I Am Neil Armstrong: Ordinary People Change the World
Science-rich picture bio tracks first "small step" on moon.
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that I Am Neil Armstrong is part of Brad Meltzer and Christopher Eliopoulos' Ordinary People Change the World series of picture book biographies. It takes its pint-sized subject from childhood on a farm (and a lot of hard work to finance his fondness for airplanes) to a career as an engineer and pilot in the military before becoming an astronaut and taking that memorable "one small step." There are strong messages not only about the importance of that first small step, but also of working hard and preparing yourself so that one step is a good one. Also learning from your mistakes. Teamwork and collaboration are big themes, as Armstrong is the first to point out that his memorable step would never have happened without the dedication, hard work, and lives of many others. Space-loving kids will appreciate the details about rockets, low-gravity environments, the astronauts' grueling training program, and the like.
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What's the Story?
The bright-eyed, pint-sized narrator of I AM NEIL ARMSTRONG grows up on a farm and fascinated by airplanes. Working a lot of hard, dirty jobs to pay for it all, young Neil goes from model airplanes to flying lessons, earning his pilot's license before his driver's license. A successful career (along with some harrowing near-death experiences) as an engineer and pilot in the military leads him to become an astronaut in the fledgling U.S. space program -- where his own hard work and that of many others all come together for "one small step" on the moon.
Is It Any Good?
In this '"Ordinary People" entry, Brad Meltzer and Christopher Eliopoulos do a great job of spotlighting the 1969 lunar landing through the eyes of its central figure. In the years between aviation-crazed farmboy childhood and first step on the moon, I Am Neil Armstrong's title character works hard, focuses on patience and problem-solving, and gives lots of credit to others along the way. In the process, there's a lot of detail about the science and technology of space travel, which will thrill some young readers but may bore others.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how space travel seems in I Am Neil Armstrong. Why do you think people want to go into space? Do you have any favorite stories about space travel?
Have you ever been in a situation where you were really scared, but instead of panicking you tried to stay calm and figure out a solution? What happened?
Have you ever worked on something that involved a whole lot of people working together to get it done? What was it? How did it turn out?
Book Details
- Author: Brad Meltzer
- Illustrator: Christopher Eliopoulos
- Genre: Biography
- Topics: STEM, Great Boy Role Models, History, Science and Nature, Space and Aliens
- Book type: Non-Fiction
- Publisher: Dial
- Publication date: September 11, 2018
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 5 - 8
- Number of pages: 40
- Available on: Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: September 25, 2020
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