My Journey to the Stars

Releasing simultaneously with NASA astronaut Kelly's adult memoir, Endurance, this picture book offers a condensed portrait of his life. It opens with Kelly's 2016 departure from the International Space Station, where he spent a record-breaking 340 days. Noting that his identical twin and fellow astronaut Mark Kelly "is waiting for me back on Earth," Kelly backtracks to their childhood, when they "always had a talent for finding trouble and taking risks." Their parents' fighting turned the twins into peacemakers, whose ability to stay calm in tough times served them well ("You never know when your problems can become your strengths"). Family snapshots and NASA photographs track Kelly's career as a Navy fighter pilot and astronaut. Ceolin's, soft, nostalgic illustrations are used mainly in the retrospective portions of the book; photographs dominate the pages after Kelly's NASA career gets underway. The result is a bit of a visual hodgepodge, but Kelly's account firmly underscores the rewards of dedication to one's dreams. Ages 5-8. Author's agent: Elyse Cheney, Elyse Cheney Agency. Illustrator's agent: Mela Bolinao, MB Artists. (Oct.)

K-Gr 2--Astronaut Kelly recalls the early experiences that led up to his joyful return to Earth in March 2016, after spending nearly a year in space. This picture book biography introduces the wiggly, unfocused student who, with his twin brother Mark, enjoyed risk-taking adventure and learned to stay calm in the face of parental storms. It was Tom Wolfe's biography of the Mercury Seven, The Right Stuff that inspired Kelly to become an astronaut. Both brothers joined NASA in 1996 and flew into space four times--separately, "in case something went wrong." Kelly's long sojourn in the International Space Station (ISS) offered a unique scientific opportunity because Mark remained on Earth as a comparison. The first-person narrative is immediate and relatively simple. It opens with the astronaut entering the tiny space ship that will take him back to Earth, flashes back through childhood and training, and ends with a happy splash in his home swimming pool. Photographs from the Kellys' childhood as well as Scott's time in the ISS are reproduced on appropriate backgrounds. Their realism makes an interesting contrast with Ceolin's smooth digital illustrations and almost featureless figures. Timed to appear alongside his adult memoir, Endurance: A Year in Space this story of his preparation and his experience has well-chosen details and just the right amount of information for his intended audience. VERDICT Pair with Carmella van Vleet's To the Stars!: The First American Woman To Walk in Space to inspire a new generation of space travelers.--Kathleen Isaacs, Children's Literature Specialist, Pasadena, MD