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Where We Land: A Boy, A Plane, and A Dream received 2nd place at The Book Fest awards in Children’s Nonfiction: People and Places.

Five Star Gold Seal from Reader Views

Reviewed by Lindsay DeRollo for Reader Views (6/2025)

Where We Land: A Boy, a Plane, and a Dream by Donald Osborn and Anna Henkens Schmidt is a heartfelt and encouraging children’s book based on a true story about a young boy named Donny and his big dream of flying someday. One afternoon, Donny witnesses a yellow plane in the sky, and so he eagerly hops on his bike to track it down to a shed at the edge of his neighborhood. His curiosity and fascination get the best of him, and he sneaks in to look at the plane up close. Suddenly, he gets caught by the owner, Frank, who ends up giving Donny a surprise chance of a lifetime. No dream is ever too big if you persist and believe in yourself.

This is such an inspirational story that I guarantee children will love! The authors of this story teach children so many valuable life lessons that are a gift to treasure forever. Donald Osborn and Anna Henkens Schmidt demonstrate through the two main characters the importance of hard work, patience, perseverance, courage, imagination, kindness, gratitude, and more. Children will learn to dream big, believe in themselves, and see how mistakes give us a chance to grow and redeem ourselves. Just like the damaged shed, you can turn something broken into something beautiful.

The bright, detailed, whimsical, and animated illustrations reflect Donny’s big personality and wonderment of the world around him. He is relatable to children and the perfect example of how to be a good, hardworking person who dreams big and never gives up. Both Donny and Frank are very authentic and share a special connection with each other. Isn’t life funny in that we can sometimes find kindness and new opportunities in the unlikeliest of places?

The rich and vivid setting and world-building in this story are incredibly impressive as well. I felt like I was right there in the story alongside the characters in the countryside setting, later flying up high on the plane way above the clouds!

I really like the very last line of the book, which can be seen as a metaphor. Where will the plane land, and, more importantly, where will WE land in life? The choice is ours.

I highly recommend Where We Land: A Boy, a Plane, and a Dream by Donald Osborn and Anna Henkens Schmidt to children of all ages and backgrounds to read and become inspired by. What better way is there to learn how to dream big, use your imagination, and witness how one person or event can completely transform your life?

Prefer to Shop In Person? Here are some local options, depending on where you’ve landed.

Chadron, Nebraska: CocoShack is a local treasure trove of specially curated items — everything from used furniture and handmade crafts to Nebraska-made products and, of course, books! We're thrilled to announce that CocoShack was recently selected as a 2025 Nebraska Passport Stop.

Durham, North Carolina: Daughter’s Coffee & Books is a family-friendly hot spot in South Durham. With speciality coffee drinks each month, as well as a delicious menu of anything-but-regular favorites, Daughter’s Coffee is the perfect place to grab a drink and a book. In addition to Where We Land: A Boy, A Plane, and a Dream - the bookshop keeps a wide variety of new and used books in stock.