concrete, sequential storytelling — exactly the format this book uses. Step-by-step narrative is age-perfectly matched.
Telling kids flying is safe is enough to calm them
Abstract reassurance ('it's safe!') rarely calms young children. What works is concrete procedural familiarity — knowing what the jet bridge looks like, what the seatbelt click sounds like — which this story provides.
How to Read This Book with Your Child
Best time to read: Read it 3–5 days before travel, then again the night before departure. A final quick read at breakfast on travel day works well as a calm, orienting routine.
Tell your child: 'This book is about someone just like you going on an airplane — let's see what happens!' Show them the cover and ask if they've ever seen an airplane. If travel is coming up, read it 3–5 days before departure so details have time to settle into memory.
Conversation Starters
- “Which part of the airplane trip are you most excited to see in real life?”
- “The child in the story felt nervous AND excited — can you feel two things at once?”
- “What will you do on the plane to make the trip fun for you?”
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is this book appropriate for?
Up, Up, and Away! is designed for children ages 3-5 years old (preschool age). The language, illustrations, and story length are tailored for toddlers and young preschoolers preparing for their first flight.
How does personalization help with flight anxiety?
When your child sees themselves as the hero of the story experiencing their own airport and airplane journey, they feel more invested and secure. This personal connection transforms abstract fears into familiar, manageable scenarios they've 'already experienced' through the book.
What specific steps does the book cover?
The book walks through arriving at the airport, checking bags, going through security, boarding, finding your seat, takeoff, being in the air, and landing. Each step includes reassuring details about what children will see, hear, and experience.
Can this book replace discussing the trip with my child?
This book is a wonderful preparation tool that gives children a framework for understanding flying. Reading it together with your child and discussing their feelings creates an open conversation about their upcoming trip and addresses any questions they have.
Is this book helpful for children who are already nervous about flying?
Yes! This book is especially valuable for anxious children. The gentle, step-by-step narrative helps desensitize kids to the unfamiliar airport and airplane environment, giving them a sense of control and predictability that reduces anxiety.
How many times should we read this book before the trip?
Reading it 2-3 times in the weeks leading up to the flight is ideal. This repetition helps children internalize the sequence of events and feel more confident. You can also read it again on the day of travel for a final confidence boost.
The first airplane trip story, rewritten for your child
Free to start. No payment to see your child in the story.
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