In this exciting book, a former NASA astronaut inspires the next generation of space travelers with answers to all kids' questions on how people become astronauts, how they prepare for space travel, and what it's like to live and work in space.
A kid's guide to leaving the planet from someone who's done it! Former astronaut Terry Virts guides readers through the practical elements of becoming an astronaut, along with the wonders (and challenges!) of space travel. With insider information on training, piloting a ship, and working in space, readers and aspiring astronauts will be inspired to start their own journey to the stars. This practical guide is full of valuable wisdom and insight that will guide the astronaut candidates of tomorrow!
"The Astronaut's Guide to Leaving the Planet" is a nonfiction book aimed at young readers who dream of space travel. Written by a former NASA astronaut, it answers questions about what it takes to become an astronaut, the rigorous training involved, and what it's like to actually live and work in space. With insider knowledge, Virts walks kids through the practical steps of how to prepare for a career in space and gives an exciting look at the challenges and wonders of life beyond Earth.
While the book contains plenty of fascinating facts and behind-the-scenes insights, it feels very much tailored to an audience already interested in becoming astronauts. For readers who don’t have that specific passion, the book might feel a bit niche or alienating. I personally enjoyed learning about the cool aspects of space travel, but at times, I felt like I was being lumped into a mindset that didn’t quite resonate with me.
It’s a fun, informative read for kids already passionate about space exploration, but it may not appeal as much to those who don’t share that same enthusiasm. It’s great for its target audience but might feel limiting or off-putting to others. Then again, maybe that's just me!
This is a great book about everything involved in training, traveling, living, and returning from space. Written by an actual astronaut, it’s packed with information, humor, and fun activities that demonstrate on earth some of the concepts he discusses. Written for kids, but I loved it.
Even though this book came out last year, I had to review it after blowing through it in one sitting; it’s just that entertaining and readable, even for someone who’s not that into space travel. Using the same breezy and down-to-Earth style that won him fans for his adult title How To Astronaut: Everything You Need to Know Before Leaving Earth (2020), NASA veteran Terry Virts condenses his life story and instead focuses on what kids really want to know, from the academic (how engines work) to the mundane (the proverbial bathroom questions). A table of contents in an easy-to-read hand-written font lays out his approach, which roughly follows an astronaut’s timeline as they get ready to leave Earth. After some background information (what is space and a brief overview of space travel history), Virts reviews training, blast off, life in space, spacewalking, and re-entry. The text appears in a very readable serif font on an attractive, mottled, buff-colored background, with nicely spaced lines. Colorful chapter titles appear on each page, along with headings and inserts for more information. Careful thought has been given to the cartoon graphics, which have a cohesive look and also break up the text. The author has also included lots of sharp, full color photos, including Virts sitting at the controls, or posing with his crew, or eating brownies in space with Scott Kelly.
What I enjoyed most about this book were Virts’s personal confessions and observations about becoming and working as an astronaut. He comes across as humble but capable, a great role model for kids. Many of the skills he mentions as essential to his success may not even be on readers’ radar as astronaut qualities: an interest in learning world languages, the ability to get along with others, and a willingness to try new things. His devotion to and enthusiasm for the training aspects of the program, which kids might otherwise see as tedious or a waste of time, comes across as an endorsement of practice, and what teacher isn’t looking for positive examples of that? Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
We start out with a little bit of the history of space travel, and the first brave astronauts who inspired the author become an astronaut himself. Then we dive into training, learning what it really takes to be an astronaut. And it's not just about science skills! Astronauts need to have great communication skills, maybe even learning other languages. They need to have medical knowledge, math skills, and be in top physical shape. Astronauts even train underwater to enhance their ability to move in a buoyant environment.
Throughout the book, you can stop to do an "Astronaut Activity". You might learn to say hello in a few different languages, which could come in handy with other astronauts from all over the world congregating at the International Space Station. You might just take a walk and track your time to see how phsyically fit you can be. You could train yourself to respond to a mechanical problem by taking apart an old toy or appliance and see if you can get it back together again. Even just swinging on the swings in the park can give you a feeling of weightlessness at the second when you are falling.
My favorite part of the book was the chart showing all the different parts of a spacesuit. There is so much cool information in this book! Including lots of questions you might have about how astronauts can survive in space. How do they eat, drink, or go to the bathroom? How do astronauts sleep without floating around and bumping into things? If the astronauts are in orbit, how they keep track of what time it is?
There is a whole section just about what Earth looks like from above. The city lights, the storm clouds, the deserts and jungles and oceans, and of course the Aurora Borealis lights around the poles. And if you look beyond Earth... the stars are twinkling brighter than you can imagine.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
Astronaut Terry Virts shares with readers how he trained to become an astronaut (from college to NASA's training), what it was like during his times in space and what he did while there (from daily things like sleeping and eating to experiments and other tasks), and some of the history of space travel and where we're headed next.
This was the most detailed account I've read from an astronaut of what it is really like to go through training and be in space. It feels like an honest crash course in what all is involved in being an astronaut and should help readers figure out if this is something they really want to pursue, or if they are satisfied just learning about what they do. Virts was in space for 2 missions, one was a quick trip up and back in Endeavor, and the other lasted 200 days on the ISS. He writes very engagingly, and the book is presented with interesting sidebars and illustrations and photos. A fantastic STEM read for middle graders thinking of heading to the stars or just curious about what goes on up there. There are biographical elements to the book, but I would shelve it in general nonfiction as the focus is more about going to space than Virts' life.
Notes on content: Language: None Sexual content: None Violence: Accidents that took the lives of astronauts and cosmonauts are mentioned, but kept middle grade appropriate in details. Ethnic diversity: Virts is a white American, he talks about his time in space with other Americans of various ethnic backgrounds (male and female) as well as some of his Russian and other international friends from time in the ISS. LGBTQ+ content: None Other: He does go over how to go to bathroom in space but it is done super tactfully and in such a way you could read it out loud to your grandma without blushing. He talks about some of the physical affects being in space has on human bodies, such as back pain, congestion, and dizziness/heaviness upon re-entry.
THE ASTRONAUT'S GUIDE TO LEAVING THE PLANET is a delightful middle grade non-fiction that seeks to answer all a young person's questions about what it is like to be an astronaut. The book is written by Terry Virts, a former NASA astronaut and International Space Station commander. The book begins with the history of traveling to space and then goes into information about how astronauts train to go to space and what they can see from space, as well as what life is like while in outer space. Readers will learn a lot about what it is like to be an astronaut through this fun, illustrated guide.
What I loved: This is such an approachable and entertaining non-fiction read. The book is written with a highly conversational tone, as if the author were speaking directly to the reader and telling them all sorts of cool facts and stories. It manages to answer a lot of questions readers may have had about why they do certain types of trainings, what things look like from space, and even things like how toilets work in space. Readers will be fascinated by all this information, which is complimented by key illustrations and photographs throughout. This style will work well for a variety of chapter book readers and makes every page something interesting. For anyone who is curious about space travel, this book is a great place to learn more.
Final verdict: THE ASTRONAUT'S GUIDE TO LEAVING THE PLANET is an entertaining and educational book for space lovers everywhere. Highly recommend for middle grade readers who want to learn all the ins and outs of being an astronaut - straight from the experts.
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
While I personally do not EVER want to leave the planet (I like breathing oxygen, and living on a rock has little appeal for me), there are plenty of young readers who are interested in careers with NASA and are enthralled with the idea of finding ways to colonize other planets. Or, maybe they just have eaten too much space ice cream from the Air and Space Museum Gift Shop!
Former NASA colonel Terry Virts shares his own experiences in training and going on missions, but also does a great job at recapping the history of the space program, as well as what the requirements are to be recruited by NASA, and the skills that are most helpful for a successful career. The real draw here is the detailed look at what it is like to eat, sleep, and take care of personal hygiene in a zero gravity environment. There are lots of sidebars detailing Virts' personal experiences with a variety of questions that young people might have, such as playing video game in space, seeing other planets, and what happens when astronauts get sick on a mission.
There's a comfortable amount of text on each page, and this is broken up with some illustrations, sidebars, and even some photographs. There's a lot of blue and orange, which is reminiscent of the NASA uniforms! There is a guide to terms and a complete index at the back of the book.
Give this book to your budding astronaut along with Anderson's So You Want to Be an Astronaut, Aldrin, Dyson, and Foster's To the Moon and Back: My Apollo 11 Adventure, Bolden and Bolden's Star Sailor: My Life as a NASA Astronaut, and Goodman and Slack's How Do You Burp in Space?: And other Tips Space Tourists Need to Know, which also addresses all the intricacies of living in space.
Written by a real-life astronaut and geared to middle grade readers, this book is a fun, easy-to-read account of what it's like to go into space.
In this book, Virts talks about how he was able to fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming an astronaut. He introduces some technical concepts, explains various aspects of his training, and describes some of the challenges and joys of being on the International Space Station (ISS)
Throughout, young readers will find fun doodles, informative drawings, cool photos, and a variety of features (each with its own colorful design elements) to break up the easy-to-understand text.
Two features I particularly liked are "Astronaut Activities" and "Ask an Astronaut." I appreciate that the activities were developed in a way that requires few special items, making them doable for kids across the economic spectrum. The questions address all kinds of things that many of us (young and old) have wondered about, like how to go to the bathroom on the ISS and whether you can hear anything in space.
Virts's storytelling style and personal approach keep readers engaged. I was impressed with his light-handed way of encouraging kids to follow their dreams.
The back of the book includes a glossary of technical terms. I wish there had been a list of resources (books, websites, etc.) for kids to learn more, but I can still highly recommended this book for kids (and adults) who want to know what it's like to travel into space.
NASA astronaut Terry Virts has created an enjoyable, readable, and informative book that answers all sorts of questions that might occur to an astronomy buff or hopeful future astronaut. There are chapters on early space travel, training, life on the space station and other topics related to a career in space. Throughout the book are pages labeled "Ask an Astronaut" that answer questions such as "How often do you fly in space?" and "What inspired you to be an astronaut?" There are also "Astronaut Activity" pages which have readers practice saying hello in various languages (it is an international space station after all), take apart an old toy or appliance to see how it works, and other activities that strengthen skills useful for future astronauts.
The book is illustrated with cartoon style images and photographs, including a selfie taken by the author during one of his spacewalks! There are also a few diagrams - the space shuttle, a space suit, and an EMU (extravehicular mobility unit). A glossary of astronaut terms and an index are also provided. The narrative style is conversational and easy to understand. Explanations are correct without being too technical. For example, the space shuttle's part in the construction of the ISS is described as "They brought up new modules to add on piece by piece, like a giant LEGO set in space."
Recommended for readers 10 and up - just be sure to set aside some time for those astronaut activities that are suggested!
This is the junior version of Virts's How to Astronaut. Yes, I loved that one, too. No, the two books are not the same. In this junior version, I missed Terry's hair-raising (pun intended!) experience of cutting his stylish crewmate's hair in zero G. And, obviously, the adult version is longer and more detailed generally.
However, this book includes a couple of things missing from the adult version. There are sidebars of questions astronauts have been asked, and their answers. There are also experiments and activities for young people who may want to travel in space some day. I loved these. My favorite was the code of conduct. Over and over, Mr. Virts emphasizes to young people that, if they're going to become astronauts or cosmonauts, they must get along with their teammates.
In short, a very good and interesting book that all kids interested in outer space should enjoy. Includes a glossary and index. I do wish (again, as with the adult version) that Mr. Virts had included sources for further study. If he had, this would be highly recommended as a STEM book for middle grade. As it is, it's a fascinating and positive memoir that some kids will surely be inspired by.
Sometimes we give up our dreams because they just don't seem attainable. In The Astronaut's Guide to Leaving the Planet, Terry Virts seeks to make the unattainable attainable. He talks to the middle grade reader with respect and openness about his experiences and the experiences a new recruit might come across. He assumes nothing, and gives us information on everything from the most basic things (how to go to the bathroom, how to eat, how to sleep on a rocket), and even how to train and prepare to go into aerospace careers.
I loved this fascinating peek into space travel, and would love to hear more from this author. This is a great book to pair with the book "Packing for Mars for Kids" by Mary Roach.
This book did not leave a lasting impression on me which makes writing the review weeks (oops) after reading a bit tricky. The description states that this book is partially a memoir and partially a nonfiction about NASA. While the author does relate some stories from his life and experience as an astronaut, I hesitate to call those portions a memoir. I will admit that my thoughts were a little sarcastic at that point. I think that the space race side of nonfiction is a bit oversaturated at this point. Most middle schoolers do not gravitate towards that particular topic now. However, their parents might be the primary market for books like these. Obviously, I do not recommend, unfortunately.
This book is such a wonderful collection of answers to questions that inspire curiosity and awe. This may be targeted towards kids/young adults, but I still loved learning more about the astronaut experience. It is such an informative book and covers everything starting at training.
I love that this book really instills joy for sciences and encourages young readers to focus on certain topics now, to unlock a successful future. I'll be purchasing this book for many of my friends' kids!
I received a free copy from Workman Publishing in exchange for a free and unbiased review.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in return for an honest review.
Engaging nonfiction book all about being an astronaut, written by an astronaut who has spent 200+ days in space. I thought the mix of photos and illustrations was well done, and kids will enjoy doing the astronaut activities throughout the book. Definitely a great book to add to your library's collection on space.
I enjoyed the wealth of information contained in this book. Rather than a straight read-through, it is organized with occasional answers to questions that have been asked of astronauts as well as activities that can be done on Earth to help give a sense of what outer space is like. The material was clear, well-written and engaging and the illustrations were a big help as well. This short volume covered some of the history of space travel as well as current and future space travel.
The book The Astronaut’s Guide To Leaving The Planet is a good non-fiction book that can help you achieve your dreams about going into space. This book provides good info and questions about everything that you know plus everything you don’t. By the time that you’re finished reading, you’ll know what it’s like 255 miles up in the air. I would give this book a nice 4.3.
I am so pleased that I got this book!! 🩷 I’ve learned so much about space - everything about what it’s like flying a space shuttle to the different animals that traveled to space. This book has endless illustrations and information about space and I really appreciate the many fun activities that this book includes. If you love everything about space, this book is definitely the book for you! 🪐🌎🚀
Read it in an hour or so. So informative and it grabs your attention right off the bat! Written by an astronaut, as the title says, with little “Astronaut Activities”sprinkled throughout. Perfect for upper-elementary and middle school, and I found it very interesting myself, so not a bad read for an adult either. Great inside look at what goes into space missions.
I love this book! Intriguing facts told in an entertaining fashion by an enjoyable companion. Plus activities and checklists to help young astronauts-to-be achieve their dreams. Highly recommended!
So entertaining! A combination of text, cartoon drawings, photos and journal entries with questions from kids. Any reader interested in space travel will love this one.