McWhinney's Jaunt

This story, about a somewhat eccentric professor who discovers Z-Gas and sets off on a most unlikely adventure. Mounting his now air-born bicycle, Professor McWhinney's travels take him across country to Hollywood, where he finally meets the object of his affections - the movie star Gloria Glamorous. HIs adventures along the way and during his return home are both whistful and humourous. The remarkably detailed and charming illustrations - my favourite is the one where he goes trout fishing from the air - complement the witty, diary style text. McWhinney's Jaunt has traveled with me on my own adventures. It has been much loved by the children I've read it to in schools in Florida, Hawaii and now New Zealand; and was a real favourite of my own children and their friends. It is as fresh with each reading, and as much a treasure, as when I bought it with my birthday money in 1951 and read it for the first time.

Professor McWhinney, while on summer vacation from his duties as a physics professor at the local university, creates a marvelous gaseous concoction in his basement laboratory..."Z-Gas"! He proceeds to inflate his bicycle tires with this new gas and, after hours of practice, is able to pedal briskly and glide over trees and houses. A new flying machine! Professor McWhinney informs his wife, immersed in her needle work, that he is taking a journey across country to Hollywood to see the movie star Gloria Glamorous. The journey across the country by flying bicycle is beautifully chronicled and illustrated by Robert Lawson. I read the book many times on my summer vacations back in Michigan. My mind always takes a fantastic journey with Professor McWhinney as he pedals his amazing flying bicycle! I've read this book to my two young boys, and they now read it on their own...and dream their own dreams!