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Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11
Brian Floca explores Apollo 11’s famed moon landing with this newly expanded edition of Moonshot!
Simply told, grandly shown, and now with eight additional pages of brand-new art and more in-depth information about the historic moon landing, here is the flight of Apollo 11. Here for a new generation of readers and explorers are the steady astronauts clicking themselves into gloves and helmets, strapping themselves into sideways seats. Here are their great machines in all their detail and monumentality, the ROAR of rockets, and the silence of the Moon. Here is a story of adventure and discovery—a story of leaving and returning during the summer of 1969, and a story of home, seen whole, from far away.
Simply told, grandly shown, and now with eight additional pages of brand-new art and more in-depth information about the historic moon landing, here is the flight of Apollo 11. Here for a new generation of readers and explorers are the steady astronauts clicking themselves into gloves and helmets, strapping themselves into sideways seats. Here are their great machines in all their detail and monumentality, the ROAR of rockets, and the silence of the Moon. Here is a story of adventure and discovery—a story of leaving and returning during the summer of 1969, and a story of home, seen whole, from far away.
56 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 7, 2009
46 people are currently reading
2111 people want to read
About the author
Brian Floca
72 books113 followersBrian Floca is the author-illustrator of the Caldecott Medal winner Locomotive, the Robert F. Sibert Honor books Moonshot and Lightship, and other picture books, and is the illustrator of many more books for young readers. Brian Floca lives and works in Brooklyn.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 433 reviews
March 17, 2017
See this review and others at www.readrantrockandroll.com
Moonshot:The Flight of Apollo 11 by Brian Floca is the story of the first American manned moon landing, Apollo 11 in 1969. It's told in a simple manner and doesn't contain too many facts for young readers.
The illustrations are very detailed and the story is written in poetic form.
From Earth to moon and back again, it's the perfect book for young elementary readers.
For older kids, there's the more complicated story including facts and troubles they endured on their trip toward the end. In addition, the documentary/film "Moonshot" on DVD by The History Channel, is perfect for older kids and adults.
5*****
Moonshot:The Flight of Apollo 11 by Brian Floca is the story of the first American manned moon landing, Apollo 11 in 1969. It's told in a simple manner and doesn't contain too many facts for young readers.
The illustrations are very detailed and the story is written in poetic form.
From Earth to moon and back again, it's the perfect book for young elementary readers.
For older kids, there's the more complicated story including facts and troubles they endured on their trip toward the end. In addition, the documentary/film "Moonshot" on DVD by The History Channel, is perfect for older kids and adults.
5*****
July 4, 2009
I consider myself a person of at least average intelligence. I know how to hold down a job. To feed and clothe myself. And when it comes to historical events I tend to think that I know most of the pertinent details. Take the original moon landing of Apollo 11 as one such example. Sure, I knew that the folks on the ship were “Buzz” Aldrin, Michael Collins, and Neil Armstrong. I knew it was a flight filled with close calls and near catastrophes (thank YOU Team Moon by Catherine Thimmesh!). And I knew those guys got back. Slap your hands together, end of story. But I guess... I dunno. I hate to admit this but I don’t think I ever really had a great visual sense of how it all worked. Should I? Is that required of every fine upstanding American citizen? Maybe not, but how can you really get a sense of the moon landing if you don’t know what it looked like? To the rescue comes Brian Floca with Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11. Essentially Brian has written a book that works for every human being between the ages of 4 to 104 (sorry, 105-year-olds). Poetic, scientifically accurate, interesting, mesmerizing, you name it. The man has penned a little old masterpiece here, just in time for the 40th anniversary of the moon landing. You’ve lots of space flight picture books to choose from this year, but if I had to pick just one for my children’s library shelves, it would be this. A masterpiece of innovation (and the moon landing’s not to shabby either).
“We choose to go to the Moon,” said President Kennedy. So to the moon we went. With simple text, Brian Floca shows us the steps leading up to that first walk. Equipment is secured. The three astronauts have said goodbye. They lock into their seats, the countdown begins, and ROAR. They’re off. Covering everything from how astronauts eat and sleep, to other bodily functions, we finally see the men on the surface of the moon, considering the sky as the people at home cheer. Safely returned, the final shot is of a family who has watched it all on television, running beneath the moon, knowing that the heroes have returned, “To warmth, to light, to home at last.” Sources are listed on the title page. Endpapers illustrate the moon landing at the front of the book, and give additional information with words alone at the end.
We all know that Brian’s a phenomenal artist. No arguments there. Has he ever really gotten proper credit for his writing, though? The nice thing about this story is that at 48 pages, Floca has time to build the tale with simple words and quiet repetition. The very first thing you read when you open it up is “High above there is the Moon, cold and quiet, no air, no life, but glowing in the sky.” This phrase is repeated several times in the book, the strange foreign aspects of the moon countered by its comforting glow. Floca has taken time to give weight and meaning to this event. It's more than just a technical achievement. It's the fulfillment of a species' hopes and dreams.
His illustrations too capture the excitement of the event and, to a certain extent, the sheer vast loneliness of going there. In one shot we see Neil looking up at the sky in wonder. The next shot and you’re far behind the astronauts, but still on the surface of the moon. The sky is without stars and the earth hangs there, half in darkness. Says the text, “... high above there is the Earth, rushing oceans, racing clouds, swaying fields and forests. Family, friends, and strangers, everyone you’ve ever known, everyone you might – the good and lonely Earth, glowing in the sky.” I love that pairing there, that “everyone you’ve ever known, everyone you might.”
Let no one tell you that watercolors are dull. Admittedly Floca works with a variety of materials, including ink, acrylic, and gouache, but his watercolors are what you remember. On top of that, you remember his choices of how to portray various scenes. For example, early on there are dramatic shots of the liftoff, where the only thing seen is the rapidly disappearing shuttle, viewed only through the rockets. This view then peels back with another turn of the page, and you’re far away, watching a small rocket shooting up white-hot and yellow, dirty clouds billowing far beneath. Later the moon fills up an entire page (which in a book that's 11.8 inches by 10.6 inches is no mean feat) and we have the awe of seeing the rocket approach its sheer mass. Many of these shots are contrasted with images of a family back on the earth. This family actually plays a role in most of the book. They are featured on the title page, staring up into the sky (the dad looking suspiciously similar to the artist himself). They center the book. Ground it. Give you a sense that this isn’t some high-tech incident of the past, but a moment that all people could relate to and wonder at.
Consider too Floca’s use of white space. There’s a lot of it here, though when I close the book all I can remember are the shots that fill the pages. But at first, anyway, people do their work against a pure unpainted background. Earth, it seems, is where is there lurks white space. Space, on the other hand, is just a sea of black. The changeover really occurs when you get to the six panel two-page split of the countdown. I can suddenly see in this portion how you could read this section aloud with a child, ratcheting up the tension, until that moment the rocket is released and bursts into the sky. Yee-haw!
I was with some librarians the other day, and one of them happened to mention a particular non-fiction picture book pet peeve they have. We were considering a book (not this one) and we noticed that pertinent information was missing from the text, but then explained away in the very adult Afterword. My co-worker lamented this kind of lazy writing. If a non-fiction picture book doesn’t make sense on its own without the Afterword then it really isn’t a successful piece of writing. I tend to agree, particularly after reading Moonshot. The storyline inside makes sense without explanation. But Floca has added additional information on the endpapers for those kids (and, let’s face it, adults) who want to know a little more about the behind-the-scenes action. Mind you, you don’t need these endpapers to make sense of the book, but they add to the overall reading experience. Better still, Floca makes the front endpapers very visual, with pictures of how each of the segments of the Apollo broke off, reattached, broke off again, reattached, again, and generally brought the astronauts to and from the moon. The stuff I’ve never really comprehended has now been illustrated in such a way that even a five-year-old could understand. No mean feat.
Astronaut books for the younger set come and go, but this one’s definitely here to stay. Consider pairing it alongside Meghan McCarthy’s fabulous The Astronaut Handbook for yet another simply worded but well-researched peek into the far reaches of outer space. This is a book that can appeal to small fry, as well as older and more seemingly mature siblings. Visually breathtaking with a poetic turn of phrase, Moonshot elevates a moment in history that cannot be lauded enough. If nothing else it makes one thing inarguably clear: Boy, that moon landing was cool!
Ages 4 and up (and how many books can you say THAT for?)
“We choose to go to the Moon,” said President Kennedy. So to the moon we went. With simple text, Brian Floca shows us the steps leading up to that first walk. Equipment is secured. The three astronauts have said goodbye. They lock into their seats, the countdown begins, and ROAR. They’re off. Covering everything from how astronauts eat and sleep, to other bodily functions, we finally see the men on the surface of the moon, considering the sky as the people at home cheer. Safely returned, the final shot is of a family who has watched it all on television, running beneath the moon, knowing that the heroes have returned, “To warmth, to light, to home at last.” Sources are listed on the title page. Endpapers illustrate the moon landing at the front of the book, and give additional information with words alone at the end.
We all know that Brian’s a phenomenal artist. No arguments there. Has he ever really gotten proper credit for his writing, though? The nice thing about this story is that at 48 pages, Floca has time to build the tale with simple words and quiet repetition. The very first thing you read when you open it up is “High above there is the Moon, cold and quiet, no air, no life, but glowing in the sky.” This phrase is repeated several times in the book, the strange foreign aspects of the moon countered by its comforting glow. Floca has taken time to give weight and meaning to this event. It's more than just a technical achievement. It's the fulfillment of a species' hopes and dreams.
His illustrations too capture the excitement of the event and, to a certain extent, the sheer vast loneliness of going there. In one shot we see Neil looking up at the sky in wonder. The next shot and you’re far behind the astronauts, but still on the surface of the moon. The sky is without stars and the earth hangs there, half in darkness. Says the text, “... high above there is the Earth, rushing oceans, racing clouds, swaying fields and forests. Family, friends, and strangers, everyone you’ve ever known, everyone you might – the good and lonely Earth, glowing in the sky.” I love that pairing there, that “everyone you’ve ever known, everyone you might.”
Let no one tell you that watercolors are dull. Admittedly Floca works with a variety of materials, including ink, acrylic, and gouache, but his watercolors are what you remember. On top of that, you remember his choices of how to portray various scenes. For example, early on there are dramatic shots of the liftoff, where the only thing seen is the rapidly disappearing shuttle, viewed only through the rockets. This view then peels back with another turn of the page, and you’re far away, watching a small rocket shooting up white-hot and yellow, dirty clouds billowing far beneath. Later the moon fills up an entire page (which in a book that's 11.8 inches by 10.6 inches is no mean feat) and we have the awe of seeing the rocket approach its sheer mass. Many of these shots are contrasted with images of a family back on the earth. This family actually plays a role in most of the book. They are featured on the title page, staring up into the sky (the dad looking suspiciously similar to the artist himself). They center the book. Ground it. Give you a sense that this isn’t some high-tech incident of the past, but a moment that all people could relate to and wonder at.
Consider too Floca’s use of white space. There’s a lot of it here, though when I close the book all I can remember are the shots that fill the pages. But at first, anyway, people do their work against a pure unpainted background. Earth, it seems, is where is there lurks white space. Space, on the other hand, is just a sea of black. The changeover really occurs when you get to the six panel two-page split of the countdown. I can suddenly see in this portion how you could read this section aloud with a child, ratcheting up the tension, until that moment the rocket is released and bursts into the sky. Yee-haw!
I was with some librarians the other day, and one of them happened to mention a particular non-fiction picture book pet peeve they have. We were considering a book (not this one) and we noticed that pertinent information was missing from the text, but then explained away in the very adult Afterword. My co-worker lamented this kind of lazy writing. If a non-fiction picture book doesn’t make sense on its own without the Afterword then it really isn’t a successful piece of writing. I tend to agree, particularly after reading Moonshot. The storyline inside makes sense without explanation. But Floca has added additional information on the endpapers for those kids (and, let’s face it, adults) who want to know a little more about the behind-the-scenes action. Mind you, you don’t need these endpapers to make sense of the book, but they add to the overall reading experience. Better still, Floca makes the front endpapers very visual, with pictures of how each of the segments of the Apollo broke off, reattached, broke off again, reattached, again, and generally brought the astronauts to and from the moon. The stuff I’ve never really comprehended has now been illustrated in such a way that even a five-year-old could understand. No mean feat.
Astronaut books for the younger set come and go, but this one’s definitely here to stay. Consider pairing it alongside Meghan McCarthy’s fabulous The Astronaut Handbook for yet another simply worded but well-researched peek into the far reaches of outer space. This is a book that can appeal to small fry, as well as older and more seemingly mature siblings. Visually breathtaking with a poetic turn of phrase, Moonshot elevates a moment in history that cannot be lauded enough. If nothing else it makes one thing inarguably clear: Boy, that moon landing was cool!
Ages 4 and up (and how many books can you say THAT for?)
August 21, 2019
Chosen as one of the ten "Best Illustrated Children’s Books of 2009" by The New York Times, and recommended by The Horn Book Magazine, Brian Floca's picture-book treatment of the epic story of Apollo 11 - the NASA mission which landed the first human beings on the moon - had high standards to meet, if it was to live up to my expectations. I'm happy to say that it was everything promised! With a narrative that manages to be both concise and informative, and gorgeous artwork that grabs the reader's attention and never lets go, Moonshot: The Flight of the Apollo 11 is a book that young space-lovers will want to savor. The very size of the book - fairly large, even for a picture-book - works in its favor.
From the front endpapers, which give an outline of the technical story of Apollo 11, I found myself drawn in, and I enjoyed the ride! Floca - whose illustrations I had encountered before, in Avi's Tales of Dimwood Forest series - captures the color and warmth of earth, and the splendidly cold majesty of space, setting up a contrast that works very well throughout. Highly recommended to all young readers who dream of space!
From the front endpapers, which give an outline of the technical story of Apollo 11, I found myself drawn in, and I enjoyed the ride! Floca - whose illustrations I had encountered before, in Avi's Tales of Dimwood Forest series - captures the color and warmth of earth, and the splendidly cold majesty of space, setting up a contrast that works very well throughout. Highly recommended to all young readers who dream of space!
January 29, 2010
Outstanding!!! I admit that this languished on my shelf for several weeks before the impending library due date forced me to read it. I'd heard rave reviews, but I wasn't really grabbed by the illustrations and the text seemed a bit long. Wow, am I glad I decided to read it!!! Floca tells the story of Apollo "The Eagle Has Landed" 11 with such heart and an almost poetic style--I was captivated and moved. The illustrations almost seemed a bit too cartoonish for the style of the text--though the illustrations are engaging and fun, all the same. But, that is just a very small and picky observation that did not diminish my overall enjoyment of the book. There is a lengthy and engaging historical note in the back going into more details about the Apollo 11 mission and the space race in general, but really the text of the story does such a fine job covering all the important aspects. Highly, highly recommended!!!
April 23, 2009
If this book doesn't get a batch of awards then I will totally give up on my fellow librarians as a bunch of hopeless twits! I would give it 4 1/2 stars if I could, perhaps even 4 3/4 stars.
This is one of the BEST pieces of non-fiction for children I have seen in a while. The language is simple enough to read to a younger child, but has such a poetic feel that it will catch the attention of an older child who can read it on their own. There is plenty of information, but it's presented in a way that reads like any good adventure story. And the lines of the art are pleasing--not perfect photographic style images, but clean and clear.
All together, a terrific work. There will be a lot more books on Apollo 11 this year, but this is one that belongs in every library.
This is one of the BEST pieces of non-fiction for children I have seen in a while. The language is simple enough to read to a younger child, but has such a poetic feel that it will catch the attention of an older child who can read it on their own. There is plenty of information, but it's presented in a way that reads like any good adventure story. And the lines of the art are pleasing--not perfect photographic style images, but clean and clear.
All together, a terrific work. There will be a lot more books on Apollo 11 this year, but this is one that belongs in every library.
September 8, 2015
This is SUCH a lovely book! My daughter M (age not-quite-4) wanted a book about astronauts, so I helped her ask the librarian, and this is what the librarian recommended. It is perfect! The words are beautiful for reading aloud, the details of the artwork are incredible, and it does an amazing job of conveying the scope and scale and majesty and astoundingness of what we did in going to the moon. I actually tear up when I read the part about the people waiting at home, just imagining what that must've been like. It still boggles my mind in the best way that human beings have walked on a surface that wasn't Earth. So, my kid loves this book, but I do too. Well done, Brian Floca.
September 26, 2021
Read for my 365 Kids Book challenge. You can see all the books on their own shelf.
Floca does a great job grounding the story with a lot of details, but not detracting from the excitement and sense of adventure. There's a note in the front matter about what he updated, there's great references and a long narrative at the back. Without having seen the original I am nonetheless delighted that he took advantage of Hidden Figures and other more recent work to include some pictures of the women who worked on the mission in various capacities. In what is generally a really white male story, seeing women is good, and seeing women of color is important. It corrects the story and reminds us that we don't see more because NASA was one of the institutions perpetuating systemic racism and sexism.
Library copy
Floca does a great job grounding the story with a lot of details, but not detracting from the excitement and sense of adventure. There's a note in the front matter about what he updated, there's great references and a long narrative at the back. Without having seen the original I am nonetheless delighted that he took advantage of Hidden Figures and other more recent work to include some pictures of the women who worked on the mission in various capacities. In what is generally a really white male story, seeing women is good, and seeing women of color is important. It corrects the story and reminds us that we don't see more because NASA was one of the institutions perpetuating systemic racism and sexism.
Library copy
May 28, 2010
This book is impressive looking and it does a fabulous job of recreating the excitement of the first moon landing, especially if all the text is read. I loved all the details given at the start and at the end of the book. The details of the flight are so compelling and I think kids will be very interested.
I was 15; I remember watching on tv. I also remember Kennedy’s speech about his goal to get men (yes, back then it was only men) to the moon and back safely. (I was not as impressed as I should have been.) At the time, I didn’t know all the behind the scenes details, which this book does describe in a fascinating way.
Some of the illustrations are glorious, some less than stellar, but overall they did a terrific job helping tell about the events leading up to this one pivotal moment.
After all that, it was a surprising reminder that all the Apollo moon flights took place between 1969 and 1972. That was a long time ago! I know much has been done in the space program since them, but it’s kind of amazing all the moon trips took place in this very short span of time, especially considering the challenging preparations.
This is an excellent science book for kids. If children are particularly interested in the space program and/or in space, they’ll most likely be eager to read this. For some kids, I suspect this will be read as a school assignment, but most likely an enjoyable one.
I was 15; I remember watching on tv. I also remember Kennedy’s speech about his goal to get men (yes, back then it was only men) to the moon and back safely. (I was not as impressed as I should have been.) At the time, I didn’t know all the behind the scenes details, which this book does describe in a fascinating way.
Some of the illustrations are glorious, some less than stellar, but overall they did a terrific job helping tell about the events leading up to this one pivotal moment.
After all that, it was a surprising reminder that all the Apollo moon flights took place between 1969 and 1972. That was a long time ago! I know much has been done in the space program since them, but it’s kind of amazing all the moon trips took place in this very short span of time, especially considering the challenging preparations.
This is an excellent science book for kids. If children are particularly interested in the space program and/or in space, they’ll most likely be eager to read this. For some kids, I suspect this will be read as a school assignment, but most likely an enjoyable one.
April 15, 2011
In Moonshot, Brian Floca has written and illustrated an extremely well-done account of the first moon landing for younger students. The story is simplified, but not so much that the emotional impact is lessened or any vital details skipped over. There is actually an amazing amount of detail given in the simple text. The illustrations add an extra layer of detail while at the same bring some humor and intensity to the story. I learned a lot just studying the diagrams, illustrations, and information given on the front endpapers! This definitely deserves its Sibert Honor award.
Pair this with Robert Burleigh's One Giant Leap for another look at the first moon landing geared at young students. For older students, Catherine Thimmesh's Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon will give quite a lot more detail and information on this same subject.
Pair this with Robert Burleigh's One Giant Leap for another look at the first moon landing geared at young students. For older students, Catherine Thimmesh's Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon will give quite a lot more detail and information on this same subject.
February 13, 2017
No wonder this was a Siebert Medal honor book! Floca manages to make you feel, with both words and pictures, as if you're right there the day Apollo 11 lifted off for the moon. Reading this, it amazes me that we were able to get people to the moon and back, given the huge distance they had to traverse in such a relatively tiny spacecraft. I kind of miss thoses days, when we looked up to the moon knowing that astronauts were up there. It made the problems here on earth look so insignificant for a while. I liked Floca's detailed drawings, and especially the fact that he mentions that from the moon you can't see stars because of the reflected light from the moon's surface. I wish everyone could get a chance to go out into space an look back on earth from that perspective. Maybe some day...
November 4, 2010
This was a very fun book to read with my son. The illustrations immediately grab your attention they are light hearted and warm at the same time. Floca presents a lot of information but seems to balance it with very detailed drawings that keep the child entertained as you are reading. The front inside and back cover provide some wonderful illustrations and notes on the stages of a launch and lunar insertion and liftoff. Overall, a wonderful book and highly recommend it.
September 15, 2009
Of all the books published about the moon landing this year, this is unquestionably the best for younger readers. Floca’s gloriously illustrated, stirring account retraces Apollo 11’s historic mission in brief but precise detail, and also brilliantly captures the mighty scope and drama of the achievement. Intelligent and stunning.
July 8, 2019
I still think this should have been noticed by Caldecott.
April 13, 2018
I absolutely loved this book! I have always been fascinated by the story of Apollo 11 because my Grandfather actually worked very closely with Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins. My Grandpa worked at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida and he announced the countdown for the launch of Apollo 11. In the book, there is a full spread that goes through the countdown and has illustrations that describe what is happening with the rocket. I might have some bias, but it was my favorite part because it illustrated perfectly the stories that my Grandpa told me when I was younger.
Besides the personal connection I have with the book, I really did enjoy the illustrations and the use of text to tell a story. The author did an excellent job of turning information and a piece of history into an engaging story for young readers. The book has won several awards for its illustrations and even Michael Collins himself said it made him feel like he was back in space. I also liked how accurate the descriptions were, the author describes zero gravity and how everything floats but he made it funny and interesting instead of just using boring scientific definitons.
This book would be perfect for students in 2nd grade and even 5th grade, it is very versatile. It can be used to tell a story or to teach about Apollo 11. This book is still relevant because there is still so much that is undiscovered about space but this was a huge milestone for Americans and it is something that should be celebrated and appreciated. This book can be used in science, history, or language arts and it is a great informational text to have in a personal library. It leaves the reader with a warm happy feeling because all the astronauts returned home safely. After the story ends, the back of the book contains a detailed, more in-depth retelling of the events that occurred during the Apollo Mission which provides more information to readers who want to learn more about it.
Besides the personal connection I have with the book, I really did enjoy the illustrations and the use of text to tell a story. The author did an excellent job of turning information and a piece of history into an engaging story for young readers. The book has won several awards for its illustrations and even Michael Collins himself said it made him feel like he was back in space. I also liked how accurate the descriptions were, the author describes zero gravity and how everything floats but he made it funny and interesting instead of just using boring scientific definitons.
This book would be perfect for students in 2nd grade and even 5th grade, it is very versatile. It can be used to tell a story or to teach about Apollo 11. This book is still relevant because there is still so much that is undiscovered about space but this was a huge milestone for Americans and it is something that should be celebrated and appreciated. This book can be used in science, history, or language arts and it is a great informational text to have in a personal library. It leaves the reader with a warm happy feeling because all the astronauts returned home safely. After the story ends, the back of the book contains a detailed, more in-depth retelling of the events that occurred during the Apollo Mission which provides more information to readers who want to learn more about it.
February 28, 2020
Beautiful, educational and well written. I checked it out for my space science class but I enjoyed reading it myself! I thought I knew everything there was to know about the moon landing and this book proved me wrong! I learned so much from this gorgeous book.
May 10, 2021
This illustrated book about Apollo 11 is masterfully done and enjoyable to read. I loved the detailed illustrations and simple story. It really was a complex, amazing adventure to get men on the moon and I feel like this book portrayed that perfectly.
November 10, 2022
My boys (age 5 and 3) loved this book. The illustrations are top notch, and my 3 year old would often sit and page through the book to look at the pictures. I found it incredibly informative, and is a great resource for curious kids that want to learn more about the Apollo 11 moon landing. It’s on the longer side, so just know your child’s book reading stamina and interest in the subject before reading. 😉
June 26, 2019
I read the 2019 expanded edition. I appreciate that Brian Floca updated the language and images to be more inclusive of the diversity of people who worked on Apollo 11. A beautiful book.
October 25, 2019
This edition of “Moonshot,” expanded for the fiftieth anniversary of the first moon landing, simply tells a new generation of readers the story of Apollo 11 and the men who made the first footprints on the lunar surface. Lavish illustrations accompany the inspiring narrative that is certain to keep the dream alive for those that will make new pilgrimages to the moon and beyond.
This Robert F. Sibert honor book received a best-illustrated children’s book award from the New York Times Book Review.
Highly recommended.
This Robert F. Sibert honor book received a best-illustrated children’s book award from the New York Times Book Review.
Highly recommended.
August 19, 2020
I love the way this was written.
April 27, 2021
Wonderful illustrations
June 10, 2019
I loved this picture book that tells the story of Apollo 11. Definitely a keeper.
May 7, 2018
Perfect book for a five year old or older about the first moon landing.
February 22, 2021
I loved all of the books that I read this week but this was in my top 3. I really like the illustrations that Floca incorporated into the book. There is a set of pages that are centered around the takeoff of a "spaceship", and just the art itself really tries to place the reader right there in the moment. Throughout the book, Floca continues to try to do this or at least wants the reader to be able to imagine being there. But most of all you learn so much about not just space, but about a really big moment in history. I could see myself reading this book to a class because the execution was great to me. Books that are informational or educate the reader about something may not always seem the most interesting, but with this book's artistic and literary merit you could have fooled me!
November 9, 2022
Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11 by Brian Floca is an informative picture book about the story of the NASA mission that safely landed humans on the moon for the first time. The primary genre of this book is informational/ non-fiction. One of my main reflections from this book was how helpful it could be used for teaching children about the Apollo 11 mission. One characteristic of this book that makes it a high quality book is how engaging the author writing style and illustrations were. The information was presented in a very inviting way and I can see readers of all ages enjoying and learning from this book. The book was equally comprehensive and informative. Another reflection that I had about the book was how the illustrations and fun language could really aid younger readers into becoming engaged in this story. This book was a WOW book for me because of all of these characteristics I just listed.
Some of the literary craft that was used in this book that also made it so high quality was the strong use of narrative elements such as setting, foreshadowing, and characterization. The setting was very clearly described and pictures, from when they astronauts were on earth, when they were in the space shuttle, and when they were on the moon. He also used repetition a few different times, and it added a lot to the story. The opening line of the story -"High above there is the Moon, cold and quiet, no air, no life, but glowing in the sky." was repeated several time's throughout the book.
One thing that is not really involved in this book a vast amount of diversity- but this is not really Floca's fault. At the time, NASA was run very predominantly by white men. Another thing to mention is that because this book is an informative non-fiction, the book revolves more around the actual moon landing than it does the people involved. There are only three "characters" mentioned throughout the entire book- the three astronauts. This book focused on the workings of the moon landing, and what a triumph it was.
Some of the literary craft that was used in this book that also made it so high quality was the strong use of narrative elements such as setting, foreshadowing, and characterization. The setting was very clearly described and pictures, from when they astronauts were on earth, when they were in the space shuttle, and when they were on the moon. He also used repetition a few different times, and it added a lot to the story. The opening line of the story -"High above there is the Moon, cold and quiet, no air, no life, but glowing in the sky." was repeated several time's throughout the book.
One thing that is not really involved in this book a vast amount of diversity- but this is not really Floca's fault. At the time, NASA was run very predominantly by white men. Another thing to mention is that because this book is an informative non-fiction, the book revolves more around the actual moon landing than it does the people involved. There are only three "characters" mentioned throughout the entire book- the three astronauts. This book focused on the workings of the moon landing, and what a triumph it was.
December 12, 2019
This has a lot more information than it appears from the cover! Hold on! You will have some information about Apollo 11 that you did not know when you get done. A great primer for a kid who only knows a little about the mission, too. Enough info here to get them through their 4th grade CSA.
April 14, 2013
Picture Book- Non-Fiction
Published April 7th 2009 by Atheneum/Richard Jackson Books
ISBN: 141695046X (ISBN13: 9781416950462)
Ages 4-7
Summary:
The story of Apollo 11, its crew, and the world that watched it happen--the first moon landing in 1969.
Uses:
Great Read aloud text for the following unit studies:
-Space
-Transportation
-Sequencing
-Explorers/Biographies
-Free-verse poetry
-US History- Kennedy, Nixon
-Author's website( http://www.brianfloca.com/Moonshot.html) has coloring pages, links to book trailer, teachingbooks.net, and recommends Moon Guide apps, and more
Strengths:
-Very complex space shuttle hardware explained simply
-Sequence of shuttle phases visually illustrated
-Visual dictionary of hardware
-Historical explanation of Kennedy's declaration that the US would be the first to put a man on the moon.
-Excitement of event palpable-- great historical perspective
-Exemplar text
-Stunning illustrations-often looking into the mysterious void
-Light humor speaks to logistics of being in anti-gravity "it takes some skill to use the toilet/(it takes pipes and hoses and bags).
Weaknesses:
-Historical notes at end mostly for adults.
Literary Awards
Cybils Award Nominee for Nonfiction Picture Books (2009), Sibert Honor (2010), An ALA Notable Children's Book for All Ages (2010), Children's Choice Book Award Nominee for Fifth Grade to Sixth Grade Book of the Year (2010), Flora Stieglitz Straus Award (2010)
Read-Alikes;
One Giant Leap
If You Decide To Go To The Moon
The Racecar Alphabet
Published April 7th 2009 by Atheneum/Richard Jackson Books
ISBN: 141695046X (ISBN13: 9781416950462)
Ages 4-7
Summary:
The story of Apollo 11, its crew, and the world that watched it happen--the first moon landing in 1969.
Uses:
Great Read aloud text for the following unit studies:
-Space
-Transportation
-Sequencing
-Explorers/Biographies
-Free-verse poetry
-US History- Kennedy, Nixon
-Author's website( http://www.brianfloca.com/Moonshot.html) has coloring pages, links to book trailer, teachingbooks.net, and recommends Moon Guide apps, and more
Strengths:
-Very complex space shuttle hardware explained simply
-Sequence of shuttle phases visually illustrated
-Visual dictionary of hardware
-Historical explanation of Kennedy's declaration that the US would be the first to put a man on the moon.
-Excitement of event palpable-- great historical perspective
-Exemplar text
-Stunning illustrations-often looking into the mysterious void
-Light humor speaks to logistics of being in anti-gravity "it takes some skill to use the toilet/(it takes pipes and hoses and bags).
Weaknesses:
-Historical notes at end mostly for adults.
Literary Awards
Cybils Award Nominee for Nonfiction Picture Books (2009), Sibert Honor (2010), An ALA Notable Children's Book for All Ages (2010), Children's Choice Book Award Nominee for Fifth Grade to Sixth Grade Book of the Year (2010), Flora Stieglitz Straus Award (2010)
Read-Alikes;
One Giant Leap
If You Decide To Go To The Moon
The Racecar Alphabet
September 7, 2019
Sparse. The words and the illustrations were not giant trumpets telling the story of Apollo 11, but a quiet melody detailing the grandeur, seemingly impossibility and exhausting work that went into this flight and landing on the moon. The simple details of this book moved me to tears imagining the voyage that the 3 astronauts took, and the world took alongside them.
October 2, 2015
My love for the space program and the early missions of Mercury, Gemini and Apollo led me right to this book!! Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11 tells the story of three brave men, Michael Collins, Edwin Aldrin and Neil Armstrong, and their journey into space to be the first men to set foot on the moon in 1969. Through detailed illustrations, diagrams and timelines, we feel as though we are right there with the astronauts on their mission to the moon. From the mission control countdown to the splash down of the spacecraft in the ocean, we experience each moment in full color. The illustration of the Lunar Lander and the family cheering in front of the television set as Neil Armstrong says the famous words “Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed” is one to be cherished. This is such an important time in American history and this nonfiction picture book will be one I use in my classroom year after year.
Brian Floca won several awards for this book, including the New York Times 10 Best Illustrated Children’s Book Award. He includes the famous quote by John F. Kennedy in 1961, “We chose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.” This is the quote that sparked the whole idea of American’s reaching the moon and the catalyst for the Apollo program. I would recommend this book for grades K-4, but any age will enjoy learning about one of the most important space missions in our nation’s history. I think every teacher should have this book in their classroom collection!
Brian Floca won several awards for this book, including the New York Times 10 Best Illustrated Children’s Book Award. He includes the famous quote by John F. Kennedy in 1961, “We chose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.” This is the quote that sparked the whole idea of American’s reaching the moon and the catalyst for the Apollo program. I would recommend this book for grades K-4, but any age will enjoy learning about one of the most important space missions in our nation’s history. I think every teacher should have this book in their classroom collection!
January 31, 2013
As the 2010 Robert F. Sibert Honor Book, this picture book tells the story of Apollo 11. While the story of Apollo 11 is quite grand and detailed, this picture book does a phenomenal job of retelling this historic mission in a very simplistic way, one in which younger students would be apt to understand. Key vocabulary such as the astronauts' names (Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin), spaceships' names (Columbia and Eagle), launch control jargon (Go for launch), etc are all used and described throughout the story.
The water color pictures are by far the most amazing feature of the story--at times they tell the story better than the print. Each picture has great detail and attractive color that draws the reader's eye across the page.
I would use this book to educate students about space travel, the astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin, and obviously about this flight, Apollo 11. This story could be used for a variety of age groups, however would require significant scaffolding for beginning readers (however the pictures would be an excellent print feature to aid and develop beginning readers' print skills).
My only complaint is that this book is (at times) a bit wordy. I understand that the intent of the book is to inform readers about Apollo 11--which therefore requires print, however, the amount of words on certain pages seems a little overwhelming.
The water color pictures are by far the most amazing feature of the story--at times they tell the story better than the print. Each picture has great detail and attractive color that draws the reader's eye across the page.
I would use this book to educate students about space travel, the astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin, and obviously about this flight, Apollo 11. This story could be used for a variety of age groups, however would require significant scaffolding for beginning readers (however the pictures would be an excellent print feature to aid and develop beginning readers' print skills).
My only complaint is that this book is (at times) a bit wordy. I understand that the intent of the book is to inform readers about Apollo 11--which therefore requires print, however, the amount of words on certain pages seems a little overwhelming.
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