What do you think?
Rate this book
If You Decide to Go to the Moon
Two artists at the height of their powers have created a beautiful book with an unforgettable message about the moon and an even more important message about the earth. A publishing event!
"If you decide to go to the moon," writes Faith McNulty, "read this book first. It will tell you how to get there and what to do after you land. The most important part tells you how to get home.
Written in the second person, the text allows the reader to participate in every aspect of the journey, from packing ("don't forget your diary and plenty of food") to liftoff (at first you'll feel heavy; don't worry") to traveling through space (where "the moon glows like a pearl in the black, black sky"). The reader lands at the Sea of Tranquility, the site of the first lunar landing.
"If you decide to go to the moon," writes Faith McNulty, "read this book first. It will tell you how to get there and what to do after you land. The most important part tells you how to get home.
Written in the second person, the text allows the reader to participate in every aspect of the journey, from packing ("don't forget your diary and plenty of food") to liftoff (at first you'll feel heavy; don't worry") to traveling through space (where "the moon glows like a pearl in the black, black sky"). The reader lands at the Sea of Tranquility, the site of the first lunar landing.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2005
21 people are currently reading
727 people want to read
About the author
Faith McNulty
51 books21 followersFaith McNulty was an American nonfiction author, probably best-known for her 1980 book The Burning Bed. She was born "Faith Corrigan" in New York City, the daughter of a judge. Young Faith attended Barnard College for one year, then attended Rhode Island State College. But she dropped out of college once she got a job as a copy girl at the New York Daily News. She later went to work for Life magazine. She worked for the U.S. Office of War Information in London during World War II.
McNulty was a wildlife writer at The New Yorker magazine for several years. In 1980, a collection of her New Yorker work was published as The Wildlife Stories of Faith McNulty. For many years, she edited the annual New Yorker compilation of the year's best children's books.
She also frequently wrote children's books on wildlife, including How to Dig a Hole to the Other Side of the World in 1979 and When I Lived with Bats in 1998. Her 1966 book The Whooping Crane: The Bird that Defies Distinction was written for adults.
Her husband, John McNulty, was also a writer for The New Yorker and with Thomas Wolf, Truman Capote, and Gay Talese, a major figure in the development of the literary genre of creative nonfiction, which is also known as literary journalism or literature in fact. After her husband died in 1956, she remarried, to Richard Martin, a set designer and an inventive designer of set props.
The Burning Bed told the true story of Francine Hughes, who set fire to the bedroom in which her husband was sleeping. Hughes defended herself by saying that her husband had been abusing her for 13 years. The jury at her trial ruled that she had been temporarily insane, and she was found not guilty.
"I can remember my father in his nightshirt, digging for worms for the baby robin in the bathroom. That's the kind of household it was; I had woodchucks in the bathroom, cats, squirrels, chipmunks," McNulty once said.
Toward the end of her life, she wrote a weekly column for The Providence Journal on a local animal shelter run by the Animal Welfare League. Her mother had founded the Animal Welfare League in southern Rhode Island. McNulty had long been known for taking in stray animals at her farm.
She suffered a stroke in 2004. She died at her farm in Wakefield, Rhode Island.
McNulty was a wildlife writer at The New Yorker magazine for several years. In 1980, a collection of her New Yorker work was published as The Wildlife Stories of Faith McNulty. For many years, she edited the annual New Yorker compilation of the year's best children's books.
She also frequently wrote children's books on wildlife, including How to Dig a Hole to the Other Side of the World in 1979 and When I Lived with Bats in 1998. Her 1966 book The Whooping Crane: The Bird that Defies Distinction was written for adults.
Her husband, John McNulty, was also a writer for The New Yorker and with Thomas Wolf, Truman Capote, and Gay Talese, a major figure in the development of the literary genre of creative nonfiction, which is also known as literary journalism or literature in fact. After her husband died in 1956, she remarried, to Richard Martin, a set designer and an inventive designer of set props.
The Burning Bed told the true story of Francine Hughes, who set fire to the bedroom in which her husband was sleeping. Hughes defended herself by saying that her husband had been abusing her for 13 years. The jury at her trial ruled that she had been temporarily insane, and she was found not guilty.
"I can remember my father in his nightshirt, digging for worms for the baby robin in the bathroom. That's the kind of household it was; I had woodchucks in the bathroom, cats, squirrels, chipmunks," McNulty once said.
Toward the end of her life, she wrote a weekly column for The Providence Journal on a local animal shelter run by the Animal Welfare League. Her mother had founded the Animal Welfare League in southern Rhode Island. McNulty had long been known for taking in stray animals at her farm.
She suffered a stroke in 2004. She died at her farm in Wakefield, Rhode Island.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 216 reviews
October 22, 2010
Wow, this one was all over the place for me.
I didn’t like the cover illustration or several of the other illustrations but adored many of them, including the first page (love the cats & dog when they appear!!!), the moon shots, the foldout page, and many others. Just lovely!
There is some excellent information about the moon and moon exploration (for instance: the American flag put up got blown over when the spacecraft left, and because there is no air to carry sound waves, there is no sound, etc.), but I hated the “travelogue” aspect where the reader is told what they’ll feel and think if they’re making a journey to the moon; I don’t like the chutzpah of telling people what their reactions will be because the experience would be different for different explorers. I did like the environmental message about the importance of protecting the earth’s air and water; that message is given in a very straightforward manner.
Overall, I liked it, loving parts and not liking other parts. It probably deserves one more star but I can’t quite give it. 3-1/2 stars which might be upgraded as I think about it.
This is one of six picture books for the November (space themed) Picture Books Club at the Children's Books group.
I didn’t like the cover illustration or several of the other illustrations but adored many of them, including the first page (love the cats & dog when they appear!!!), the moon shots, the foldout page, and many others. Just lovely!
There is some excellent information about the moon and moon exploration (for instance: the American flag put up got blown over when the spacecraft left, and because there is no air to carry sound waves, there is no sound, etc.), but I hated the “travelogue” aspect where the reader is told what they’ll feel and think if they’re making a journey to the moon; I don’t like the chutzpah of telling people what their reactions will be because the experience would be different for different explorers. I did like the environmental message about the importance of protecting the earth’s air and water; that message is given in a very straightforward manner.
Overall, I liked it, loving parts and not liking other parts. It probably deserves one more star but I can’t quite give it. 3-1/2 stars which might be upgraded as I think about it.
This is one of six picture books for the November (space themed) Picture Books Club at the Children's Books group.
December 7, 2010
If You Decide to Go to the Moon would encourage a young reader interested in space and especially the moon. It is told in a fun way to help kids understand what their life would be like if they decided to go to the moon. It also showed the great appreciation one would have for earth and its resources after returning from the adventure. I thought that was a nice touch. Steven Kellogg illustrations and the fold out in the book added magic to this story. I also learned very interesting information I did not know about outer space. I felt similar in my star rating as another reviewer. I am giving this book a 3 1/2 stars and marking it a 4 to even out the reviews between Lisa and I. This was a Picture Book Club Read for November found here: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/4...
January 9, 2020
Written in the style of an advice manual for young would-be astronauts, Faith McNulty's If You Decide To Go To The Moon is an engaging and informative picture-book about a (theoretical) lunar landing, complete with a mostly unwritten personal adventure story - a young boy-astronaut leaves behind his sister, heading for space, and the moon! - and quite a bit of factual information, concerning everything from what one would bring, on a spaceship to the moon, to how one would walk, once there. A final, four-page fold-out spread, in full color, greets the young space-traveler, as he returns to Earth, emphasizing that, in the end, there really is no place like home...
One of our November selections, over in The Picture-Book Club to which I belong, where our current theme is "Outer Space," this is yet another book I am glad to have discovered! The manner in which the story is presented will be very appealing for young children, I think, and the illustrations by Steven Kellogg will draw them further into the adventure. After all, what child doesn't dream of going to the moon? With this book, they will be encouraged to really believe that they can!
One of our November selections, over in The Picture-Book Club to which I belong, where our current theme is "Outer Space," this is yet another book I am glad to have discovered! The manner in which the story is presented will be very appealing for young children, I think, and the illustrations by Steven Kellogg will draw them further into the adventure. After all, what child doesn't dream of going to the moon? With this book, they will be encouraged to really believe that they can!
November 4, 2010
If You Decide To Go To The Moon was written with lower grades in mind but in its 4O pages provides a lot of information on how to get to the moon, what do to after you land, and how to get back home. The book will easily appeal to children who are interested in space exploration and the illustrations are representative of how things would look. The final fold out pages very nicely express the idea of protecting the environment. I read this for the November Picture Book Club selection here on Goodreads.
April 5, 2020
غزال. 🌕
April 30, 2010
"If You Decide to Go to the Moon," written by Faith McNulty and illustrated by Steven Kellogg, is an award-winning, nonfiction picture book intended for readers in kindergarten to grade three. This book has won numerous awards, including the Parent’s Choice Silver Honor Award in 2005, which honors texts that are “designed to entertain and help children develop universally ethical attitudes, and rigorous standards and skills” (www.parents-choice.org/). This text was also honored with the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Nonfiction in 2006, which is an award to “recognize and reward excellence in literature for children and young adults” (www.hbook.com). It was also the winner of "Booklist’s" Editor’s Choice: Books for Youth Award in 2005, which honors “books that mix popular appeal with literary excellence” (www.booklistonline.com).
As the website for "Booklist" quoted, "If You Decide to Go to the Moon" “captures both the wonder of space travel and the stark grandeur of the lunar landscape.” McNulty is known for writing stories of nature and this text takes the reader beyond our world and creates a guidebook for traveling into this “silvery-gray endless desert.” McNulty creates authority in this text by crediting Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson, a researcher and scientist in the area of aerospace and astrophysics. Tyson also is also the director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York City. McNulty’s research and consultation with Tyson helps the text gain authority in the eyes of the reader.
The reader may have to dig a little deeper in order to determine the accuracy of this text. Facts and figures, such as distance to the moon, the thickness of the atmosphere surrounding Earth, and the first moon landing 1969, could be verified as accurate through the use of reliable research tools, such as the NASA website or scientific journals. Moon characteristics, such as moon colors and formations, could also be accurately verified using the same techniques. However, the reader may have trouble distinguishing McNulty’s final declaration urging the reader to “always do your best to protect all life on our beautiful Earth” as fact versus opinion. "Booklist’s" review of this text claims that the “the concluding environmental message should have been left implicit” (www.amazon.com). This subtle concluding insertion of opinion may dampen older reader’s view of the accuracy of the text as a whole.
This text is appropriate for its intended age range of kindergarten through grade three. The lyrical verses are appropriate for engaging younger readers. The text is logically organized and set up as a journey from home to the moon and back again, with what readers can expect from entering the spaceship to landing on the weightless moon and its Sea of Tranquility. Factual information is cleverly interwoven into this text, respecting the readers’ capability of making meaning but also encouraging playfulness as McNulty urges readers “to take off our suit and play in the moon dust” and “eat a peanut butter sandwich…and settle down for a long ride.”
The literary artistry of this text is vast. "School Library Journal’s" review recognizes the integration of text and illustration, stating “Kellogg's generous splashes of bright hues in the Earth and shipboard scenes juxtaposed with the somber moonscapes set the appropriate moods” (www.amazon.com). The gentle text reflects the tranquility, stillness, and awe of a trip to the moon. Similes, such as “the stars shine like a million fireflies” and “the moon glows like a pearl in the black, black sky” create a visual and emotional connection and experience in the reader, creating a very deep awareness and feeling of travel and exploration. Such vivid description and McNulty’s voice speaking to the reader in the second person make readers feel like they are actually there, from liftoff to touchdown.
The attractiveness of this text entices readers to go on this factual and emotional journey with McNulty and Kellogg. Short verses of text delicately placed upon enormous and colorful illustrations allow the reader to be captured by the vastness of space and the universe. Print size is small but not overwhelming, with great consideration given to creating strong and powerful illustrations. The Parents’ Choice review reveres the double fold-out panorama of the return to Earth as “lushly colored and vibrantly active” (www.parents-choice.org/). The contrast of the still black and white moon to the living, breathing Earth, is perfectly captured with this creative fold-out. Readers of all ages will be intrigued by both text and illustration.
"If You Decide to Go to the Moon" is a nonfiction text that displays excellence and popular appeal while promoting children’s universal development. It not only captures the reader’s imagination and explorative side, but enriches the reader with educational and enlightening facts and information.
As the website for "Booklist" quoted, "If You Decide to Go to the Moon" “captures both the wonder of space travel and the stark grandeur of the lunar landscape.” McNulty is known for writing stories of nature and this text takes the reader beyond our world and creates a guidebook for traveling into this “silvery-gray endless desert.” McNulty creates authority in this text by crediting Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson, a researcher and scientist in the area of aerospace and astrophysics. Tyson also is also the director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York City. McNulty’s research and consultation with Tyson helps the text gain authority in the eyes of the reader.
The reader may have to dig a little deeper in order to determine the accuracy of this text. Facts and figures, such as distance to the moon, the thickness of the atmosphere surrounding Earth, and the first moon landing 1969, could be verified as accurate through the use of reliable research tools, such as the NASA website or scientific journals. Moon characteristics, such as moon colors and formations, could also be accurately verified using the same techniques. However, the reader may have trouble distinguishing McNulty’s final declaration urging the reader to “always do your best to protect all life on our beautiful Earth” as fact versus opinion. "Booklist’s" review of this text claims that the “the concluding environmental message should have been left implicit” (www.amazon.com). This subtle concluding insertion of opinion may dampen older reader’s view of the accuracy of the text as a whole.
This text is appropriate for its intended age range of kindergarten through grade three. The lyrical verses are appropriate for engaging younger readers. The text is logically organized and set up as a journey from home to the moon and back again, with what readers can expect from entering the spaceship to landing on the weightless moon and its Sea of Tranquility. Factual information is cleverly interwoven into this text, respecting the readers’ capability of making meaning but also encouraging playfulness as McNulty urges readers “to take off our suit and play in the moon dust” and “eat a peanut butter sandwich…and settle down for a long ride.”
The literary artistry of this text is vast. "School Library Journal’s" review recognizes the integration of text and illustration, stating “Kellogg's generous splashes of bright hues in the Earth and shipboard scenes juxtaposed with the somber moonscapes set the appropriate moods” (www.amazon.com). The gentle text reflects the tranquility, stillness, and awe of a trip to the moon. Similes, such as “the stars shine like a million fireflies” and “the moon glows like a pearl in the black, black sky” create a visual and emotional connection and experience in the reader, creating a very deep awareness and feeling of travel and exploration. Such vivid description and McNulty’s voice speaking to the reader in the second person make readers feel like they are actually there, from liftoff to touchdown.
The attractiveness of this text entices readers to go on this factual and emotional journey with McNulty and Kellogg. Short verses of text delicately placed upon enormous and colorful illustrations allow the reader to be captured by the vastness of space and the universe. Print size is small but not overwhelming, with great consideration given to creating strong and powerful illustrations. The Parents’ Choice review reveres the double fold-out panorama of the return to Earth as “lushly colored and vibrantly active” (www.parents-choice.org/). The contrast of the still black and white moon to the living, breathing Earth, is perfectly captured with this creative fold-out. Readers of all ages will be intrigued by both text and illustration.
"If You Decide to Go to the Moon" is a nonfiction text that displays excellence and popular appeal while promoting children’s universal development. It not only captures the reader’s imagination and explorative side, but enriches the reader with educational and enlightening facts and information.
August 14, 2012
I’ve reread this several times over the years, as a librarian, a parent, and now a graduate student looking at those “complex texts” the CC standards require. It’s an unusual book: a mix of fiction and nonfiction elements, a second person point of view, an oversized square format with a double foldout. Paired with a more traditional nonfiction book about the moon or space travel, If You Decide to Go To the Moon would make a perfect text for looking at the ways different authors present similar information (that’s Reading: Informational Text Anchor Standard 9 in case anyone is wondering). And it does hold up to repeated rereadings: McNulty’s elegant writing reads aloud beautifully, and Kellogg’s illustrations make a stark contrast between the emptiness of the moon and the lush, living surface of the earth. I’m glad I read it again; there’s always more to discover in a good book!
cross-posted at theconnectedlibrarian.wordpress.com
cross-posted at theconnectedlibrarian.wordpress.com
June 9, 2020
My husband and I just started watching a documentary on Apollo 11 and so reading this with my kids today was especially apropos. We loved it! The perfect balance of practical / scientific facts and the romance/manifest destiny feeling of going to the Moon—and then recentering it on how perfect and precious Earth really is. I highly recommend this book!
February 27, 2018
If You Decide To Go To The Moon is a great science fiction story for kids in 4th-5th Grade! It is a great picture book with vast amounts of detail to get students interested in space and scientific content! I would use this in my classroom as an introduction to a lesson about the moon and its relationship with earth. It could be a great read aloud to peak student's interest since it is a story that involves real facts! Another way to incorporate this into the classroom would be to have them read this story, and then utilize a writing activity by having them discuss and reflect on three things they took away from the story! Then complete a lesson about gravitational force on both planet earth and the moon! In summary, this was a wow book because of its ability to utilize its illustrations and scientific content while still remaining incredibly interesting and engaging! Although it was a fairly long picture book, it was definitely a worthwhile read! It can be hard to find quality science fiction picture books, rather than chapter books, and I feel this one was a great read!!!
January 5, 2018
Commits two cardinal sins of picturebooks: patronizing the reader and relegating the girl to a passive, domestic role while the boy goes off on an adventure.
I won't single it out for its reinforcement of hegemonic white, middle-class values, because that's basically 90% of (American) picturebooks.
Interesting for its use of 2nd person narrative.
I won't single it out for its reinforcement of hegemonic white, middle-class values, because that's basically 90% of (American) picturebooks.
Interesting for its use of 2nd person narrative.
March 10, 2019
There are some solid facts and there is some fun fantasy, but I don't think they mesh well. For kids who really want to be astronauts it should still be good. Otherwise I don't know.
March 12, 2020
Gorgeous illustrations. My aspiring astronaut (and I) loved this.
January 31, 2018
Interested in the moon? Do you want to know what the moon is like? Want to know how to get there and get home? Then this is the book for you. To learn about the moon, the sun, flights to and from is really good. The illustrations were in color and black and white. I enjoyed reading this book to my little boy.
September 18, 2016
1. This book takes you on a trip to the moon. It begins by telling you what you need to pack, like food, drinks, and of course, a space suit. It tells you how your journey will begin, that first you must go through the atmosphere. Once you're past the earth's atmosphere, it explains that you will see stars everywhere. Every which way you look, you see stars. It tells us what stars are made of and tells about comets and asteroids. Then it tells you that it is going to take a while to get to the moon. It suggests eating and drinking and napping. Finally, you are on the moon. It tells you the history and facts of the moon. It tells you about the first astronauts on the moon and about the footprints they left. It explains how the moon is different from the earth. Then you start to feel homesick, so you start to leave. Back to the ship, you go. Then you take off again. The closer to earth you get, the more amazing it looks with all of its color and life. You make it back and decide to protect the earth and the life it homes.
2. This book would be great for grades 1-3rd.
3. This would be a great book to read to students before a unit on the solar system. It would get them excited to learn about the planets and space.
4. I think all students would like this book. Students who like space would like this as well as students who like science.
5. You could use this in small groups and have the students predict what it would be like on other planets.
6. This book would be good to read aloud to a class before a solar system unit.
7. Related books include Pluto Visits Earth, The Moon Book, and Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars.
8. This book doesn't come in other formats or videos.
2. This book would be great for grades 1-3rd.
3. This would be a great book to read to students before a unit on the solar system. It would get them excited to learn about the planets and space.
4. I think all students would like this book. Students who like space would like this as well as students who like science.
5. You could use this in small groups and have the students predict what it would be like on other planets.
6. This book would be good to read aloud to a class before a solar system unit.
7. Related books include Pluto Visits Earth, The Moon Book, and Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars.
8. This book doesn't come in other formats or videos.
November 3, 2010
We really enjoyed this book. It was a story, but filled with very interesting facts about astronauts, space travel and what you would experience if you were to land and walk on the moon. It reminded me a little of the Magic Tree House story, Midnight on the Moon, where Jack and Annie got to do some space travel and moon walking too. I love how math was incorporated into the story, estimating the trip's duration using the rate x time = distance formula. Our girls thought the weightlessness of space and the one-sixth gravity of the moon would be very cool. And I also liked that the whole story was from a child's perspective. The idea of bringing games for the five-day round trip and watching the playing cards float around like butterflies was just terrific. And the image of mooncows was very funny - our girls were saying "mooooooooon" all night! Finally, the illustrations are wonderful, contrasting the stark silvery gray landscape of the moon with the vivid colors and creatures on Earth. There is some minor editorializing about conserving our precious resources, but it's not over the top.
May 8, 2010
I have recommended this as a read aloud to teachers - but have not read it aloud to children myself. The book is very appealing and the language is almost lyrical. The ending does seem a bit "attached." I would be interested to hear how instruction with this text goes - whether just reading aloud for enjoyment or in support of learning related to a content area. Depending on the stamina of your students - you'd want to plan a couple of days to read this aloud.
This book comes in paperback and could be a guided reading text for late transitional level/early fluent readers or a literature circle text. The content demands readers to interact with the text - to engage in thinking about what "you" would experience if you went to the moon. The author's approach and message could make for some good conversation.
For a thorough review of the book's accuracy, authority, appropriateness, literary artistry, and attractiveness, see the review by Jaclyn Giordano.
This book comes in paperback and could be a guided reading text for late transitional level/early fluent readers or a literature circle text. The content demands readers to interact with the text - to engage in thinking about what "you" would experience if you went to the moon. The author's approach and message could make for some good conversation.
For a thorough review of the book's accuracy, authority, appropriateness, literary artistry, and attractiveness, see the review by Jaclyn Giordano.
May 17, 2014
The story begins by describing the whole journey from earth to the moon. It literally seems like if it were an instruction manual being read to you in a whole different fun way. It then goes on to inform us about the first humans to go to the moon in July 1969 A.D. At the end it mentions to us the importance of “protecting all life on Earth.” I think this book would be appropriate for 3rd graders because there's so much information. I really enjoyed reading this book it provided me with so much detailed information about traveling to the moon. The illustration matches the text and is very eye pleasing.
January 25, 2017
If You Decide to Go to the Moon gives everyone who reads it a chance to imagine what it would be like if they were to go to the moon. The book gives plenty of facts about the moon, Earth, atmosphere, and space. While reading this book, I imagined myself traveling to the moon. Toward the end of the book, there are two fold-out pages with beautiful, bright, and colorful illustrations. I'm ready to strap on my space suit and take a trip to the moon! Sci-Fi.
February 28, 2013
This is a little slow going for the preschooler but he does love the pictures and trying to find the things in the story. The story itself is more appealing to my second grader--he loves all the little facts scattered throughout the book.
September 29, 2012
Great form to guide to nonficton information about space, the first moon landing and taking care of this world.
August 2, 2019
Cute books that includes everything a child when need to know about traveling to the moon. For instance it lets us know that "To get to the moon, you will travel about 240,000 miles - a long trip, but rocket ships go fast. If you average 3,750 miles per hour, you will get there in two-and-a-half days." (It also lets us know that the atmosphere around earth is only 15 miles.) It goes over how you would be weightless and space and that you can't pour yourself a drink since it would become just a floating liquid balls. Once you land on the moon and go out for a moon walk it discusses how you would weight 1/6th of what you weigh on earth and could jump around like a kangaroo. It also mentions that you can't take off your space suit since the heat of the sun would burn you up since there is no air or water on the moon there are no clouds to shield it from the heat of the sun that anything touched by the sun is blistering hot and instantly cold in a shadow. It is also impossible to make noise on the moon without air to carry sound waves. Our hero, who in the story lands where the first moon landing happened, puts up the flag which fell down when the astronauts took off. The story then ends with an environmental message as our hero flies back to earth reminding us in two fold out pages that all of the life that exists on earth exists because Earth has air and water on which life depends. "Air and water are Earth's special blessings We must guard them well."
shipped
shipped
March 28, 2023
"If You Decide to Go to the Moon" by Faith McNulty is a children's book that takes the reader on a journey to the moon. The book is written in second person and invites the reader to imagine themselves as an astronaut traveling to the moon. The book provides factual information about the moon, including its size, temperature, and lack of air and water, while also exploring the challenges and excitement of space travel. Through its vivid illustrations and engaging text, "If You Decide to Go to the Moon" inspires young readers to dream big and explore the wonders of the universe.
"If You Decide to Go to the Moon" by Faith McNulty falls under the sub-genre of folk literature known as a "noodlehead story." This type of story typically features a protagonist who is portrayed as foolish or naïve, but who ultimately learns a valuable lesson. In "If You Decide to Go to the Moon," the second-person protagonist is a child who imagines themselves traveling to the moon, and their questions and observations reflect a childlike curiosity and innocence. The story presents factual information about the moon in a playful and imaginative way, and encourages the reader to explore their own sense of wonder and imagination. While not a traditional noodlehead story, "If You Decide to Go to the Moon" shares some of the characteristics of this sub-genre, including a lighthearted tone and a focus on learning through exploration and experience.
"If You Decide to Go to the Moon" by Faith McNulty falls under the sub-genre of folk literature known as a "noodlehead story." This type of story typically features a protagonist who is portrayed as foolish or naïve, but who ultimately learns a valuable lesson. In "If You Decide to Go to the Moon," the second-person protagonist is a child who imagines themselves traveling to the moon, and their questions and observations reflect a childlike curiosity and innocence. The story presents factual information about the moon in a playful and imaginative way, and encourages the reader to explore their own sense of wonder and imagination. While not a traditional noodlehead story, "If You Decide to Go to the Moon" shares some of the characteristics of this sub-genre, including a lighthearted tone and a focus on learning through exploration and experience.
May 10, 2021
A young boy yearns to explore and see more and takes an imaginary trip to space. He marvels at the effects of space in the space ship and explores the rolling hills and craters of the moon, he even gets to fix the American flag placed on the moon. But his taste of adventure eventually leads to homesickness and he returns back home with a far greater appreciation for his family and his love for the diversity and beauty of life on Earth.
I really enjoyed the cute story told through poetic lines and beautiful paintings. I think it is a great mirror for many young children who only seek to explore and go out from what they have always known and then a good lesson for them as they should treasure what they have and the life they have been given. The final few pages depicting the grand beauty of the Earth after having read many pages full of black and white vastness was a good strategic move on the author's part and make the theme really hit home. There was really only one character in the book so there wasn't any diversity.
I would recommend this to children ages 3-8 who are captivated by adventure. Wander lust kids who enjoy space, technology, and stories presenting grand journeys to unknown places would love this book as well as those who value our planet and want it to be better taken care of.
I really enjoyed the cute story told through poetic lines and beautiful paintings. I think it is a great mirror for many young children who only seek to explore and go out from what they have always known and then a good lesson for them as they should treasure what they have and the life they have been given. The final few pages depicting the grand beauty of the Earth after having read many pages full of black and white vastness was a good strategic move on the author's part and make the theme really hit home. There was really only one character in the book so there wasn't any diversity.
I would recommend this to children ages 3-8 who are captivated by adventure. Wander lust kids who enjoy space, technology, and stories presenting grand journeys to unknown places would love this book as well as those who value our planet and want it to be better taken care of.
January 7, 2022
In a lot of ways I like this nonfiction story, but I have a few major issues that literally made me stop reading, decide I wasn't going to read it with kid's, and then do a bunch of facts checking. My extra learning during fact checking earned it the extra star.
1. Lava. The author's lack of understanding about lava made me choose hot to read this book to the kids and made me just give up on it for a week.
"Now and then, melted stone spurted up through the crust and spread out on the surface like spilled soup. When it cooled,it hardened into stone, called lava."
A lava lake must have lava! If the lava is hardened, there are other terms that she could have used or even just saying it ONCE WAS a lava lake or calling it a lunar mare or even a plain. Kid's love lava. That's not lava anymore. Don't land in lava.
2. The idea that there is no sound in space is introduced, then immediately followed by the boy wondering if there will be mooncows eating moongrass and the image gives them speech bubbles!
3. The "all American" feel wore thin. Blonde, white, boy travels to the moon to fix the American flag, and go home.
4. Too much text in some cases. Wouldn't hold the attention of the 7 year old I was intending to read it with.
I did think the illustrations were beautiful and the message of protecting the water and air on earth at the end was very nice.
1. Lava. The author's lack of understanding about lava made me choose hot to read this book to the kids and made me just give up on it for a week.
"Now and then, melted stone spurted up through the crust and spread out on the surface like spilled soup. When it cooled,it hardened into stone, called lava."
A lava lake must have lava! If the lava is hardened, there are other terms that she could have used or even just saying it ONCE WAS a lava lake or calling it a lunar mare or even a plain. Kid's love lava. That's not lava anymore. Don't land in lava.
2. The idea that there is no sound in space is introduced, then immediately followed by the boy wondering if there will be mooncows eating moongrass and the image gives them speech bubbles!
3. The "all American" feel wore thin. Blonde, white, boy travels to the moon to fix the American flag, and go home.
4. Too much text in some cases. Wouldn't hold the attention of the 7 year old I was intending to read it with.
I did think the illustrations were beautiful and the message of protecting the water and air on earth at the end was very nice.
Read
September 13, 2020If you decide to Go to the Moon by Faith McNulty is an informative fiction story, with very non-fiction information regarding space travel. This book follows a little boy's journey to the moon, giving instructions on how to do so and even what one should take with them. But more importantly it tells the reader how to get home. The reader and the little boy experience the terrain of the moon, the lack of gravity, and also the lack of life. This book encourages the curiosity kids might have about space, but more specifically, the moon and even earth.
I liked this book. I didn't love it though. It's definitely a book at an upper grade reading level. The pictures were intricate and colorful. I did like how the story was told from a more instructional point of view, that was different.
This book would be great to read for a unit on the solar system. It's very educational about why certain things are necessary to take on such a journey and what conditions are like outside of earths orbit. I think it's also the perfect book for kids interested in space and space travel. This would appeal nicely to them.
I liked this book. I didn't love it though. It's definitely a book at an upper grade reading level. The pictures were intricate and colorful. I did like how the story was told from a more instructional point of view, that was different.
This book would be great to read for a unit on the solar system. It's very educational about why certain things are necessary to take on such a journey and what conditions are like outside of earths orbit. I think it's also the perfect book for kids interested in space and space travel. This would appeal nicely to them.
August 15, 2022
If You Decide to Go to the Moon by Faith McNulty associates with the genre of science fiction, which is intended for readers in kindergarten up to grade three. This picture book follows a young boy who takes an imaginary journey to space, specifically to the moon. The book is formatted like an instruction manual for viewers because it gives steps on what you should and shouldn't do on your way to the moon and how to prepare yourself. I rated this story a five because I like how the story encourages viewers, especially young kids to use their imagination and engage with the concept of space. I also can relate to the book aspects of being adventurous, playing dress-up, and tapping into my imagination. This book is a great mirror for many young children who are aspiring astronauts or take an interest in space, astronomy, and science. I would highly recommend reading this for educational purposes as well as to learn science content and terms like the moon, earth, solar system, gravity, etc. Lastly, I admire the illustrations by Steven Kellogg because of the whimsical quality throughout the story.
December 7, 2017
Reading Level: 4.1
Book Level/ Guided Reading Level: Q
If You Decide to Go to the Moon is a Science Fiction picture book for children narrated by a young boy about what it would be like to travel on a rocket ship to the moon. The boy provides a very detailed account of the (imagined) experience, which is reinforced by the details in the book’s vibrant and textured illustrations.
This book would be an ideal read aloud for any range of elementary grades, especially fourth grade as it corresponds with the reading level of the book and MN Science standards regarding space instruction, to explore the topic of outer space. On an individual basis, this would be a great book for a teacher to recommend to a student who shows an interest in space and space travel. Additionally, this text would also be a good mentor text to demonstrate the writing traits of sentence fluency, word choice, ideas and presentation (I particularly love the dramatic “blast off” page), for students during writing workshop mini lessons.
Book Level/ Guided Reading Level: Q
If You Decide to Go to the Moon is a Science Fiction picture book for children narrated by a young boy about what it would be like to travel on a rocket ship to the moon. The boy provides a very detailed account of the (imagined) experience, which is reinforced by the details in the book’s vibrant and textured illustrations.
This book would be an ideal read aloud for any range of elementary grades, especially fourth grade as it corresponds with the reading level of the book and MN Science standards regarding space instruction, to explore the topic of outer space. On an individual basis, this would be a great book for a teacher to recommend to a student who shows an interest in space and space travel. Additionally, this text would also be a good mentor text to demonstrate the writing traits of sentence fluency, word choice, ideas and presentation (I particularly love the dramatic “blast off” page), for students during writing workshop mini lessons.
Read
December 2, 2019Summary: the story is about a young boy on an excursion to the moon. After blastoff takeoff plenty of facts about space travel can be learned. Their are things such a the loneliness, the lack of gravity, and ways to pass the time. This book basically talks about the fascination with the moon and earth
Illustrator: Steven Kellogg
Evaluations of illustrations and text: I like the fact that the title of the book is in a gold coloring. The astronaut also is a little kid inside an astronaut fit, which can be a way to view it as seeing different things inside a planet. This book is very engaging because facts are presented in the book.
Strategies for the classroom: A good way to use this book would be to have students learn about the different planets and then apply the facts that the book taught them. After doing that they would have to see if any of the planets has some relationships with the ones talked about in the story. Not only the planets but also how earth can be different from the moon.
Illustrator: Steven Kellogg
Evaluations of illustrations and text: I like the fact that the title of the book is in a gold coloring. The astronaut also is a little kid inside an astronaut fit, which can be a way to view it as seeing different things inside a planet. This book is very engaging because facts are presented in the book.
Strategies for the classroom: A good way to use this book would be to have students learn about the different planets and then apply the facts that the book taught them. After doing that they would have to see if any of the planets has some relationships with the ones talked about in the story. Not only the planets but also how earth can be different from the moon.
November 27, 2023
At one point or another in a lot of kids' lives, they want to go to the moon. In this book, the reader is given a bunch of things that might happen when you take a trip to the moon. The major themes are appreciating the earth and your friends and family. The main genre of this book is science fiction. Through reading this book, children could learn what an astronaut brings to space and what the environment is like on the moon. This book was a wow book for me because of the way it is formatted. It is written as if you are going to the moon and this is what you should remember for your trip.
One writing craft used in this book is the style it is written in. The book is written like an instruction book of sorts that you read before you go to the moon. This enhances the book by leaning into the children’s interests. I would consider this an anti-biased book because most of the images through the book are of an astronaut in a spacesuit and when there is interaction between people the people are all unique.
One writing craft used in this book is the style it is written in. The book is written like an instruction book of sorts that you read before you go to the moon. This enhances the book by leaning into the children’s interests. I would consider this an anti-biased book because most of the images through the book are of an astronaut in a spacesuit and when there is interaction between people the people are all unique.
May 4, 2017
1. Awards the book has received (if any):
2. Appropriate grade level: Pre-school to third grade
3. Original 3-line summary: In this exuberant picture book, readers join a young boy on his journey to the moon and back to Earth again! Throughout the book the author gives advice and tips for the entire trip from packing to landing and everything in between. The amazing journey emphasizes the beauty of the Earth and the moon, so join us on the ride!
4. Original 3-line review: This book has beautiful images and it's very easy to follow along for children. They can feel as if they're experiencing the journey themselves while also learning about the moon and Earth too! It also is great for promoting the love of Earth and protecting our planet!
5. 2-3 possible in-class uses: Read this book before a science lesson about the solar system, you can use this book for Earth day and then do a writing activity about what children would do to help the Earth
2. Appropriate grade level: Pre-school to third grade
3. Original 3-line summary: In this exuberant picture book, readers join a young boy on his journey to the moon and back to Earth again! Throughout the book the author gives advice and tips for the entire trip from packing to landing and everything in between. The amazing journey emphasizes the beauty of the Earth and the moon, so join us on the ride!
4. Original 3-line review: This book has beautiful images and it's very easy to follow along for children. They can feel as if they're experiencing the journey themselves while also learning about the moon and Earth too! It also is great for promoting the love of Earth and protecting our planet!
5. 2-3 possible in-class uses: Read this book before a science lesson about the solar system, you can use this book for Earth day and then do a writing activity about what children would do to help the Earth
Displaying 1 - 30 of 216 reviews