Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11

Chosen as one of the ten "Best Illustrated Children’s Books of 2009" by The New York Times, and recommended by The Horn Book Magazine, Brian Floca's picture-book treatment of the epic story of Apollo 11 - the NASA mission which landed the first human beings on the moon - had high standards to meet, if it was to live up to my expectations. I'm happy to say that it was everything promised! With a narrative that manages to be both concise and informative, and gorgeous artwork that grabs the reader's attention and never lets go, Moonshot: The Flight of the Apollo 11 is a book that young space-lovers will want to savor. The very size of the book - fairly large, even for a picture-book - works in its favor.

From the front endpapers, which show more give an outline of the technical story of Apollo 11, I found myself drawn in, and I enjoyed the ride! Floca - whose illustrations I had encountered before, in Avi's Tales of Dimwood Forest series - captures the color and warmth of earth, and the splendidly cold majesty of space, setting up a contrast that works very well throughout. Highly recommended to all young readers who dream of space! show less

Moonshot relives the dramatic adventure of the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon. The text consists of spare, tight blank verse that somehow manages to thrill the heart as it economizes on words, while the pen-and-ink illustrations evoke the adventures of superheroes in graphic novels. I am too young to have been one of the millions on Earth who were glued to their televisions for those dramatic days in 1969, but while reading Moonshot I felt a little of the excitement and fear that the people back home must have felt as they listened to the crackly reports of the astronauts coming across the airwaves. The book doesn't just have this effect on humble space enthusiasts; astronaut Michael Collins says in a blurb on the book's cover that show more "Reading Moonshot gave me the feeling I was back up in space." Although the text is spare, short, and evocative, the sentence structure and vocabulary are a bit advanced for the younger end of the cited age range. I think the publisher does a disservice to the book by stipulating the upper appropriate age as eight; the way that this book so effectively stirs the emotions of the reader, and the graphic-novel style of its illustrations, should appeal to much older kids. Although it's a picture book, it doesn't feel like a kids' book -- it feels almost like the storyboard for a movie. show less

Read for my 365 Kids Book challenge. You can see all the books on their own shelf.

Floca does a great job grounding the story with a lot of details, but not detracting from the excitement and sense of adventure. There's a note in the front matter about what he updated, there's great references and a long narrative at the back. Without having seen the original I am nonetheless delighted that he took advantage of [b:Hidden Figures|25953369|Hidden Figures|Margot Lee Shetterly|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1464022031l/25953369._SY75_.jpg|45855800] and other more recent work to include some pictures of the women who worked on the mission in various capacities. In what is generally a really white male show more story, seeing women is good, and seeing women of color is important. It corrects the story and reminds us that we don't see more because NASA was one of the institutions perpetuating systemic racism and sexism.

Library copy show less

*Wonderful.* I have no idea how Brian Floca managed to make history and technology (my least favorite subjects re' space) come so alive for me, but I'm impressed. I'm going to look for his other books. Lots of information, clearly and vividly presented, with a graceful, fluent text and bright illustrations that truly helped clarify the information. And for the true fan, there's lots more info. in the end-papers. I learned *lots* of stuff - for example did you know the astronauts were quarantined for three weeks for fear of moon germs?! I didn't!

Simply told, grandly shown, here is the flight of Apollo 11. Here for a new generation of readers and explorers are the steady astronauts, clicking themselves into gloves and helmets, strapping themselves into sideways seats. Here are their great machines in all their detail and monumentality, the ROAR of rockets, and the silence of the Moon. Here is a story of adventure and discovery -- a story of leaving and returning during the summer of 1969, and a story of home, seen whole, from far away.

The Apollo 11 mission and many aspects surrounding it come to life in this beautifully illustrated picture book.

Right away on the book jacket, information surrounding the Apollo 11 mission begins with all sorts of technical explanations which are well described in easy to understand language. When the book itself begins, the work behind the mission is brought to light. Everything from the engineering to the sewing of the suits is presented. The lift-off brings along the wonder and excitement needed before the journey through space...and life in the capsule....is described. And that's only the beginning.

The text is perfect for ages four and up, allowing the atmosphere surrounding the Apollo 11 to come across clearly and understandably. show more The greater challenges are explained, but never in too much detail to grow boring, either. The author delivers broad concepts as well as lesser known details (such as moon dust) to keep the book lively and interesting.

The main treats, however, are the illustrations. Young listeners will dive into the mission with such detail, that they'll feel as if they're really joining in. Much love has gone into the pictures, and it's worth flipping through the book just to enjoy this aspect of it.

This is a great read, not only for young space fans, but for all ages. show less

Floca cleverly juxtaposes the full-colour tale of landing on the moon with single-toned flashbacks tracking the evolution of mankind’s obsession with the moon and the science of getting there.