If You Decide to Go to the Moon

I found this book wonderful because it appeals to both my 4-yr-old daughter and me. My daughter told she wants to keep it in case she might want to go to the moon sometime (we borrowed it from the library). I love it because it talks about some serious stuff, like what would actually happen if you took your spacesuit off while on the moon. It spends a lot of time on what its like on the moon without air - no sound, no heat insulation, no protection from the sun - and without life. And it makes earth sound so special, it leaves you wondering why we don't take better care of our own atmosphere.

What a marvelous combination of talent. As the jacket notes "Faith McNulty's prose is elegant, informative, and playful, while Steven Kellogg's masterful paintings are dramatic and eloquent."

This book begins with "If you decide to go to the moon in your own rocket ship, read this book before you start." The author then proceeds to detail all that is needed to be taken on the trip, including the space suit, snacks, air tanks, books and games.. Also included in the items is peanut butter, apples and cake, as well as water and juice.

The author proceeds to be very detailed in describing the journey in a way that not only children will enjoy, but also adults will marvel at the descriptions used and the information unknown to many of show more us.

Details such as the fact that the sun blazes with fiery light and the mysterious moon glows "like a pearl in the black, black sky!"

Throughout the book, I was captivated by the knowledge given about the sun, the moon, the atmospheres, the heat of the sun, and the coolness of the moon were written in vivid detail so that the reader can almost feel the climate of both.

This is one of my favorite illustrated books read thus far this year. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! show less

Written in the style of an advice manual for young would-be astronauts, Faith McNulty's If You Decide To Go To The Moon is an engaging and informative picture-book about a (theoretical) lunar landing, complete with a mostly unwritten personal adventure story - a young boy-astronaut leaves behind his sister, heading for space, and the moon! - and quite a bit of factual information, concerning everything from what one would bring, on a spaceship to the moon, to how one would walk, once there. A final, four-page fold-out spread, in full color, greets the young space-traveler, as he returns to Earth, emphasizing that, in the end, there really is no place like home...

One of our November selections, over in The Picture-Book Club to which I show more belong, where our current theme is "Outer Space," this is yet another book I am glad to have discovered! The manner in which the story is presented will be very appealing for young children, I think, and the illustrations by Steven Kellogg will draw them further into the adventure. After all, what child doesn't dream of going to the moon? With this book, they will be encouraged to really believe that they can! show less

Beautiful picture book that seamlessly combines information about space travel and the moon with a little fantasy of a young astronaut who makes the journey. McNulty's voice evokes the loneliness and stark beauty of the lunar landscape, and is perfectly paired with Kellogg's artwork. Be prepared for an "Ohhhhh!" of appreciation from students when you fold out the four spread showing a glorious scene of earth's land, oceans, and creatures. Perfect read-aloud for grade two and up, or as part of a unit on space or for Earth Day.

Although this book is technically fiction (it portrays the ficticious journey of a young boy in outer space), so much of the information presented is nonfiction. Written in second person perspective in the style of a how-to, "If You Decide to Go to the Moon," gives young readers tons of information about how and what you need to survive in space. It vividly describes what life feels and looks like in space, and gives elaborate information and beautiful illustrations of the moon. I read this book to first graders as a supplement to our solar system science unit, and they loved it, although the text did feel overly wordy and heavy at times. This might read best with a slightly older audience (grade 2 or 3 and up).

This book is creative and thoughtful and really captures a moon journey as if you were going yourself. I especially like the educational factoids sprinkled throughout. In this story a boy goes on a fascinating excursion to the moon. The lyrical text provides tips on what to pack and describes the distance to be covered. After blastoff, facts about space travel are mingled with descriptions of what the journey might be like: the loneliness, the lack of gravity, and how you might pass the time. After landing, the text warns: Your first step will be difficult. You will rise in the air and leap forward like a kangaroo, but once you learn how, walking will be fun. It also suggests that the moon's lack of sound and color may make it seem like show more a dream. After viewing the flag left behind by astronauts, it's time to depart. As Earth looms closer, a four-page foldout in a glorious burst of color marks our planet's contrast to the moon's black-and-white shades. These pages depict a variety of wonders: all sorts of animals and landscapes as well as people from different historical periods and locales. show less

I learned something - I didn't know the seas were lava flows (I'd assumed they were extra big meteor craters). I liked that it explained things that often don't get mentioned elsewhere, such as the fact of no sound or wind, and the wires in the flag. I liked the environmental message, and the back cover which makes it clear that the female is going to get a turn, too.