Reaching for the Moon

Aldrin and illustrator Minor (one of six American artists selected to cover the launch of the space shuttle "Discovery" in 1988) bring the astronaut's early life and commendable career into stunningly sharp focus.

Aldrin shapes nearly each page into a kind of brief chapter, instantly pulling readers into his easygoing, articulate narrative. For instance, he recalls how, on summer nights during his childhood, "the Moon hung low in the sky, so close to our house that I thought I could reach out and touch the soft white light. I never imagined that one day I would walk on its surface. But maybe it was meant to be. You see, before she was married, my mother's last name was Moon." In another neat coincidence, Aldrin's pilot father took the two-year-old on his first flight in a plane painted to look like an eagle; and, in a craft named "Eagle", Aldrin and Neil Armstrong landed on the moon during the 1969 "Apollo 11" mission.

After recapping earlier events in his life, the author recaptures the thrill of the "Eagle"'s landing and his and Armstrong's exploration of the moon. Aldrin closes with a stirring afterword encouraging readers to reach for their own moons: "If you set your sights high, you may accomplish more than you ever dreamed was possible." Minor's light-infused art balances lifelike, affecting portraiture and images of various spacecraft in motion, rendered with an almost dizzying clarity. Author and artist clearly aimed high here and easily hit their mark. Ages 6-9. (June)

Copyright 2005 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Gr 1-4 -A readable autobiography by the "Apollo 11" astronaut who was the second man to walk on the Moon. Aldrin recounts episodes in his life that influenced his choice to become part of the space program. He briefly describes how he got his nickname and incidents from his childhood; his first airplane ride; his time at West Point and as an Air Force pilot; joining NASA; and his missions in the Gemini and Apollo programs, including the lunar landing. Although he strains at times to make a connection between his experiences and his character (e.g., riding his bike alone across the George Washington Bridge as evidence of his ability to do things himself), overall, the telling is entertaining and informative. A chronology of milestones in the history of flight is appended. Excellent, realistic paintings help describe the events mentioned in the text. Those depicting the space flights are particularly dramatic. Similar in style to Ann Turner's "Abe Lincoln Remembers" (HarperCollins, 2001), also illustrated by Minor, this book should be considered a first purchase. -Jeffrey A. French, Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library, Willowick, OH

Copyright 2005 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Calling all dreamers and wannabe space travellers! — Child Magazine