Astronauts & Space Flight, Astronomy

Look to the Stars

Name: Look to the Stars
Author: Buzz Aldrin
ISBN: 9780399247217

by Buzz Aldrin, Wendell Minor

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Overview

Buzz Aldrin takes readers on a journey through the history of space exploration.

As one of a handful of astronauts to have walked on the moon, Buzz Aldrin has a unique perspective of space. And he serves as an amazing guide as he introduces us to the pioneers of space. From Copernicus to the Wright brothers, from the Apollo program to dreams of future travel, he reminds us that mankind has always looked to the stars.

Buzz's informative, kid-friendly text is paired with beautifully detailed illustrations by renowned illustrator Wendell Minor, and offers the perfect introduction to everything space related, including the development of the first rockets, America's space race with Russia, details of all the Apollo missions, and the space station.

Aldrin and Minor collaborated on the bestselling Reaching for the Moon and now they reach beyond that book to give young readers a concise look at the whole history of space exploration. Each spread provides a wonderful jumping-off point for young readers, and will no doubt inspire them to look to the stars themselves.

Synopsis

Buzz Aldrin takes readers on a journey through the history of space exploration.

Publishers Weekly

Astronaut Aldrin and Minor (Reaching for the Moon) offer a second collaboration, tracing the history of flight from the Wright brothers through numerous NASA missions to envisioning a future in space. Paintings evoke the 1950s-1960s era, while Aldrin's text offers a compelling firsthand POV ("I had the privilege of being on board the final Gemini mission"). Additionally, quotations from Isaac Newton to President George W. Bush run across each page. A wealth of information as well as hints of whimsy-as a boy peers through the porthole of a spaceship, the text says: "One day your family may have some amazing vacation choices. Where will you go?"-will satisfy those captivated by space. Ages 6-8. (Apr.)

About the Author, Buzz Aldrin

On July 20, 1969, Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong made their historic Apollo 11 moon walk and became the first two humans to set foot on another world. This unprecedented heroic endeavor was witnessed by the largest worldwide television audience in history. Upon returning from the moon, Dr. Aldrin embarked on an international goodwill tour and was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, among more than fifty distinguished awards and medals from numerous countries.

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Editorials

Publishers Weekly

Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot

Buzz Aldrin was part of the first Moon landing and the second man to set foot on the Moon His story is one of single-minded achievement from a family that had a history of interest in aviation. His father was a pilot, and he owned signed pictures of the Wright brothers and Amelia Earhart. With the 40th anniversary of the Moon landing mission coming up, Buzz takes readers back into the past, to his own momentous mission, and then speculates on what the future holds. He starts his story with Copernicus and moves quickly through other great scientists like Galileo, Kepler, and Newton. Readers learn about the Wright brothers, Charles Lindberg, and most startling of all, the fact that only sixty-six years elapsed from the Wright brothers first successful flight to the landing on the Moon. Did you know that the astronauts took a piece of fabric from that first plane with them? Other scientists who worked on rocketry also made space flight possible. Sputnik was the gauntlet thrown down by the Soviet Union, and the United States raced to keep up and surpass what the Russians had done. The commitment was extensive and involved hundreds of thousands of people and the dedication of enormous resources as well as the establishment of NASA. Manned flight is traced from the Mercury missions to Gemini and the Apollo program—with the missions laid out on a spread that also includes a picture of the lunar module. Aldrin notes that the current focus is on living in space for longer periods of time, now that the space race has finally come to an end with the agreement to cooperate on building the International Space Station (ISS). The primary objective for the immediate future will be unmanned probeswhich will provide information for the eventual landing on the Moon and the establishing of a base there. Could a trip to Mars be next? Those seeking adventure can dream about being participants in these programs. Along the bottom of each of the pages are quotes from individuals who have had a powerful influence on the space program. Do not miss the Afterword or the timeline that recaps the history of man's interest in space from Copernicus forward. The closing page contains selected resources and a host of websites for curious minds. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

School Library Journal

Gr 2-4

The Apollo 11 astronaut follows up Reaching for the Moon (HarperCollins, 2005) with a quick overview of the past and near future of human space flight. Paired with Minor's clean-lined, realistically detailed scenes of significant aircraft, spacecraft, and high spots, his narrative opens with Galileo, closes with the rousing suggestion that the opportunity to venture into space lies just a tantalizing few years down the road for many young readers, and in between provides a fact-laced history, capped by a complete tally of Apollo missions and a look at planned expeditions to Mars. Aldrin adds a personal slant to his commentary-noting, for instance, that his aviator father was trained by Robert Goddard and was a friend of Charles Lindbergh. It distinguishes this survey from other titles that cover similar territory and should leave readers with a clearer sense of how the past connects with the future.-John Peters, New York Public Library

Kirkus Reviews

There's no doubt about Aldrin's passion for his subject nor his very specialized firsthand knowledge. And as always Minor's paintings are attractive and detailed. Still this follow-up to Reaching for the Moon (2005) feels like an unnecessary addendum rather than a useful and intriguing supplement. The author offers an overview of space exploration, beginning with the contributions of Copernicus, Galileo and Newton and segueing into the work of the Wright brothers, Edwin Hubble and Robert Goddard. Brief descriptions of various NASA missions follow. His personal commentary offers a unique twist, but the brevity of the presentation-a double-page spread for each topic, the first few featuring multiple individuals-may leave readers feeling confused and overwhelmed rather than enlightened. A timeline helps to sort out the sequence of events, and its thumbnail illustrations serve as a sort of visual index, but even here there appears to be too much information squeezed into too small a space. More inspirational than informational, this may please aspiring space explorers but has the potential to leave many listeners in the dark. (Nonfiction. 7-9)