Living in the Colorado mountains means small planes are a constant presence overhead—and now that everyday sight has taken flight in a new children’s activity book. Up, Up & Away! Bush Plane Activity Book, written by author Kate Schilling and released October 21, 2026, through her own imprint KS Creative Enterprises, is a 72-page, full-color paperback designed for kids ages 5 to 8. It blends aviation-themed puzzles, coloring pages, and hands-on exercises that aim to make learning about airplanes both fun and educational.
The inspiration for the book comes directly from the small aircraft that are a routine part of mountain life in Colorado. Through word searches, mazes, tracing tasks, math challenges, coloring pages, and picture puzzles, the book invites children to explore everything from mountain landscapes to colorful airplanes. Counting, simple addition and subtraction, matching games, and visual puzzles are woven in to sharpen problem-solving, observation, and creative thinking. A flight plan, a pilot’s logbook, and a Pilot’s Certificate add a layer of role-playing adventure, letting kids imagine themselves as young aviators.
For Schilling, this project carries deep personal meaning. The book is dedicated to her friend and neighbor, Tom Koehler, a pilot she calls an incredible teacher. That dedication gives the pages a heartfelt connection to someone who sparked her own enthusiasm for aviation—a passion she now hopes to pass on to a new generation.
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“Living in the Colorado mountains, small planes are part of everyday life here, and I wanted to share the excitement of flying with young readers,” Schilling said.
The book’s tagline captures its playful spirit: “Find the words. Solve the mazes. Color the sky. Land it like a pro.”
Designed for independent or shared use, Up, Up & Away! offers families and educators a fresh way to introduce aviation concepts. Its mix of puzzles, creative exercises, and flight-inspired activities makes it suitable for classroom learning, family time, or quiet afternoons at home.
Schilling, who also wrote Wilbur’s Ocean Adventure (inspired by her love of scuba diving), is the founder of KS Creative Enterprises and lives in the Colorado mountains, where nature and exploration continue to fuel her work.
For more details about the book and its author, visit:
https://kscreativebooks.com
Publisher: KS Creative Enterprises
Publication Date: October 21, 2026
Format: Paperback, 72 pages, 8.5 x 11 inches, full color
Price: $12.99
Up, Up & Away! Bush Plane Activity Book is available now on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HNRMCP7C
For review copies, interview requests, or additional information, please contact:
Kate Schilling
BrightKey PR
media@brightkeypr.com
Why it matters: By tying aviation education to a familiar mountain landscape, Schilling’s book offers a creative, screen-free way for young children to build problem-solving skills while exploring real-world concepts. Activity books like this can serve as a bridge between play and learning, especially for families looking to spark early interest in science, geography, and transportation.
