Look to the Stars
by Buzz Aldrin
illustrated by Wendell Minor
As one of the handful of people ever to have walked on the moon, Buzz Aldrin knows about space exploration.
Growing up surrounded by memorabilia of the human endeavor to take to the skies, inspired by his pilot father, Buzz achieved a lot within the first 30 years of his life that most can only dream about.
In Look to the Stars, Buzz provides a child-friendly account of the history of space exploration. Most of the book is about the Apollo missions, with Aldrin's inside information making it real and inspiring.
However, the book also sets the background for this achievement. Without Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, and Newton, we could not have advanced leaps and bounds in this field of space exploration.
Historical quotations are presented at the bottom of every page. For example, Saturn V rocket designer Werner Von Braun said, “Basic research is what I am doing when I don’t know what I am doing.” Exactly what a five year old would say if they knew how to say it - that they are taking things apart, putting them together to see what comes of it. And, the famous quotation by Orville Wright, "If birds can glide for long periods of time, then... why can't I?"
There are two timeline charts presented that illustrate the space mission, particularly the attempts to reach the Moon and return safely.
While the text is not for all but the space enthusiasts, the illustrations bring the much-needed perspective for the young.
"Just remember- when you think all is lost, the future remains." - Robert Goddard, Father of Rocketry.
Buzz concludes by asking, “One day your family may have some amazing vacation choices. Where will you go? Will it be to the seashore on Earth, or to the Moon’s Sea of Tranquility?”
I can picture my five year old squealing "to the Moon's Sea of Tranquility!" with absolute certainty. How about you?
[image source: wegivebooks.org]
illustrated by Wendell Minor
As one of the handful of people ever to have walked on the moon, Buzz Aldrin knows about space exploration.
Growing up surrounded by memorabilia of the human endeavor to take to the skies, inspired by his pilot father, Buzz achieved a lot within the first 30 years of his life that most can only dream about.
In Look to the Stars, Buzz provides a child-friendly account of the history of space exploration. Most of the book is about the Apollo missions, with Aldrin's inside information making it real and inspiring.
However, the book also sets the background for this achievement. Without Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, and Newton, we could not have advanced leaps and bounds in this field of space exploration.
Historical quotations are presented at the bottom of every page. For example, Saturn V rocket designer Werner Von Braun said, “Basic research is what I am doing when I don’t know what I am doing.” Exactly what a five year old would say if they knew how to say it - that they are taking things apart, putting them together to see what comes of it. And, the famous quotation by Orville Wright, "If birds can glide for long periods of time, then... why can't I?"
There are two timeline charts presented that illustrate the space mission, particularly the attempts to reach the Moon and return safely.
While the text is not for all but the space enthusiasts, the illustrations bring the much-needed perspective for the young.
"Just remember- when you think all is lost, the future remains." - Robert Goddard, Father of Rocketry.
Buzz concludes by asking, “One day your family may have some amazing vacation choices. Where will you go? Will it be to the seashore on Earth, or to the Moon’s Sea of Tranquility?”
I can picture my five year old squealing "to the Moon's Sea of Tranquility!" with absolute certainty. How about you?
[image source: wegivebooks.org]
3 comments:
Fitting to have a book on the final frontier at the end of CROCUS. Lovely review, Sheela.
Ours will be squealing Jupiter or somthing else like travelling on the meteor! How cool will that be!! except I can hear the younger one asking with concern - will it be hot? will it be cold? will it have proper toilets?? ;)
What a splendid end to our CROCUS!
We used to listen to this Ernie song when K was little. Love it still! :)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIntrayvOlc
S would move to Jupiter in a heartbeat and tells me, far away from the spinning fiery storms for sure! :)
Post a Comment