If you've ever ridden an airplane, you know exactly what can happen when a kid is onboard. It can range from stress to boredom to ear pain. It's never easy, but it's even worse when the kid in question is YOUR kid. Now, we can deal with the ear pain (nursing a baby, gum, jaw exercises by making funny faces, etc.), but the stress and boredom are a bit more difficult. As an educator, you know that one of my ways to prepare for anything is education. So teaching your kids about what will happen on an airplane is a good thing. Knowledge is power!

Recently we received a review copy (thank you!) of a GREAT new book that teaches young kids how to behave - and what to expect - on airplanes. Monsters Don't Ride on Airplanes, written by Dotting the Map founder Hilarye Fuller, is an excellent tool for any parent to help prepare their kids for the excitement (and strangeness) of traveling by air. It's got the CUTEST illustrations that will entice any reader, and is chock full of readable advice for kids.

We were lucky enough to catch up with Hilarye, and ask about her inspiration, respect, and more. Here's what she had to say...

Please tell us about your new book, Monsters Don't Ride on Airplanes...

Monsters Don't Ride on Airplanes is a children's book designed to encourage good manners and behaviors while riding on airplanes. The premise of the book follows three monsters who because of their actions and behaviors have been banned from flying airplanes. It's cute, fun, and educational. A book that will be appreciated by those traveling with young children and those around them. The book is available currently in ebook format only. You can get the Amazon version here and the iTunes version here. The iTunes version has a bonus feature with a read aloud to me option where the book is narrated by a real commercial airplane pilot.

What inspired you to write this book?

I have three little girls who travel frequently. Every time we are about to take another airplane ride, we prep them and talk about acceptable behavior when flying. My children respond really well to children's books and when I couldn't find any book out there that discussed good behavior while flying I decided to come up with my own.

In Florida

What do you hope kids take away from this book?

I hope kids enjoy the funny characters and generally enjoy listening to the story but also I hope they come to understand how simple actions may affect those around them when flying and why it's important to be respectful.

What are your best tips for preparing kids to travel?

Besides reading them Monsters Don't Ride on Airplanes, just setting expectations and giving them a little bit of routine to follow. For example whenever we fly my girls know that we will have a snack, then they will color or read some books, watch a show, and then it will be nap time. Obviously it never goes perfectly, but it helps them know what to expect.

In Aruba

What's up next for you?

Travel! We are planning a lot of fun trips for the Fall, which is our main travel season. We are hoping to take the girls to Disney World for their birthdays, head back to the west coast for awhile, and an international trip is also in the works.

Author Hilarye Fuller and daugher in Alaska

Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?

Just that I would love to connect with anyone and hear your thoughts on the book. You can find me at http://www.dottingthemap.com.  

Thanks, Hilarye! We highly recommend your book to all traveling families!

All photos courtesy and copyright Hilarye Fuller