Ellen Ochoa

Children's Literature - Cindy L. Carolan

How many children have answered, after being asked what they want to be when they grow up, that they want to be an astronaut? For Ellen Ochoa, the first female Hispanic-American NASA astronaut, it wasn't a life-long dream. However, through her scholastic achievements, her path unfailingly veered toward a career in space exploration. The book introduces readers to Ochoa through an examination of the Columbia tragedy, and a historical overview of space exploration. A biographical look at her life follows, each chapter peppered with photographs and fact boxes (covering topics such as famous physicists and their contributions to science, to the first women of NASA). It concludes with a chronology and timeline. Readers will come away from the book understanding that Ochoa emphasizes the importance of education for everyone and believes that anything is possible, regardless of one's ethnic background, gender, or color, for those who are dedicated and hard working. This book would make a valuable addition to a school or classroom library, and would be particularly useful in a biography unit or as part of multicultural studies. Part of the "Great Hispanic Heritage" series of books that includes such titles as Juan Ponce de Leon, Isabel Allende, and Carlos Santana. Highly recommended.