Saturday, July 20, 2019

Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11



I rarely buy books I haven't read before. I love owning books, but books are expensive, and I want to make sure I am only spending money on titles that I really love. (Which is why I love checking books out from the library...it's like a free trial!) But I somehow missed the memo that it was the 50th anniversary of the moon landing until last week! I wanted to find a book to share with my kids, so I quickly researched picture books about the moon landing. Moonshot: the Flight of Apollo 11 was recommended by two of my favorite book reviewers, and has an almost 4.5 rating on Goodreads. When I couldn't find a copy at our library, I went ahead an trusted the reviews and bought a copy on Amazon. And the reviewers were right. This book is a keeper for sure!

The cover drew me in right off the bat; it is striking with a black background and the word "Moonshot" in large block letters. The inside is just as visually appealing with lots of white space and beautiful ink/watercolor illustrations. I read the book silently to myself first, and I noticed and liked how the author chose to tell the story in present-tense as if it was actually happening right now. But it wasn't until I read it out loud to my kids that I realized how poetic and evocative Floca's writing truly is. I felt anticipation as the rocket took off, suspense as the Eagle ran low on fuel before finding a clear landing site, and triumphant as Armstrong and Aldren took their first steps on the moon while everyone on earth watched and cheered. I really did feel as if I was there! 

Moonshot: the Flight of Apollo 11 is definitely worth a check-out from your local library. Or if you want to take a risk like I did and trust my review, go ahead and buy a copy for yourself. It is out of this world! ;)

Tuesday, July 2, 2019

Blue Sky, White Stars

Happy Fourth of July! I'm always on the lookout for great holiday-themed books to share with my kids to teach them a little about the holiday. We stumbled across Blue Sky, White Stars earlier this year, and I knew it would be my new go-to for Independence Day. (It would also be perfect for Flag Day, but I never seem to remember that holiday until it's already over!)


Blue Sky, White Stars by Sarvinder Naberhaus and illustrated by Kadir Nelson draws beautiful parallels between the American flag and our country's history.  It begins with a picture of the Statue of Liberty against the starry night sky with the four words, "Blue Sky, White Stars." The next page repeats the words, "Blue Sky, White Stars" but shows the white stars and blue background of the American flag. My favorite page is a picture of Betsy Ross sewing the first American flag with the words "Sew together, won nation." And then the next page is a picture of diverse Americans with the words, "So together, one nation." The words are few but POWERFUL. And the illustrations are just GORGEOUS and equally powerful. It is also a great way to introduce or review American history with your kids as it depicts everything from the pioneer crossing to the civil rights movement to the moon landing. I love absolutely everything about this book, and it's rare for me to say that. (Because I'm picky, remember?) Blue Sky, White Stars gets five (white) stars from me!

What are your favorite holiday-themed books?

Be Brave, Bud (SpringFling 2022)

“Open up, Bud!” Daisy called. “I’m good, thanks,” Bud muttered. “But it’s a beautiful day!” “I’d rather stay inside.” “But you need ...