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?
