Common Sense Media Review
By Lucinda Dyer
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Brilliantly told and illustrated story of the epic moonshot.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
HOW WE GOT TO THE MOON begins with the first space flights in the late 1950s and early '60s (with men, a Russian women, a chimp, and dogs aboard) and the U.S.'s Mercury and Gemini space programs. The following chapters ("Designing a Rocket," "Building a Launch Vehicle," "Building a Spacecraft," "Staying Alive in Space," "Support on the Ground," and "We Choose to Go the the Moon") are filled with boldly colored illustrations and detailed diagrams: how the F-1 engine of the rocket worked, the auxiliary propulsion system, the design of the Saturn V rocket, the three-layered Apollo Spacesuit and the heat shield, even how to go to the bathroom in space. Detailed drawings take readers inside the Lunar Module, the Command Module Control Panel, and the Vehicle Assembly Building. The "We Choose to Go to the Moon" chapter features actual countdown sequences for the launch, liftoff, journey to the Moon, landing, and return to Earth. Readers will also see some of the problems faced by the team and the solutions they found: Not enough power on board to last for the eight days of the mission? Use full cells. Does the Lunar Module weigh too much? Simple, take out the seats for the astronauts.
Is It Any Good?
This thrilling, information-packed scientific adventure story is brought vividly to life through pages filled with detailed and boldly colored drawings and diagrams. How We Got to the Moon isn't just for aspiring young scientists, the story is captivatingly told and the profiles of the men and women who worked on the moon landing are sure to inspire any young reader looking for role models with the determination and vision to imagine great things.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the NASA team in How We Got to the Moon looked at big problems as challenges to be solved, not roadblocks. What's been the biggest or most difficult problem you've had to solve? How did you get past its "roadblock"?
The scientists and mathematicians who worked on the moon landing didn't have computers, so they used slide rules and 40-pound electromechanical calculators. How would your life change if you could no longer use a computer (and that includes your phones and tablets)?
Is there somewhere (far far away or close to home) you'd like to explore? What would you want to learn and experience while you were there?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Science
- Topics : STEM , Adventures , History
- Book type : Non-Fiction
- Publisher : Crown Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : October 6, 2020
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 10 - 16
- Number of pages : 256
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : ALA Best and Notable Books
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate