A Grandfather’s Legacy
Book cover illustration: A little boy is flying through the air in a small silver/gray, pedal powered airplane. He is looking out the open cockpit with a big smile on his face. Flying beside him are some birds that are looking at him curiously. Blue sky and clouds provide the background.
Title Page:
A Grandfather’s Legacy
Written by: R.E. Armstrong, Copyright 2001
Preface page: (Illustration) A little boy wearing shorts, tennis shoes and a striped T-shirt is standing up in a silver/gray pedal airplane on the sidewalk. The plane is trimmed in blue and red. (Trent standing in his airplane looking at the camera.)
Page 1: (Illustration) A Mommy, Daddy, teen-age brother, our 4-year-old main character and his little 3-year-old sister are gathered around a kitchen table. The 4 year-old blows out the candles on his cake while his family sings, Happy Birthday. (Text): “Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Trent, happy birthday to you.”
Page 2: (Text) As Trent opened his birthday presents, the doorbell rang. His Daddy said, “I’ll get that,” and he goes to the front door.
Page 3: (Text) When Trent's Daddy opened the door, a gray haired man and woman were standing there. Trent's Daddy smiled as he looked back into the house and shouted, “Hey kids! Your Great Uncle and Aunt are here.”
Page 4: (Text) As everyone hugged and greeted each other at the door, Trent's Great Uncle said with a smile, “We heard that a very special little boy was having a birthday so we drove all the way across the state to bring him a special present.”
Page 5: (Text) Trent’s Great Aunt said, “Let’s go out and see what’s in the back of our truck.” The family followed their Great Aunt and Uncle out the door.
Page 6: (Text) When they reached the driveway Trent’s Aunt picked him up. Smiling at him she said, “I think this is the perfect present for you, Trent.”
Page 7: (Text) When Trent's Great Uncle opened the tailgate of the pickup, there stood a shiny silver/gray airplane with red and blue markings. A strange feeling came over Trent, and with a look of wonder on his face he said, “It’s an airplane!”
Page 8: (Text) Trent watched excitedly as his big brother Nick helped his Daddy and Great Uncle lifted the airplane from the truck bed and place it on the sidewalk. Then his Daddy said with a big smile, “Hop in your new plane, Trent, and let’s see if you can make it fly.”
Page 9: (Text) Trent hurriedly climbed into the cockpit of his shiny pedal airplane. His little sister Haleigh squealed, “Me too, me too.” She climbed on the back of the airplane and put her arms around her brother's neck.
Page 10: (Text) Trent tried as hard as he could but the airplane wouldn’t move with both of them on it. Looking around he said, “Daddy, I can’t fly with Sissy behind me.”
Page 11: (Text) Lifting Haleigh from the back of the airplane their daddy said, “ Let Trent fly his airplane by himself first, Haleigh, and then you can try it.” Pouting, Haleigh watched Trent start rolling down the sidewalk.
Page 12: (Text) Trent took off fast. “Look at me,” he squealed and laughed as he pedaled his shiny new airplane up and down the sidewalk.
Page 13: (Text) When Trent finally stopped to rest he said, “It’s your turn, Sissy.” Then he helped his little sister into the airplane.
Page 14: (Text) Even though Haleigh stretched as much as she could, she still couldn’t reach the pedals. “I can’t make it go Bubba,” she said with a sad look.
Page 15: (Text) “Hang on Sissy,” her big brother Nick said, “Trent and I will push you.” Then her two big brothers pushed her up and down the sidewalk in the shiny airplane.
Page 16: (Text) In a little while, Trent’s Daddy opened the garage door so Trent could park his airplane inside. Then his Mommy said, “Let’s all go in the kitchen and have some birthday cake and milk.”
Page 17: (Text) As everyone enjoyed the delicious cake, Trent said to his Great Uncle and Aunt, “Thank you for my beautiful airplane.”
Page 18: (Text) All through the summer, Trent pedaled his airplane up and down the sidewalk in front of his house. “Wheeee,” he said as he went a little faster each day.
Page 19: (Text) And every day Trent and his family ate good, healthy meals that his Mommy cooked for them so they would grow bigger and stronger.
Page 20: (Text) Trent played baseball and soccer and other sports with his big brother Nick. The exercise and fresh air helped him grow stronger and healthier too.
Page 21: (Text) Trent helped his big brother Nick push his airplane with their baby sister Haleigh in it. This made his heart grow bigger and stronger from the love he shared with his big brother and little sister.
Page 22: (Text) On weekends Trent helped his Daddy and big brother work in the yard. So he got stronger and stronger.
Page 23: (Text) As the months went by Trent’s heart filled with happiness and he got so strong that he could pedal his airplane very fast.
Page 24: (Text) Then one morning Trent learned that his Grandma Aurora, Grandpa Phil and Uncle Brian were all coming to spend Christmas at his house. He got so excited that he ran to his airplane and pedaled it faster than ever before. Suddenly it left the ground for a short flight. "Wow!" said Trent as he landed. A strange feeling came over him like someone was watching him. He looked around but there was nobody there.
Page 25: (Text) On Christmas Eve, Trent's family gathered in front of the fireplace, and Grandpa Phil and Grandma Aurora told their grandchildren stories about their ancestors.
Page 26: (Text) Then Grandpa Phil gave Nick an antique fly fishing rod that had belonged to his father.
Page 27: (Text) Uncle Brian gave Haleigh a beautiful old ceramic doll that he had bought for her on a trip to Asia.
Page 28: (Text) Then Grandma Aurora gave Trent her father’s silver wings that he had worn when he flew his shiny silver airplane over the islands of the South Pacific many years ago.
Page 29: (Text) That evening as she helped his mommy tuck Trent into bed, Grandma Aurora told him stories of his Great Grandfather. Trent’s Great Grandfather Jose had been a famous pilot who had earned many medals for his bravery and skill.
Page 30: (Text) That night while he slept, Trent dreamed of his Great Grandfather Jose and his shiny silver airplane soaring through the clouds. He could see Great Grandfather Jose smiling at him from his airplane and hear him say, “Trent, if you have a good heart and believe in yourself, you can do many wonderful things.”
Page 31: (Text) When Trent woke up early Christmas day, everyone else in the family was still asleep. Dressing quietly he pinned his Great Grandfather Jose's silver wings to his coat. Then he went to get his airplane from the garage.
Page 32: (Text) Trent sat in his airplane on the sidewalk, and as he looked up at the sky he said, “Here I come.” Then he started pedaling as fast as he could.
Page 33: (Text) Suddenly the plane left the ground again, and as he flew over the rooftops of the town still sleeping below, Trent knew that his Great Grandfather had been right. Trent thought, "If I really believe in myself and have a good heart, I can do wonderful things all through my life."
Last page: (Illustration) Trent is flying along with a big smile on his face. He is looking down at the sleeping town. In the upper corner of the page is a faint image of a man dressed like a World War II pilot. He has a big smile on his face and a look of pride as he watches his Great Grandson. (Text) Trent’s heart was filled with happiness as he soared like an eagle above the sleeping town. His guardian angel’s heart filled with pride as he watched his Great Grandson carry on his legacy.
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