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Spacecare: A Kid's Guide to Surviving Space

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An out-of-this-world exploration of health and how scientists care for astronauts while they are in space.

82 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 18, 2023

6 people want to read

About the author

Jennifer Swanson

73 books38 followers
Science Rocks! And so do Jennifer Swanson’s books. She is the award-winning author of over 45 nonfiction books for children. Using her background in science and history that she received from the U.S. Naval Academy, and her M.S. in Education, Jennifer excels at taking complex facts and making them accessible, compelling, and humorous for young readers, Jennifer's passion for science resonates in in all her books but especially, Astronaut-Aquanaut: How Space Science and Sea Science Interact and BEASTLY BIONICS which both received Florida Book Awards and NSTA BEST STEM book awards. Her Save the Crash-test Dummies book received an NSTA BEST STEM Award and a Parent’s Choice GOLD Award. Jennifer has been a featured speaker at the Tucson Book Festival, National NSTA conferences, the Highlights Foundation, the World Science Festival (twice), the Atlanta Science Festival (twice) and the Library of Congress’ National Book Festival in 2019. You can find Jennifer through her website www.JenniferSwansonBooks.com.

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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
Profile Image for Cover Lover Book Review.
1,490 reviews86 followers
July 30, 2023
Spacecare carries a lot of nostalgia for me because my brother and I were fascinated with anything to do with space or the moon when we were young. Perhaps because we were part of the space exploration era, when rockets, astronauts, and traveling to the moon were part of our everyday life.

How fun this informational survival guide for space would have been in my youth! Even now as an adult, I find it all fascinating and miraculous that humans still explore and survive space travel!

This book is the result of a collaboration between experts at Mayo Clinic and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (which I visited when I was a teen!) so the information is not only fascinating, but accurate and trusted.

From how space travel affects human health, to spacewalks, accidents, and gardening (and more) Spacecare has a wealth of information for young readers with an adventurous mind! It’s truly out-of-this-world!


First Line: On Earth, humans typically have a place the call home.
Genre: Children’s Astronomy
Author: Jennifer Swanson
Page Count: 80
Reading Age: 8-12

#CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions are 100% mine.
Profile Image for Kid's Picture Book  Review.
412 reviews26 followers
August 9, 2023
"Spacecare: A Kid's Guide to Surviving Space" by Jennifer Swanson is an engaging and informative book that delves into the intriguing world of space exploration and the fascinating connection between space and human health. With insights from real astronauts and captivating NASA images, this book takes young readers on an enthralling journey through the unique challenges and innovations of space medicine.

The book addresses the curious questions that often pop up in the minds of young space enthusiasts. Have you ever wondered how astronauts manage to stay healthy in the harsh environment of space? What happens if an astronaut falls ill while aboard the space station? Do everyday bodily functions like sneezing and running noses behave the same way in space? "Spacecare" answers these inquiries and more, making it a perfect read for kids who dream of venturing beyond Earth's boundaries.

One of the book's highlights is its exploration of the effects of microgravity on the human body. Readers discover how prolonged exposure to space alters the way our bodies function, from muscles and bones to the cardiovascular system. Through vivid descriptions and captivating imagery, the book uncovers the mysteries of how space impacts the human body and the measures that scientists and physicians take to ensure astronaut well-being.

The book also provides an insider's look into the day-to-day experiences of astronauts living aboard the International Space Station (ISS). From the intricacies of using space toilets to the challenges of sleeping in microgravity, young readers gain insight into the realities of life beyond our planet. Additionally, "Spacecare" introduces the concept of space gardens, showcasing how astronauts cultivate plants in the unique environment of space.

Intriguingly, the book explores unexpected aspects of space exploration, such as the presence of squids in space. These fascinating details contribute to the book's engaging narrative, keeping young readers captivated and eager to learn more.

"Spacecare: A Kid's Guide to Surviving Space" is a compelling resource that not only nurtures young space enthusiasts' curiosity but also imparts valuable knowledge about space, health, and the wonders of scientific exploration. With its interactive approach and authoritative insights from real astronauts, this book offers an educational and exciting adventure into the realm of space exploration.
Profile Image for Literary Titan.
750 reviews85 followers
October 29, 2023
There is so much about the wide, wonderful world above us, its endless fields filled with stars, its vast expanses as yet untouched by humankind--a fascinating untold mystery. One of the questions many of us may ask is, "How does the human body respond to a space environment?" In this comprehensive and colorful guide, decades of data on human adaptation to a microgravity environment are shared with the reader in an engaging journey through the medical science of space. With records from real astronauts, hard data from the Mayo Clinic, and information from the Smithsonian Institute, this educational guide is a snapshot of life aboard the International Space Station and the effects of space travel on human physiology.

Spacecare: A Kid’s Guide to Surviving Space, by Jennifer Swanson, is no science-fiction tale. Instead, it is an insider’s guide to life aboard the International Space Station. With full-color photographs and numerous side panels filled to the brim with interesting and relevant facts, readers are pulled into this world of real scientific study that seems to beckon readers to venture out into the unknown.

It was Lord Byron who once wrote, “Truth is stranger than fiction.” This statement holds true for this book, where the reader learns facts that seem far beyond the realm of possibility. One such fact is the sheer speed of the space station, which hurtles through the abyss at over 17,000 MPH every single day. Other facts are surprising in a much different way, where avid science fiction fans must remember that some aspects of space travel, such as artificial gravity, have yet to be invented. Taken together, this engaging guide showcases the magic and mystery of the space environment, whose secrets have only just begun to be revealed to the human race.

Spacecare: A Kid’s Guide to Surviving Space is highly recommended for educators and parents who want to find scientifically reliable guides for their children about space. With the STEM movement rising to the forefront of education, no library should be without this comprehensive guide to human physiology in space. Earning five out of five stars for relevant information, high educational value, and engaging format, this incredible guide to space is a great fit for readers of all ages who wish to learn more about the world outside our atmosphere.
Profile Image for Amorina Carlton.
Author 2 books38 followers
July 19, 2023
This is an excellent, simple, scientific book that will help explain space life to kids and help get them engaged in the subject.

Who doesn't know a kid that loves space or who has wanted to be an astronaut at some point. The whole space race has changed drastically since I was a kid. It's not impossible, but the game is definitely different. This book goes into the biggest part of the space equation at the moment - the space station. It talks kids through the various changes that happen in people's bodies and other various questions they might have about the experience, like how do you use the toilet and what do you eat? It covers muscle loss, teeth brushing, and even throwing up.

The book strikes a great balance between educating and entertaining, which is important for this age group. If you can't keep them engaged, you're not going to keep them reading. But then that's any age group, right? I appreciate the somewhat gross subjects they cover, because that's how kids think. As an adult, I might not have wanted to know about various bodily fluids in space, but even little girls are curious. And let's be honest, a lot of adults are, too.

This is the kind of book that many adults who haven't done much exploration into space will probably enjoy reading and exploring with their children. It offers a lot of neat facts and will encourage an interest in science, which is always a plus. We need more kids interested in STEM fields, however we can get them. I really appreciate the author, the Mayo Clinic Press, and Love Book Tours including me on this tour. I look forward to seeing more books like this to help encourage an interest in STEM fields.

The book says it's for 8 to 12-year-olds and that feels about right. My 5-year-old was excited when we pulled it out of the package but it was incredibly too wordy for her. We did, however, simplify some of it by just reading some of the colorful pull out boxes and summarizing it, so you could adapt it for younger readers if you have a variety of ages in your household. Being homeschoolers, we enjoy having resources like this so that we can share them with friends and use them later when she's older.
Profile Image for Amanda.
191 reviews4 followers
July 25, 2023
“An out-of-this-world exploration of health”

Have you ever wondered what it’s really like to live in space or the effects that space has on the body? This nonfiction book is full of great information, incredible photographs and interesting Mayo Medi-facts which encourages good health and well being for the reader. It’s a great resource to help answer kids' questions about space. There are actual kids questions answered throughout the book by real astronauts. And the foreword is a note Astronaut Megan McArthur. How cool is that?

As a reading teacher, I can see many great nonfiction/informational text lessons that could be taught from this book even outside of the content…text features, text structure, academic vocabulary. I can also see this book becoming a favorite to read during independent reading. I love how the author activates the reader's background knowledge when explaining space experiences to something they may have experienced on Earth, helping the reader to relate and make connections to the astronauts and the book. However, there is a lot of text on some pages and at first glance could be overwhelming to some readers, but I think that since space and astronauts are a very “high interest” topic, along with the fascinating photographs, will capture their interest and encourage them to pick it up and begin reading it, which makes this teacher happy!

There are so many things we take for granted here on Earth and many things I’ve never thought about being an issue for an astronaut in space. This book is great for kids and adults. I learned so much from reading it and I know kids will love it, especially those who have an interest in space and astronauts.

This book was created through an incredible partnership between NASA, The Smithsonian and Mayo Clinic; and the proceeds from the sales benefit important medical research and education at Mayo Clinic.

Thank you to @lovebookstours for the gifted physical copy in exchange for an honest review.
9,160 reviews131 followers
August 27, 2023
A pretty distinctive young science book, showing us what life is like on the ISS – or what it will be like for a few more years, anyway. This covers everything from the mechanics of going to the loo, to the fact puffy-faced astronauts lose their sense of taste and so chilli sauce is in much higher demand than down here. More than once the creators liken life on the space station to a frattish slunber party – stale sweat, sleeping bags grabbed as and when, people holding out for their favourite food and always someone needing to work and have the lights on when someone else is trying to sleep. But it's only the worst kind of slumber party that can cause semi-permanent vision issues, and lead to extended radiation contact.

There is a bit of this that smacks of being a corporate production – there is copious evidence for this on the copyright page; links with something medical cause several semi-relevant medical box-outs, and connections with the Smithsonian allow them to have a small gallery of their astronautical displays. But I don't mind that too much if it gets a reasonable book out there, and this is looking at being quite unique, for I haven't seen a similar volume before. It rightly points out that many hours of work are scheduled into all the ISS residents' days, partly as they test each other for their own health and safety, but also as part of research to help us down here and for those Musk-rats due somewhen to try for Mars. So these guinea pigs are privileged yes, but very much pored over. And this doesn't glamourise anything, either, strictly sticking to the facts, in really quite beneficial ways. A strong four stars.
Profile Image for LoseYourselfInABook.
42 reviews3 followers
July 19, 2023
SPACECARE
This is a photo illustrated children’s science book about the wonders of space travel.
Children have so many questions about what it feels like to be in space - this book is for them!
The questions are from real kids, the answers are from real astronauts and the real photos are from NASA! What more could you ask for! This book is a fun, educated exploration of what happens to our bodies in space! 🚀🚀
This book is aimed at 8 - 12 year olds and fits the bill perfectly. The author @jenswanbooks is a self-professed science geek and writes beautifully for children. This book is a joy!

📕Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Megan McArthur, astronaut, describes us as “born explorers” - she describes in the first page, our fascination with space travel and the importance of discovering more about ourselves and our universe. Crucially, she also explains why it’s so important to care for our bodies and brains whilst in space.

So let’s get aboard the International Space Station! 🚀🚀🚀
Gravity and floating - sounds fun right? It is! But it’s not as straightforward as you think! What happens when we get sick in space? Are there doctors on the International Space Station (ISS)? Can you sneeze in space? What happens if you throw up in space? How do astronauts keep muscles strong? What’s for eats? What about a garden? All these questions and a lot more are answered - comprehensively.
The photos are stunning and you can feast on the view from space towards our beautiful planet earth 🌍
Profile Image for Angel.
553 reviews67 followers
December 25, 2023
Spacecare: A Kid's Guide to Surviving Space by Jennifer Swanson is an outstanding book full of factual, interesting information about living in the space station orbiting Earth. I learned so much listening to this! The format is a question is read from a child and then astronauts answer.

On the space station, microgravity causes fluid in thy body to pool at the center. This can cause stuffy noses and headaches. The heart changes to a round ball shape but will return to normal after landing.

The part that surprised me the most was the vision damage astronauts are likely to get. About 1/3 of the astronauts who go to space for less than 14 days will get some vision damage. If they are in space for 4-6 months, then 66% get long-term vision damage. Basically, fluid pushes on the optic nerve, makes it swell, and causes blurry vision. This is called Spaceflight Affected Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS). It may take months after returning to Earth for the eyes to return to normal.

The narrator, Andrea Emmes, did a great job presenting the information with clarity and excitement.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about life on the space station. Both kids and adults will find this interesting.

Thank you to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media, and the Mayo Clinic Press for giving me a copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for K.L. Bernard.
Author 1 book22 followers
August 13, 2023
According to Astronaut Megan McArthur being an astronaut is fun, although it is challenging. Astronauts live in a small space with several other people, they can’t open a window to let in a breeze and they don’t always get a chance to eat food like they would on earth. They risk a lot. But they do it because they want to explore.

Readers will learn about how space can affect the body. Astronauts can get blurred vision, muscle atrophy, headaches, and more. Being weightless is cool but it can make astronauts sick due to motion sickness. In space, astronauts face sixteen sunrises and sunsets. They have to learn new cues from their bodies so they can know when to sleep.

Space care is very important for an astronaut and so is their exploration. In this handy guide, readers will see amazing photos of astronauts in action. There are plenty of fun facts snippets regarding treatments, Mayo Clinic Medi facts, interesting questions from kids, and more.

Parents and teachers can use this book to answer questions and solve the riddles of what people are wondering about how astronauts handle living and exploration of space. The back pages have a glossary and resources for readers to learn more.
135 reviews3 followers
July 17, 2023
Any scientifically-minded young reader is simply going to love this children's book, especially those curious about space, astronauts and all the care that goes into living in a space station. I feel the information is well explained and at a relatable level for the young. Topics such as healthcare, space station cleaning (aka house cleaning), gardening, toilet business, pizza crumbs, muscles and more in the face of the lack of gravity and all the changes that effects are covered and great pictures and illustrations accompany enhancing greater understanding. I say it's a wonderful opportunity for gaining more knowledge of life in a space station, to give that out-of-earth experience many would love to have for real.

A 5-Star rating from me.

~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~

June 2023

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.

Profile Image for Kathy Temean.
1,609 reviews41 followers
Read
July 11, 2023
This is a very interesting book. Very cool that the Mayo Clinic Press and the Smithsonian Institution asked Jennifer Swanson to write this book, on Space Medicine. I rarely think about the effects of outer space on the human body, so it was fun to learn how NASA's research has developed things to help astronauts deal with the intense radiation generated from the sun. How they provide astronauts techniques to help them sleep and how they have constructed special machines on board the International Space Station to help the humans maintain muscle mass and fight musculoskeletal disease. 

I love the photos included with the text. They put the reader right inside the ISS. This is a book teachers will definitely want to use in their classrooms and many parents will want to buy for their child to spark interest in technology and outer space exploration. Adults will enjoy this book, too. Good luck with the book.
Profile Image for Sofia.
873 reviews22 followers
December 14, 2023
Lately I am having trouble in concentrating reading actual books (real life troubles), but I don’t have problems listening to audiobooks, and this particularly one caught my attention, you know what?! I scored many points with this one, is light, amusing and kids make so many interesting questions, if it was me I wouldn't have made as many or as interesting questions to astronauts.

This audiobook is a pearl, and a very interesting gift to give to kids and to tell the truth, to everyone that is interested in space, even my husband wants to listen to this audiobook and usually he doesn’t care for the books I review or the ones i talk about to him. I also did enjoy the person reading the book, she has a very young and nice voice, is like a loveable teacher.

I higly recommend this audibook, it was amusing, a quick read but worth of our time.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media, Mayo Clinic Press for the free AAC and this is my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Cristy Villemaire.
344 reviews30 followers
July 18, 2023
I feel like at least once in our lifetime, everyone would have loved to be an astronaut. When we grow up, we have all these burning questions as to how can mankind get to space. How do astronauts live, work, and everything in between.

Spacecare: A Kid's Guide to Surviving Space has us covered. This nonfiction book is written with so many amazing details as to how much we've learned from space. Especially all the hard work astronauts put in, in order for us to comprehend just how fascinating space is. The illustrations are fantastic and give you the sense of being there in the ISS (International Space Station). Readers will learn more in detail as to how they eat, sleep, work, and even use a bathroom. I absolutely loved the incorporation of kids' questions in the chapters. Highly recommend this book for all the curious readers out there.
Profile Image for Jane.
1,318 reviews47 followers
September 4, 2023
to read about how space affects the human body. The book is also sprinkled with questions asked by preteens and answered by astronauts. There are so many interesting facts in this book that I think preteens and teens will enjoy learning more about life in space. There are so many things to think about when you think about living in space. I can’t think of a single topic that isn’t addressed - hygiene items, exercise, medical needs, meals, gardening and more. Jennifer Swanson has written a well-researched book. Her writing style is one that will appeal to late elementary and middle school students.
Space Care would be a great addition to a K-12 Christian school library. Teachers may want to consider this for a classroom library or as a supplemental resource for a science unit.
I received a complimentary copy of Space Care. This is my honest review.
Profile Image for Sheri.
1,765 reviews55 followers
July 20, 2023
An excellent source of information about space and living in space. It has sections for younger children and sections for older children. Much of the information is dense in the page making perfect for older children. There are colored boxes with simple explanations and questions from real people that the astronauts answer. There are cool pictures from space and showing the equipment astronauts use. This is a book that can grow with a child and even as an adult I learned many things about living in space that I didn’t know. This is a wonderful resource for a school report or to simply enjoy reading. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in space and how being in space affects the body and how astronauts keep themselves healthy in space.
Profile Image for Shannon Grinnan.
62 reviews10 followers
March 28, 2023
This book is an excellent resource for kids who love to learn about space. I read thing with my two kiddos. They are a little younger than the target group for this book (I would guess around 10 years old) but they enjoyed the content. They loved the sections where astronauts answered questions submitted by kids
Profile Image for Río.
432 reviews1 follower
July 28, 2024
Succinct and informative, this book offers an engaging overview of the basics of how living in space can affect humans and ways we have adapted. I enjoyed the explanation of the technologies that have been created to help with life in space, as well as the descriptions of some of the experiments done on the ISS.
198 reviews
October 9, 2024
This was a great non-fiction breakdown of the day-to-day lives of astronauts in space, and the different considerations that scientists must make when determining the health and safety of humans in space. I learned a lot, and would definitely recommend this to anyone interested in space travel.
Profile Image for Belle.
809 reviews8 followers
August 15, 2023
Very interesting and informative with facts and photos. It would go well in an educational setting. The artwork on page 9 is absolutely breathtaking. For kids who have a love and curiosity for space life. From sleeping and pooping to space walks and gardens 👨‍🚀

*Temporary e-copy received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Lieke.
213 reviews
March 8, 2024
The audiobook is interesting, but I think this would be better for me on paper/ebook.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
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