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.
Floca's rendition of Apollo 11's journey to the moon is as poetic as it is historically resonant. The first page offers a quiet meditation: "High above/ there is the Moon,/ cold and quiet,/ no air, no life,/ but glowing in the sky," followed by the astronauts preparing for the voyage and then a dramatic liftoff ("The rocket is released!"). Once in space, the lunar module, Eagle-"a stranger ship, more bug than bird,/ a black and gold and folded spider"-locks onto the Columbia. The subdued illustrations hold an undercurrent of emotion (as a family hears the report that the Eagle has landed safely, the father wipes his eyes with awe and relief). A stirring depiction of a momentous event. Ages 4-7. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr 2-5
Large in trim size as well as topic, this stirring account retraces Apollo 11 's historic mission in brief but precise detail, and also brilliantly captures the mighty scope and drama of the achievement. Rendered in delicate lines and subtly modulated watercolors, the eye-filling illustrations allow viewers to follow the three astronauts as they lumber aboard their spacecraft for the blastoff and ensuing weeklong journey ("...there's no fresh air outside the window;/after a week this small home will not smell so good./This is not why anyone/wants to be an astronaut"). They split up so that two can make their famous sortie, and then reunite for the return to "the good and lonely Earth,/glowing in the sky." Floca enhances his brief, poetic main text with an opening spread that illustrates each component of Apollo 11 , and a lucid closing summary of the entire Apollo program that, among other enlightening facts, includes a comment from Neil Armstrong about what he said versus what he meant to say when he stepped onto the lunar surface. Consider this commemoration of the first Moon landing's 40th anniversary as a spectacular alternative for younger readers to Catherine Thimmesh's Team Moon (Houghton, 2006).-John Peters, New York Public Library
Anonymous
Posted June 29, 2009
This book, written in blank verse and beautifully illustrated, takes young readers up, up and away to man's first step on the moon. Even though the story is already well known, the author manages to invoke a full spectrum of emotions - elation, worry, triumph and joy. I heartily recommend MOONSHOT for aspiring astronauts of both sexes and, frankly, for children of all ages. I enjoyed reading this as much as my three grandchildren, ages 8,6 and 4, enjoyed listening to it. At age eight my granddaughter can read it by herself, her six year old brother with some help. Everyone, however, loved it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted October 10, 2011
Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11 by Brian Floca is a very informational picture book. The details of the book were great along with the pictures. This book would be great to use for a lesson with space or astronomy because the information is so detailed and factual in the book. The pictures in the book give as much detail the text in the book. I think this book would be great to tie in with a lesson and I would most certainly use it in my classroom.
I liked the details of the book and how much information the book gave. All the text was very informational and there was a lot of it. I think that if I were to use a nonfiction trade book in my classroom I would want it to contain as much valuable information as possible. This nonfiction book did include a ton of information and it was on a subject I enjoy very much.
bc3301
adb3301
Posted October 10, 2011
"3.2.1.ZERO.LIFTOFF!" The excitement and anticipation one has when there is a countdown is reflective of this wonderful account of the flight of Apollo 11's mission to the moon told by Brian Floca's "Moonshot The Flight of Apollo 11." This book is not only ideal for young children but for all ages. It's brief yet informative, with each page you're learning about the process and/or experiences of the mission.
The water color illustrations are vivid and detailed. It was fun to study the pictures. I read it a few times and every time I found something new. For young kids that can't read looking at the pictures tells the process and story of the mission without the text. This book will be a treasure and a tool that I hope to share with the young kids in my life.
adb3301
Anonymous
Posted December 18, 2010
No text was provided for this review.
Overview
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, ...