Astronauts

Children's Literature - Lois Rubin Gross

It may be a stretch to think of astronauts as "community helpers" in the same sense that a baker or a librarian might be, but this book makes that leap with positive results. In the most basic terms, tots are told what astronauts do, how they dress, how they eat, who helps them, and what schooling is required to follow this career. Accompanying photos of astronauts at work include at least one woman (who happens to be black) and several African American men. A small glossary, bibliography, and web links are included, as well as a simple experiment that children can perform to simulate drinking in outer space. The other books in this series feature more mundane careers, the type of workers that a child will actually encounter in his daily life. However, for the child who has very early ambitions to break the boundaries of earth, this is an easy introduction to the pioneers of space. Part of the "Community Helpers" series.