Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11
Masterful retelling captures magic, mystery of moon mission.
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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 Moonshot, by Caldecott Medal-winner Brian Floca (Locomotive) focuses on the awe-inspiring momentousness of the Apollo 11 mission. Told in captivating free verse and illustrating in amazing detail, it's an exciting, engaging read for kids and adults alike.
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What's the Story?
The historic Apollo 11 mission is retold in free verse from the morning of the launch to the splashdown a week later, with perspectives of what’s happening in space and on Earth.
Is It Any Good?
Author-illustrator Brian Floca combines gripping narrative with a wealth of detail to deliver a beautifully poetic treatment of Apollo 11. Space and history buffs will find much to sink their teeth into, and anyone who likes a good story will find this compelling. Floca brings alive the electric excitement of 1969 with fluid text and illustrations -- such as a father sinking into his armchair in relief as his family cheers during coverage of the Eagle landing on TV. His phrasing is wonderful. Armstrong reports the landing “calm as a man who just parked a car”; the rocket "rides a flapping, cracking flame"; the astronauts on the moon gaze toward "family, friends, and strangers, everyone you've ever known, everyone you might -- the good and lonely Earth, glowing in the sky."
Finely detailed artwork captures both the spectacular magnitude of the event, from liftoff to landing, and the fine details curious kids may spend hours exploring. The inside covers offer more to explore: In front, Floca provides a visual explanation of how Apollo 11 operated; in back, a detailed narrative of the event. This would be a treat to read with adults who remember Apollo 11.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what the astronauts may have been feeling as they looked at the Earth from the moon. What might they have been thinking about? What might they have felt?
What about their families and friends back on Earth?
Book Details
- Author: Brian Floca
- Illustrator: Brian Floca
- Genre: History
- Book type: Non-Fiction
- Publisher: Atheneum
- Publication date: April 7, 2009
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 4 - 7
- Number of pages: 48
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
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