Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Powerful free verse and stunning illustrations tell the true story of the American effort to land the first man on the Moon.
In 1961, President John F. Kennedy announced that the United States would try to land a man on the Moon within ten years. During the two thousand nine hundred and seventy-nine days that followed his speech, eighteen astronauts climbed into spaceships; three of them died before even leaving the ground. Eight rockets soared into space. And four hundred thousand people--engineers, technicians, scientists, mathematicians, and machinists--joined Project Apollo in hopes of making the dream a reality.
Award-winning author and former mechanical engineer Suzanne Slade joins up with New York Times best-selling illustrator Thomas Gonzalez to tell the powerful story of every success, failure, triumph, tragedy, and lesson learned from Apollos 1 through 10 that led to an American Moon landing.
Synopsis
A must-read for all NASA, space, and STEAM enthusiasts
May 25, 1961: President John F. Kennedy announces the United States will put a man on the moon before the end of the decade, and the countdown is on
Suzanne Slade's powerful free verse and Thomas Gonzales' stunning illustrations tell the true story of NASA's effort to land the first man on the Moon. An award-winning, "stirring introduction to one of humankind's most impressive undertakings."*
★ "Truly out of this world." --School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW
★ "Captivating free-verse narrative...vivid mixed-media illustrations that stun with photographic realism and varied perspectives...this well-researched title offers a stirring introduction to one of humankind's most impressive undertakings." ―Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW*
Best Children's Books of 2018 ―Smithsonian Air & Space Magazine
Recommended Space Books for Kids ―The Planetary Society
Booklist Top 10 Sci-Tech Books for Youth
Best STEM Books ―ASEE / ITEEA / NSTA / SEPA / CBC
Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12 ―NSTA / CBC
Parents' Choice Gold Award
A patriotic testament to American grit and ingenuity, Countdown presents exhilarating, informative, and accessible free verse by award-winning author Suzanne Slade paired with historic photographs and detailed illustrations by New York Times bestselling illustrator Thomas Gonzalez. Together, they capture a historic and tireless, science-driven effort by NASA to conquer a new frontier.
Through triumph and tragedy, an entire nation is glued to the high-stakes, 2,979-day mission as 18 astronauts climb into spacecraft; 3 men die before even leaving the ground; 8 rockets soar into space; and 400,000 people―engineers, technicians, scientists, mathematicians, and machinists―join Project Apollo in pursuit of making a dream a reality.
A great purchase for STEM and space enthusiasts of any age, this celebrated book offers a gripping story of the successes, failures, triumphs, tragedies, and lessons learned from Apollos 1 through 10 that led to the first moon landing.
Teacher's Guide and Discussion Guide available.
Synopsis
Suzanne Slade's award-winning free verse and Thomas Gonzales' stunning illustrations tell the captivating true story of NASA's effort to land the first man on the Moon.
★ Elegant and informative." ―Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
★ Captivating...well-researched...stirring." ―Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
★ Truly out of this world." --School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW
A patriotic testament to American grit and ingenuity, Countdown presents exhilarating, informative, and accessible free verse by award-winning author Suzanne Slade paired with historic photographs and detailed illustrations by New York Times bestselling illustrator Thomas Gonzalez. Together, they capture the gripping historic story of NASA's 20th century efforts to conquer a new space frontier.
Through triumph and tragedy, success and failure, an entire nation is glued to the high-stakes, 2,979-day mission as 18 astronauts climb into spacecraft; three men die before even leaving the ground; eight rockets soar into space; and 400,000 people―engineers, technicians, scientists, mathematicians, and machinists―join Project Apollo in pursuit of making a dream a reality.
A necessary purchase for all STEM and space enthusiasts.
Awards:
Best Children's Books of 2018 ―Smithsonian Air & Space Magazine
Recommended Space Books for Kids ―The Planetary Society
Booklist Top 10 Sci-Tech Books for Youth
Best STEM Books ―ASEE / ITEEA / NSTA / SEPA / CBC
Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12 ―NSTA / CBC
Parents' Choice Gold Award
Also by Suzanne Slade:
Dangerous Jane
Mars Is
Synopsis
The captivating true story of NASA's effort to land the first man on the Moon is told through powerful free verse and stunning illustrations.
An inspiring testament to American grit, teamwork, and ingenuity, Countdown presents exhilarating, informative, and accessible free verse by award-winning author Suzanne Slade paired with historic photographs and detailed illustrations by New York Times best-selling illustrator Thomas Gonzalez. Together, they capture the gripping historic story of NASA's twentieth century efforts to conquer a new space frontier. Through triumph and tragedy, success and failure, an entire nation is glued to the high-stakes, 2,979-day mission as eighteen astronauts climb into spacecraft; three men die before even leaving the ground; eight rockets soar into space; and four hundred thousand people―engineers, technicians, scientists, mathematicians, and machinists―join Project Apollo in pursuit of making a dream a reality.