Tee Time On The Moon by David A. Kelly

Tee Time On The Moon: How Astronaut Alan Shepard Played Lunar Golf

David A. Kelly; Illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham

Calkins Creek. An Imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers. 2023

The Apollo 14 took off for the moon in 1971. Alan Shepard, Stuart Roosa and Edgar Mitchell were all on board. What Roosa and Mitchell didn’t know is that Shepard had a secret. He had brought something special with him…in a sock.

This fun informational picture book tells the story of how, after doing their work as astronauts - conducting scientific experiments, collecting soil samples, and taking measurements. Just before they head back into the lunar module for the planned rendezvous with Apollo 14, “Shepard snapped the head onto the scoop handle to create a makeshift MOON CLUB! Alan Shepard planned to play golf on the moon.”

In the first half of the book, Kelly shares facts about the space mission, the landing and Mitchell and Shepard’s scientific goals. The second half explores how Shepard, who loved golf, wanted to see just how far a golf ball would travel on the moon. 

Paired with Kelly’s fun narrative are Fotheringham’s full page, digital art that truly enhance the story. 

This fun story about space travel will delight many fans who dream of space travel.

Included is a selected bibliography and an overview of the Apollo missions that went to the moon, some facts about Commander Shepard, and brief explanations on a few topics related to the Apollo 14 mission. 

  

Crash From Outer Space: Unraveling the Mystery of Flying Saucers, Alien Beings, and Roswell by Candace Fleming

Crash from Outer Space: Unraveling the Mystery of Flying Saucers, Alien Beings, and Roswell

By Candace Fleming

Scholastic Focus. An Imprint of Scholastic, Inc. 2022

Did an alien space craft really crash in Roswell, New Mexico on a hot, stormy night on June13, 1947? Some claim they saw alien bodies strewn across the ground. Readers are asked to put on their thinking caps as award-winning author, Candace Fleming investigates whether the crash actually happened or whether the US government has been covering up evidence in a massive conspiracy. 

We meet a cast of interesting characters as Fleming examines all the evidence presented. 

Was the crash real?

Can we trust eyewitness accounts?

Was it Russian spies, secret military technology that crashed in the New Mexican desert that night?

Has the United States government been covering up the evidence all these years?

You must read this thrilling exploration, loaded with photos and illustrations, about one of the most electrifying mysteries in modern history. 

What really happened in Roswell, New Mexico on June 13, 1947.

Well-researched, the book includes an author's note, bibliography of primary and secondary sources, source notes, photo and illustration credits. 

Blast Off! by Suzanne Slade

 

Blast Off! How Mary Sherman Morgan Fueled America into Space
Written by Suzanne Slade; Illustrated by Sally Wern Comport
Calkins Creek. An Imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers. 2022

Suzanne Slade has written many excellent books about space and women in STEM. Here, in her latest picture book biography, she shares the life of Mary Sherman Morgan, the woman who developed the fuel that launch the first U.S. satellite into space!

Born November 4, 1921 in Ray, North Dakota, Mary was expected to stay home and help with chores on the family farm. “All day long she fed chickens, milked cows, and cleaned the creamer.” 

At age 8, the sheriff and social services came and took Mary to school. It was the law!

She went to college, but after two years had to drop out for lack of money. During World War 2, Mary lands a job in a factory that works with chemicals that created powerful energy explosions. It was here her love for chemistry really took hold. While working at North American Aviation in California, she developed the rocket fuel hydyne. After several tests, on January 31, 1958, Juno I rocket would take off and launch the first American satellite into space.

Comport’s illustrations, a hybrid of collage, digital collage, primes drawings on vellum, and digital paint, are bright and capture the sites and emotions being mentioned in the text. 

An author’s note with more about Mary, timeline, selected bibliography round out this engaging biography that is perfect for readers curious about space, and ideal for those wanting to know more about women who did not let the educational and work discrimination stop them from pursuing what they loved. 

Click here to watch the book trailer.

Overview: a New Way of Seeing Earth: Young Reader's Edition by Benjamin Grant and Sandra Markle

Overview: a New Way of Seeing Earth

Young Reader's Edition

Benjamin Grant with Sandra Markle

Crown Books for Young Readers. 2019

Grades 2 up

When astronauts view Earth from space, the sense of oneness they feel is termed the Overview Effect. It describes the awareness that we are all part of the same humanity.  Astronauts, when they see Earth from space, say the experience changes them forever. The view gives them a greater connection to Earth, its people, and the environment. 

The large-format sized book is divided into nine chapters. Each chapter examines a different aspect of our planet. From natures wonders to how humans are affecting the plant, each full-page color photograph is captioned, giving a brief explanation as to why it is included in the book. 

“Uluru, also called Ayers Rock, in Australia’s Northern Territory, is a giant sandstone rock formation that rises above an otherwise flat plan. Estimated to be 600 million years old, Uluru is 1,142 feet (348 m) high and 6 miles (9.7 km) around at the base. Like a land iceberg, Uluru also extends underground another 2 miles (3.2 km). The rock is a sacred site for the Aboriginal people of the area, who first settled there 10,000 years ago.”

Grant and Markle also include environmental concerns to encourage readers to contemplate their role in creating a healthy planet.

Back matter includes bibliography, resources on how you can help our planet to have a healthy future, and index that includes not only page numbers but coordinates to use when searching Google Earth or the satellite mode of Google Maps!

A truly awe-inspiring book.

 To write this review, I borrowed the book from my local public library.

Always Looking Up: Nancy Grace Roman, Astronomer : Written by Laura Gehl

Always Looking Up: Nancy Grace Roman, Astronomer

Written by Laura Gehl; Illustrated by Louise Pigott and Alex Oxton

Albert Whitman & Company. 2019

Grades 2 – 5

“The Hubble Telescope changed the way people saw the universe, and helped scientists make giant leaps in understanding space.”

In this picture book biography, Gehl tells the true story of Nancy Grace Roman (1925-2018), the scientist responsible for putting the Hubble Telescope into orbit.

Born in 1925, despite being discouraged, Roman studied and became an astronomer. In 1959, Roman joins the newly created NASA as their Chief of Astronomy and Relativity Programs. Though Congress approved funding for the development of the Hubble Telescope, it was not launched into orbit until 1990.

The text is engaging and the digital images draw readers’ attention into the story. Back matter includes an author’s note and timeline.

A nice addition to the growing number of books that celebrate women scientists.

I used an uncorrected proof sent to me by the publisher to write this review.

The True Story of Alan Bean: The Astronaut Who Painted the Moon Written by Dean Robbins

The True Story of Alan Bean: The Astronaut Who Painted the Moon

Written by Dean Robbins; Illustrated by Sean Rubin

Orchard Books. An Imprint of Scholastic. 2019

Grades 5 and up

Dean Robbins tells the life of Alan Bean (1932-2018), a pilot, astronaut, and an artist.  As a child, Bean loved to think about the way things looked. He made model airplanes that he hung around in his bedroom.

“Green for the wings.

Red Stripes for the tail.

Yellow stars along the sides.”

This picture book biography shares how Bean’s love of flying had him training to be a navy pilot and then joining NASA in 1963. Bean traveled to the moon with the Apollo 12 mission in 1969 and became the fourth person to walk on the moon. When did he take his first art classe? While he was training to be a pilot in 1961. Beans says how he loved being able to show on paper what he saw with his eyes.

Back matter includes an author’s note with more information on Alan Bean, a timeline of space exploration, and a bibliography. There is a page in the back matter that places photographs taken during his Apollo 12 mission with the paintings Alan did based on the photo.  Captioned under each of the paintings Bean shares his experience of that amazing trip.

It’s a treat to see a book for children that acknowledges how influential art can be, even for someone who loves science.