Not really, of course, but since this summer marks the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, it almost seems like it is. Yesterday I spotted not one, but two, moon book displays in a local bookstore. There were new titles mixed in with older titles, almost as if old friends were introducing the younger crowd. Here’s a little about two of my favorites:
Ten years ago, Robert Burleigh and Mike Wimmer collaborated on One Giant Leap to commemorate the moon landing’s 40th anniversary. That book takes us right to the surface of the moon where we experience that moment when a nation held its breath. In contrast, Papa Put a Man on the Moon by Kristy Dempsy and illustrated by Sarah Green for the 50th anniversary, takes us to a mill town in South Carolina. There, we learn about textile workers who wove special threads to form a layer in the astronauts’ spacesuits. The pride of the people in that community and the nation as a whole is a beautiful contrast to Papa’s humility. The first person account and simple, colorful drawings create an intimacy that serves as a tribute to everyone who made the moon landing possible.
A few other new titles I can’t wait to dig into include:
A Kite for Moon by Jane Yolen and Heidi Stemple, illustrated by Matt Phelan
Moon’s First Friends by Susanna Leonard Hill, illustrated by Elisa Paganelli
Moon! Earth’s Best Friend by Stacy McAnulty, illustrated by Stevie Lewis
For the next few weeks I’ll be learning and wondering more about the moon, spending time with old book friends and new. Want to come along?
Imagine the Possibilities 
I found Papa Put a Man on the Moon interesting. I never thought about all the people who played a hand in making the moon landing possible. You’ll love Stacy McAnulty’s book. My students love her universe books.
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I love that so many of these moon books focus on the team aspect of putting astronauts on the moon. There’s lots to inspire young people to become explorers. Thanks for sharing these books and have a great week!
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I still need to read Papa Put A Man on The Moon. So many have praised it. This morning, NPR had some special talk about the engineers working on it & you may want to check out the books by Suzanne Slade, too. It is an exciting summer of celebrations. Thanks, Rose.
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I remember watching the moon landing as a teen. It is a shock to realize how long ago it was and a harsh reminder of how old I am!
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I can’t wait to read McAnulty’s new moon book! My library has recently purchased a very large number of books about space, astronauts, etc. I believe we were awarded a NASA grant, so that’s a great thing for our small town. Anyway, I really enjoyed a recent read — Destination: Moon by Seymour Simon. Great for young and older readers! Thanks so much for sharing these titles, Rose!
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I just got Moon! Earth’s Best Friend because my students, like Lisa’s, just love her books. Have a great reading week!
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Moon books are great — I love that the Apollo anniversary is used an excuse to read books about the satellite as well as the mission.
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