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Ages 4-8
ISBN-10: 0064452093

From School Library Journal
Branley writes with authority about the present and the future of the International Space Station. The book begins with an introduction by Scott Carpenter, Mercury astronaut. The facts, including a history and background of the station and descriptions of life in space, are presented in a clear, easy-to-read manner. Even though there is no index, information is easily gleaned from the sparsely worded text, and readers will come away with an understanding of the project's promise and possibilities. Kelley's clearly labeled drawings and configurations reinforce the concepts presented, and the watercolor illustrations add dimension to the presentation. Another winning entry to science collections and a great addition for younger readers. Kay Bowes, Concord Pike Library, Wilmington, DE. Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Branley, Franklyn M. Branley. Kevin O'Malley (Illustrator). The Planets in Our Solar System. HarperTrophy; Ill edition (May 31, 1998)

Ages 4-8
ISBN-10: 006445178X

From School Library Journal
Originally published in 1981, this title gets a facelift with the addition of some new information, including a brief list of Web sites, plus new illustrations. Though given to dogmatic statements like "The most important part of the solar system is the sun," Branley makes his points briefly and precisely, steering clear of distracting dialogue and side commentary. Also, rather than the more common one-planet-after-the-other tour, he groups together heavenly bodies, discussing temperature, size, and orbital length in comparative terms; the effect is to reinforce the idea of the solar system as a system rather than an assemblage of isolated elements. He finishes with instructions for a planetary mobile and several other simple projects. O'Malley creates a rudimentary story line in his illustrations, in which an African-American version of Ms. Frizzle guides a class around a planetarium, and inserts small astronomical photos into his cartoon scenes. Still one of the most basic books on the subject, this is a welcome replacement for the old edition. John Peters, New York Public Library Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Dyson, Marianne J. Space Station Science. Windward Publishing; 2nd edition (April 2004)

Ages 9-12
ISBN-10: 0893170593

"In space, a gallon of water costs as much as a house, you can't get any TV stations, and opening a window will kill you." Gathering information from astronauts and other scientists, Dyson takes readers through crew training and launch; covers physical necessities and hazards, including a detailed look at space toilets; describes the kinds of tasks and research that can be performed on a space station; then brings astronauts back to Earth for a study of the effects of an extended stay off-planet. Artfully mixing big questions ("If people stayed in space, would they end up as blobs?") with well-chosen scientific and personal details, Dyson at once excites and informs young readers. Clever, low-tech demonstrations and experiments elucidate physical principles. The illustrations include lucid cartoons and color photos, and a concluding list of Web sites will expedite further inquiry. Though the author only focuses on the U.S. and Russia and is weak on historical background, with the upcoming construction of the International Space Station, this consciousness raiser couldn't be better timed. A lively, up-to-date replacement for Don Berliner's Living in Space (Lerner, 1993) and Larry Kettelkamp's Living in Space (Morrow, 1993). John Peters, New York Public Library
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Grabham, Sue. (Editor). Backpack Books: 1001 Facts About Space. DK CHILDREN; 1st edition (January 1, 2002)

Ages 9-12
ISBN-10: 0789484501

From Booklist
Rich with full-color photographs, diagrams, and drawings, each volume in the Backpack Books series is engaging, well-thought-out, and accessibly written. Illustrations dominate each spread, which focuses on a high-interest fact, with information presented in short text boxes. Space features illustrations of the different types of galaxies and introduces such topics as pulsars and stellar classification. Human Body discusses everything from the structure of a synapse to why someone sneezes. The books are a little bit larger than pocket-size (hence the series name), so the illustrations are rather small; but the photos are crystal clear, as are the many diagrams. These are general overviews, but they contain enough specifics to answer many questions, and the engaging topics will draw readers. Each volume ends with a glossary and a reference section with even more information. A good series to round out general science collections. Heather Hepler.
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved.

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Thimmesh, Catherine. Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon. Houghton Mifflin (June 26, 2006)

Ages 9-12
ISBN-10: 0618507574

In infectiously hyperbolic prose that's liberally interspersed with quotes and accompanied by sheaves of period photos, Thimmesh retraces the course of the space mission that landed an actual man, on the actual Moon. It's an oft-told tale, but the author tells it from the point of view not of astronauts or general observers, but of some of the 17,000 behind-the-scenes workers at Kennedy Space Center, the 7500 Grumman employees who built the lunar module, the 500 designers and seamstresses who actually constructed the space suits, and other low-profile contributors who made the historic flight possible. Despite occasional contrast issues when the white-on-black text is printed over blown-up photographs, this dramatic account will mesmerize even readers already familiar with the event–and also leave them awed by the level of care and dedication it took to surmount so many daunting technological challenges. Drawn from personal interviews and oral histories as well as a wide array of published sources, this stirring, authoritative tribute to the collective effort that left ...footprints, crisp and clear, pressed purposefully and magnificently into the lunar dust belongs in every collection.–John Peters, New York Public Library. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Thomson, Sarah L. Astronauts and Other Space Heroes FYI. Collins (May 1, 2007)

Ages 9-12
ISBN-10: 0060899441

A Smithsonian Book answers the questions: Who was the first person in space? What does a NASA pad leader do? When was the first space shuttle launched?Why shouldn't you eat a sandwich on a space mission? How do astronauts exercise in space?