Man Walks on the Moon

Children's Literature

Although this volume purportedly focuses on July 21, 1969, the day the Apollo 11 astronauts landed on the moon, the bulk of the text deals not with that historic day but with the events leading up to and following it. The real focus here is on the birth of the United States space program, and, more specifically, on the race with the Soviet Union to develop new space technologies. Two-page chapters on such topics as "Kennedy's Pledge" and "Early Space Missions" break up the history into manageable but sometimes too-short sections. Following brief coverage of the actual manned moon landing, the text glosses over the subsequent developments of the U.S. space program. Illustrations include color and black-and-white photographs of early space pioneers and space vehicles. A timeline leading through the end of the Apollo space program is included, as well as a list of people who have walked on the moon. A glossary and index are also appended. Part of the "Dates with History" series. 2004, Smart Apple Media, Ages 9 to 12.
— Norah Piehl