MoonShot The Flight of Apollo 11 by Brian Floca

Ok, so I am a space geek.  As is my whole family.  Brian Floca's Moonshoot The Flight of Apollo 11 was right up our alley. Rich watercolor illustrations accompany text that captures both the science and the emotion behind the moon mission.  Moonshot is faithful to the technology and I appreciated that Mr. Floca makes the content accessible without drawing cartoons.  My favorite image is of a family's reaction to the news that the Eagle has landed.  Each face evokes a different emotion. Look closely at the image on the console TV and see Walter Cronkite removing his glasses to wipe away tears of relief.


The frontspiece alone is worth the trip.  I have never read such a clear description of the different components of the Apollo mission.  Read this one and then go out before bedtime to take a long look at the moon.

Visit Mr. Floca's website for the details behind his Moonshoot watercolors and news about his next book, Ballet for Martha.

Leaves by David Ezra Stein

Leaves, by David Ezra Stein, tells a gentle story of change.  We watch Bear ponder the falling leaves of autumn.  He tries to save one, then two and finally succumbs to the biological call of hibernation.  Spring returns and Bear wakes to warm sun and budding trees.  The reader rejoices with Bear as the cycle of renewal begins. 

Stein's writing is perfect and his watercolors are captivating.  This picture book introduces young children to changing of seasons and the reality of change.

Mailing May by Michael O'Tunnel

This wonderful book my Michael O'Tunnel speaks to the reader who loves trains, adventure and the thrill of kids on their own.  Based on the true story of Charlotte May Pierstorff, "Mailing May" unwinds the yarn of a child who is mailed to grandma's house.  She completes the 75 mile rail journey across wintry Idaho as a parcel instead of passenger.  The illustrations are rich and the last scene of May running into her grandmother's house evokes the warmth of a cozy home on a snowy street.

My son and I talked about why her parents send her by mail (to save money) and why they didn't drive (no car, no road).  Then off we went to Google Earth to check out the journey and follow May's route along the railroad tracks.  We laughed at the fifty three cents worth of stamps affixed to May's winter coat.  This books skillfully captures an event that's hard to imaging today.

There's a Wolf at the Door by Zoe B. Alley; pictures by R.W. Alley

If you are looking for something beyond the classic (standard) retelling of fairy tale standards then grab this book.  We laughed and laughed as these five tales are retold in a wonderfully drawn comic-book style.  There is just enough humor to keep the stories moving while the core of the stories holds true.

My favorite part: the continuity from one story to another.  Alley cleverly uses the wolf to link these five classic tales.  You can read one story a night or grab the flashlight and enjoy them all in one shot.