Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Footprints on the Moon
Nonfiction Picture Book
For ages 8 to 10
Charlesbridge, 2001 ISBN: 978-1570914096
For as long as humans have been able to think, observe, and speculate, the moon has fascinated us. It enchants millions as it waxes and wanes and excited scientists have spend countless hours studying it through their telescopes. For centuries the moon always seemed so far away and then, at last, there came the day when scientists were ready to launch a rocket into space. Now the moon did not seem quite so hard to reach.
The journey began in 1961 when the Soviet astronaut, Yuri Gagarin, became the first person in space. In the years that followed astronauts ventured further and further into the unknown until that fateful day on July 20th, 1969 when man landed on the moon for the first time.
This is a wonderfully written account of man’s fascination with the moon and his long journey to visit and explore it. The photographs are spectacular and the author manages to great effect to capture the excitement that the world felt when Apollo 8 orbited the moon for the first time, and when Apollo 11 landed on the moon. The author also describes other journeys to the moon that were made in from 1969 to 1972 and discusses the ideas that some scientists have proposed for future moon projects.
At the back of the book the author includes a “Moon Exploration Time Line” and a list of further resources.
