What do you think?
Rate this book
How We Got to the Moon: The People, Technology, and Daring Feats of Science Behind Humanity's Greatest Adventure
Everyone knows of Neil Armstrong's famous first steps on the moon. But what did it really take to get us there?
The Moon landing is one of the most ambitious, thrilling, and dangerous ventures in human history. This fully illustrated book tells the stories of the 400,000 unsung heroes--the engineers, mathematicians, seamstresses, welders, and factory workers--and their innovations and life-changing technological leaps forward that allowed NASA to achieve this unparalleled accomplishment.
From the shocking launch of the Russian satellite Sputnik to the triumphant splashdown of Apollo 11, Caldecott Honor winner John Rocco answers every possible question about this world-altering mission. Each step in the space race is revealed, examined, and displayed through diagrams, experiments, moments of crisis, and human stories.
The Moon landing is one of the most ambitious, thrilling, and dangerous ventures in human history. This fully illustrated book tells the stories of the 400,000 unsung heroes--the engineers, mathematicians, seamstresses, welders, and factory workers--and their innovations and life-changing technological leaps forward that allowed NASA to achieve this unparalleled accomplishment.
From the shocking launch of the Russian satellite Sputnik to the triumphant splashdown of Apollo 11, Caldecott Honor winner John Rocco answers every possible question about this world-altering mission. Each step in the space race is revealed, examined, and displayed through diagrams, experiments, moments of crisis, and human stories.
264 pages, Hardcover
First published October 6, 2020
About the author
John Rocco
73 books135 followersRocco studied illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design and School of Visual Arts in New York City. He is the author of four acclaimed books for children: Wolf! Wolf!, winner of the Borders Original Voices Award for best picture book; Moonpowder, part of the Original Art Show at the Society of Illustrators; Fu Finds the Way, and Blackout, a New York Times Best Book of the Year and winner of a 2012 Caldecott Honor. Rocco also illustrated Whoopi Goldberg‘s Alice and the covers for Rick Riordan‘s multi-million copy internationally bestselling series Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Kane Chronicles, and The Heroes of Olympus. Most recently, Rocco illustrated the fantasy fairy tale, The Flint Heart, written by Katherine Paterson and her husband, John.
me with samFor many years Rocco has been an art director in the entertainment industry, both in the US and abroad. At Dreamworks, Rocco was the pre-production art director on the top-grossing animated film Shrek. For Walt Disney Imagineering, he designed attractions at Disney’s Epcot and served as art director for DisneyQuest, a virtual reality theme park in Downtown Disney. Rocco has worked with computer graphics pioneer Robert Abel, the creator of some of the first CGI commercials and special effects, and contributed to several museum projects including Newseum in Washington D.C. and Paul Allen‘s Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame.
Rocco lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Aileen and their daughter, Alaya.
me with samFor many years Rocco has been an art director in the entertainment industry, both in the US and abroad. At Dreamworks, Rocco was the pre-production art director on the top-grossing animated film Shrek. For Walt Disney Imagineering, he designed attractions at Disney’s Epcot and served as art director for DisneyQuest, a virtual reality theme park in Downtown Disney. Rocco has worked with computer graphics pioneer Robert Abel, the creator of some of the first CGI commercials and special effects, and contributed to several museum projects including Newseum in Washington D.C. and Paul Allen‘s Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame.
Rocco lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Aileen and their daughter, Alaya.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
September 10, 2020
There is only one word to describe this book: monumental. Both in subject and achievement, this is the space nerds ultimate book on how we solved one of the biggest problems in history: how to leave our planet and land on another world and get back safely. The scope is enormous but Rocco breaks it down in a way that anyone can understand and be totally in awe of. A must read book for STEM related classes.
May 2, 2021
I was reading together with my 10 year old. I loved it.
The explanation is crisp and clear with the right amount of details. The illustration is abstracted to the right level. I particularly appreciate the comprehensiveness of the book that it doesn't only focus on the sexy parts like the rocket and spaceship but also other factors for success like transportation, communication etc. Also, how it highlights the contribution of women! I believe this is important to encourage children's aspiration. Well done!
The explanation is crisp and clear with the right amount of details. The illustration is abstracted to the right level. I particularly appreciate the comprehensiveness of the book that it doesn't only focus on the sexy parts like the rocket and spaceship but also other factors for success like transportation, communication etc. Also, how it highlights the contribution of women! I believe this is important to encourage children's aspiration. Well done!
October 4, 2020
This is a soaring triumph - stellar in every way!
John Rocco set out to explain how every part of the Apollo/Saturn machine worked and how it was built. He especially wanted to show young readers the science and problem solving that was involved along the way. And he wanted to introduce some of the thousands of unsung people who contributed to this monumental achievement. He does all that in this fascinating, detailed and visually magnificent chronicle.
He begins with the origins of the Space Race in 1957 and a brief history of rocketry and then plunges into the nitty gritty of designing, building, testing and flying to the moon with all the steps, problems and triumphs along the way. As someone who has read many histories of this period AND lived through it, the early history was bit slow but I understand the necessity for young readers. The book becomes deeply interesting quickly at Chapter 2 with the discussion of the process of designing a rocket.
While this is a solid historical account of the Apollo effort, the focus is on the science, technology and engineering achievements. Rocco's prose is clear and understandable as he carefully distilled oceans of information for young readers. He does an excellent job of providing a thorough explanation without overwhelming the text. The tone is just right, informative, concise and filled with wonderful tidbits of related topics to heighten interest even for those only generally interested in the technical details. Space food, the disgusting but imperative issue of going to the bathroom in space, the history of the "human computers," and, something I always wondered about, what are all those people in the command center doing at all those monitors.
A wonderful feature of the book are the many sections that show some of the scientific problems faced along the way and the solution. Often these also include a simple experiment that kids can do that demonstrates the science behind the solution.
A highlight for me are the many short biographical inserts that feature some of the people involved in the effort who contributed important ideas, developments or efforts along the way. So many of these people were critical to the success of the mission but received very little public attention. Rocco includes people like Ann Montgomery, an engineer and the only woman allowed on the launchpad, Charles Draper who developed the Guidance system, or Eleanor Foraker, the Seamstress Manager for the Apollo Spacesuits.
Rocco explains in a Author's Note in the back matter that although there are plethora of photographs, blueprints and drawings available, he chose to create all the illustrations himself. He did that in order to make the concepts more accessible and understandable for readers without being overwhelmed by extraneous details. He also chose to use color as most of the original photographs are visual materials are black and white. The result is visually stunning as well as being deeply absorbing.
I read this in galley with only some of the planned back matter included. The Note on the Research was extremely interesting and even in galley form the visual impact of the book is outstanding. I am eager to see it in finished copy. This is a must purchase for every library collection and a perfect choice as a gift book for every science loving student.
John Rocco set out to explain how every part of the Apollo/Saturn machine worked and how it was built. He especially wanted to show young readers the science and problem solving that was involved along the way. And he wanted to introduce some of the thousands of unsung people who contributed to this monumental achievement. He does all that in this fascinating, detailed and visually magnificent chronicle.
He begins with the origins of the Space Race in 1957 and a brief history of rocketry and then plunges into the nitty gritty of designing, building, testing and flying to the moon with all the steps, problems and triumphs along the way. As someone who has read many histories of this period AND lived through it, the early history was bit slow but I understand the necessity for young readers. The book becomes deeply interesting quickly at Chapter 2 with the discussion of the process of designing a rocket.
While this is a solid historical account of the Apollo effort, the focus is on the science, technology and engineering achievements. Rocco's prose is clear and understandable as he carefully distilled oceans of information for young readers. He does an excellent job of providing a thorough explanation without overwhelming the text. The tone is just right, informative, concise and filled with wonderful tidbits of related topics to heighten interest even for those only generally interested in the technical details. Space food, the disgusting but imperative issue of going to the bathroom in space, the history of the "human computers," and, something I always wondered about, what are all those people in the command center doing at all those monitors.
A wonderful feature of the book are the many sections that show some of the scientific problems faced along the way and the solution. Often these also include a simple experiment that kids can do that demonstrates the science behind the solution.
A highlight for me are the many short biographical inserts that feature some of the people involved in the effort who contributed important ideas, developments or efforts along the way. So many of these people were critical to the success of the mission but received very little public attention. Rocco includes people like Ann Montgomery, an engineer and the only woman allowed on the launchpad, Charles Draper who developed the Guidance system, or Eleanor Foraker, the Seamstress Manager for the Apollo Spacesuits.
Rocco explains in a Author's Note in the back matter that although there are plethora of photographs, blueprints and drawings available, he chose to create all the illustrations himself. He did that in order to make the concepts more accessible and understandable for readers without being overwhelmed by extraneous details. He also chose to use color as most of the original photographs are visual materials are black and white. The result is visually stunning as well as being deeply absorbing.
I read this in galley with only some of the planned back matter included. The Note on the Research was extremely interesting and even in galley form the visual impact of the book is outstanding. I am eager to see it in finished copy. This is a must purchase for every library collection and a perfect choice as a gift book for every science loving student.
February 28, 2023
I agree with author David Macaulay: "Nothing short of stunning!"
John Rocco tells the story of all the people, all the technology, and all the uses of science that led to our first trip to the moon. It's an inspiring story, a story with nothing but heroes, people using their minds and resources to solve a big problem by solving hundreds and thousands of little problems. Every picture in the book was drawn by John Rocco which adds to the magnificence of this book.
Anyone with any interest in space would love this book.
John Rocco tells the story of all the people, all the technology, and all the uses of science that led to our first trip to the moon. It's an inspiring story, a story with nothing but heroes, people using their minds and resources to solve a big problem by solving hundreds and thousands of little problems. Every picture in the book was drawn by John Rocco which adds to the magnificence of this book.
Anyone with any interest in space would love this book.
July 20, 2020
I received an electronic ARC from Random House Children's Publishing through NetGalley.
It's obvious this author has done his research. Rocco presents the entire process for the Apollo moon trips in one source. He begins with the background of the Mercury and Gemini missions along with the Cold War competitive drive. From there, he explores every aspect of the Apollo missions from design through the entire Apollo 11 trip and landing.
The detailed information may be too murch for some middle grade readers but it is balanced with diagrams and text boxes that provide information in an easy to follow format.
Rocco captures the excitement and incredible science needed to make this happen. He honors the many diverse people involved as well as the many companies who had to work together to build the needed equipment from the rocket on down.
Further information provided at the end of the book - sources, bibliography, glossary.
Perfect all in one book for readers who are interested in how our space program evolved.
It's obvious this author has done his research. Rocco presents the entire process for the Apollo moon trips in one source. He begins with the background of the Mercury and Gemini missions along with the Cold War competitive drive. From there, he explores every aspect of the Apollo missions from design through the entire Apollo 11 trip and landing.
The detailed information may be too murch for some middle grade readers but it is balanced with diagrams and text boxes that provide information in an easy to follow format.
Rocco captures the excitement and incredible science needed to make this happen. He honors the many diverse people involved as well as the many companies who had to work together to build the needed equipment from the rocket on down.
Further information provided at the end of the book - sources, bibliography, glossary.
Perfect all in one book for readers who are interested in how our space program evolved.
October 24, 2021
This book is amazing! The detail and careful explanation in here is absolutely stunning and about as meticulous as the original design and planning for Apollo 11! It is about all the Apollo flights but primarily Apollo 11. Every single stitch to every single nut and bolt were checked and rechecked and tested and the Apollo 11 mission was followed through to its end in quarantine and that the moon rocks and soil were sent out to 142 carefully chosen scientists in 9 countries.
Highly recommended for all ages from perhaps 5th grade upwards. Younger if interested and capable of reading a book this size. The size was well chosen to accommodate the incredible detail Rocco illustrated.
Highly recommended for all ages from perhaps 5th grade upwards. Younger if interested and capable of reading a book this size. The size was well chosen to accommodate the incredible detail Rocco illustrated.
November 5, 2020
What a masterpiece ! This book should be used in classrooms and available in museums, especially space history museums! I love this author! This book should Win a lot of awards! I loved it! This book is highly recommended for all who are in interested in NASA & space travel!
October 20, 2020
With more than 250 gorgeous pages of rigorously researched and elegantly visualized stories of challenges, met and resolved, John Rocco's HOW WE GOT TO THE MOON is a master work befitting one of humanity's most daring and improbable collective achievements.
HOW WE GOT TO THE MOON inspires wonder at human ingenuity, science and engineering, while being at its heart a story about people. It beautifully celebrates the sum of the work of individuals—some famous, some unheralded—whom each in their own important way contributed to this mission.
As told in the book's opening pages, pioneering German rocket engineer Wernher von Braun was inspired as a child by Jules Verne's fictional novel FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. In turn, this book will surely transmit to its readers* a love of nature, problem-solving and adventure.
*My wife and I bought copies for both our young nephews/nieces and for family members who are engineers and doctors. It is a welcome breath of inspiration and optimism in mankind, for all ages, during tough times.
HOW WE GOT TO THE MOON inspires wonder at human ingenuity, science and engineering, while being at its heart a story about people. It beautifully celebrates the sum of the work of individuals—some famous, some unheralded—whom each in their own important way contributed to this mission.
As told in the book's opening pages, pioneering German rocket engineer Wernher von Braun was inspired as a child by Jules Verne's fictional novel FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. In turn, this book will surely transmit to its readers* a love of nature, problem-solving and adventure.
*My wife and I bought copies for both our young nephews/nieces and for family members who are engineers and doctors. It is a welcome breath of inspiration and optimism in mankind, for all ages, during tough times.
September 29, 2020
I received an eARC courtesy of Crown Books for Young Readers & NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
This book is a powerhouse. While some of the details might be more than what an average middle grade reader might be interested in learning, there is so much here for kids to pick and choose from. Scratch that-I think this is wonderful for all ages. I learned so much from this that I have never known. The illustrations are stunning, as expected. And the resources and further reading provided in the back matter only serve to enhance the knowledge.
Simply wonderful.
For libraries: Buy it!
This book is a powerhouse. While some of the details might be more than what an average middle grade reader might be interested in learning, there is so much here for kids to pick and choose from. Scratch that-I think this is wonderful for all ages. I learned so much from this that I have never known. The illustrations are stunning, as expected. And the resources and further reading provided in the back matter only serve to enhance the knowledge.
Simply wonderful.
For libraries: Buy it!
November 2, 2020
**Received a copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own**
This book was pretty good. I learned a lot about what took to get to the moon. There was a lot of technical/science stuff I didn’t quite understand (there’s a reason I didn’t go for a science major in college), but the information was all interesting.
I liked that we got information on some of the people who aren’t commonly talked about with the Apollo missions.
Overall, I think that anyone who’s interested in space/the moon, would really enjoy this book.
This book was pretty good. I learned a lot about what took to get to the moon. There was a lot of technical/science stuff I didn’t quite understand (there’s a reason I didn’t go for a science major in college), but the information was all interesting.
I liked that we got information on some of the people who aren’t commonly talked about with the Apollo missions.
Overall, I think that anyone who’s interested in space/the moon, would really enjoy this book.
December 22, 2020
Space may be the final frontier, but it is a mystery that we have already begun to explore, beginning with man's first trip to the moon in 1969. And for anyone who has wondered how it was done without the benefit of today's technology, Rocco has provided all the answers from the beginnings of NASA's space program, and including the step-by-step work of the engineers, mathematicians, and scientists involved in that successful moon landing. Rocco leaves nothing to the imagination, giving realistic explanations and descriptions of every step in the process of what he calls humanity's greatest adventure. He clearly loves his subject, and has done all the detailed illustrations himself. His goal was to produce the kind of book he would have wanted and poured over as a boy. The result is both informative and riveting. What makes it really work for young readers interested in science is that it isn't dry or boring, but written in a reader-friendly narrative style. Rocco has also included many of the diverse people who worked on the moon landing and who don't generally get the credit they deserve. Back matter includes A Note About Research, Sources, Documentaries, websites, Places Visited, and suggestions for Further Reading, and more. If you have a young or old reader who is interested in space, this is the book for them. It will keep them occupied for a long time and I wouldn't be surprised if they returned to it again and again. I'm giving a copy of this to a friend's son, as well as to my 95-year-old uncle who will love it. This book is simply knock your socks off wonderful.
January 19, 2022
"That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
As I was reading this book, I turned around at least twice telling my partner "This is a book our children will have". Now to be fair, he didn't hear me the first time and I'm not sure I want any children, but I want a copy of this book sitting around the house for sure.
I'm a space lover, so clearly I was curious to read this book - I thought I was about to stumble upon a nice reading, more children-like than actual essay, but it surpassed my previous expectations. This book is clear and simple, but not dull nor simplistic - it explains clearly and accurately, with care on both history and science regarding the topic. It also covers all the steps and anything you can think of when thinking about space missions: from the astronout's suits to the lanuch pad, from the engineering problems to their solutions and anything in the middle. And it obviously hyped me.
Table of Contents
1. A Race to the Moon
2. Designing a Moon Rocket
3. Building a Launch Vehicle
4. Building a Spacecraft
5. Staying Alive in Space
6. Support on the Ground
7. We Choose to Go to the Moon
Epilogue
Apollo Piloted Missions
Rating: ★★★★½
January 1, 2022
It took me around two solid weeks to read this book, but that’s not because it wasn’t interesting. Quite the opposite! It was so full of information that I had to read it in bite sized pieces. I often stayed up WAY past my bedtime, bent over the pages, taking in all the details. The illustrations are truly wonderful and I love how Rocco set aside multiple pages throughout each chapter to highlight individuals who might otherwise go unknown. I cannot get over the amount of research that went into the making of this book. I’ll admit, before reading this, I only had the tiniest bit of understanding of all that went into our first trip to the moon. However, there was a tedious balance of temperatures, volumes, weights, propellants, oxygen, safe exhaust options, trajectories, pressure waves, etc. Each section is complete with science experiments to do at home to better understand the dilemmas faced while attempting to get humans to the moon and back. Multiple trials and errors were discussed and many sections were written as Problem —> Solution. I’m so impressed that I’ve already bought a copy for our home for Christmas. I cannot wait to share this with my family!
July 6, 2023
2.5 stars
This book was very educational and informative. The section that I read had to do a lot with the creation of the Apollo spacesuit and other technological advances that made the moon landing possible. There was a section about the history of space food and how different people have made it possible for astronauts to have their favorite meals up in space. Another section talked about how astronauts are able to use the bathroom in space and how they account for the lack of gravity.
Ultimately, nonfiction isn’t really my thing, so I didn’t enjoy this too much. There are lots of pictures and diagrams throughout the book that make the information much more accessible and it’s written in a way that’s relatively engaging, though taking in so much information had me zoning out at times. There were lots of things that I learned about the Space Race and all of the work that went into making the moon landing possible.
This book was very educational and informative. The section that I read had to do a lot with the creation of the Apollo spacesuit and other technological advances that made the moon landing possible. There was a section about the history of space food and how different people have made it possible for astronauts to have their favorite meals up in space. Another section talked about how astronauts are able to use the bathroom in space and how they account for the lack of gravity.
Ultimately, nonfiction isn’t really my thing, so I didn’t enjoy this too much. There are lots of pictures and diagrams throughout the book that make the information much more accessible and it’s written in a way that’s relatively engaging, though taking in so much information had me zoning out at times. There were lots of things that I learned about the Space Race and all of the work that went into making the moon landing possible.
March 25, 2021
Wow! I never thought a children’s illustrated book about science could make me feel such emotions... this book is both incredibly well written, and beautifully illustrated. The right amount of information to really understand and absorb through the words and images. So many interesting tidbits and anecdotes about the quirks of these astronauts and their work, the 400,000 other individuals involved, alongside Newton’s laws of physics explained in the context of rockets.
My one criticism is that it definitely glossed over some less than savory parts, with an “all’s well that ends well” attitude, in regards to gender and racial disparities, and the true tensions and seriousness of the Cold War... but overall this book was choice.
My one criticism is that it definitely glossed over some less than savory parts, with an “all’s well that ends well” attitude, in regards to gender and racial disparities, and the true tensions and seriousness of the Cold War... but overall this book was choice.
April 15, 2023
Ik zal het kort houden. Geweldig boek! Erg interessant van begin tot eind. Erg mooie illustraties die complexere delen een stuk duidelijker maken. Al heb je interesse in hoe de reis naar de maan is gegaan en hoe alles is gebouwd en ontwikkeld is het zeker een aanrader. Enige nadeel is dat alles in het imperiale systeem staat en niet the metrische systeem. Jammer dat die kleine omrekening er niet waren. Verder een top boek!
January 14, 2021
Gorgeous illustrations gives this history of the space race an awesome edge. A great choice for lover's of history, space travel, engineering and historical figures. A fine coffee table book, too. To be picked up over multiple readings and enjoyed over time.
April 18, 2022
Very well done and interesting. It’s amazing how he broke down such a complex subject and the artwork is beautiful. However, the book is very long, and large in trim size, so I think there’s a rather limited audience for it.
February 12, 2023
This book has readers it is made for. I am not one of them. It is really dense in it's description and its science. I loved the illustrations and the focus on the individuals who helped with the moon landing though!
February 24, 2023
This is amazing, incredible, and an inspiring gem.
"What new grand idea will bring together hundred of thousands of individuals to achieve a common goal? And will you, the person reading this right now, be one of these individuals?"
"What new grand idea will bring together hundred of thousands of individuals to achieve a common goal? And will you, the person reading this right now, be one of these individuals?"
February 2, 2021
Excellent!!!
July 31, 2021
Great book about the journey to the moon!
June 23, 2020
Read an ARC.
Far more technical than I thought it would be.
Great that there are suggested experiments mixed in.
A bit of a slog to get through.
Far more technical than I thought it would be.
Great that there are suggested experiments mixed in.
A bit of a slog to get through.
January 26, 2021
NCTE Orbis Pictus Recommended Book 2021; ALA Sibert Honor Award 2021
REMARKABLE for the detailed illustrations and depth of content.
In the author's note, Rocco writes about how he set out to research and then explain every single part of the Apollo/Saturn machine. While readers learns about common NASA topics like "space food," they also learn about thousands of other pieces of equipment (and the people who created them) needed for this endeavor (e.g., F-1 engines, inertial platform, main control panels) and how this equipment works. These details are embedded in a larger narrative of how NASA got men to the moon.
Rocco created every illustration from scratch so that he could make the concepts more accessible to students. This is especially apparent in his diagrams explaining how components like the F-1 engine work.
Not a picture book you can read aloud to students. Definitely a reference book that your students will want to return to again and again. As a science teacher, this could be helpful in making connections between NGSS and real world applications, too. Recommended for grades 4-9.
REMARKABLE for the detailed illustrations and depth of content.
In the author's note, Rocco writes about how he set out to research and then explain every single part of the Apollo/Saturn machine. While readers learns about common NASA topics like "space food," they also learn about thousands of other pieces of equipment (and the people who created them) needed for this endeavor (e.g., F-1 engines, inertial platform, main control panels) and how this equipment works. These details are embedded in a larger narrative of how NASA got men to the moon.
Rocco created every illustration from scratch so that he could make the concepts more accessible to students. This is especially apparent in his diagrams explaining how components like the F-1 engine work.
Not a picture book you can read aloud to students. Definitely a reference book that your students will want to return to again and again. As a science teacher, this could be helpful in making connections between NGSS and real world applications, too. Recommended for grades 4-9.
October 17, 2020
This gorgeous book tells the story of the people, the engineering and technology behind how we got to the moon. The illustrations perfectly engage readers and show the story in beautiful detail. I bought one copy for my middle-school aged nephew and another for my husband and I know they will both love their Christmas presents! Great for all ages, this is a book that will absolutely grow with readers and be enjoyed over and over in new ways.
November 12, 2020
Rocco has produced a wildly engaging, comprehensive, and beautifully illustrated resource on NASA’s quest to send a human to the moon. Fully illustrated with pencil, watercolor and digital painting, the art is descriptive and visually appealing. From portraits to maps, diagrams and images of the moon, Rocco easily translates images and physics concepts to the untrained reader. Beginning with the Cold War space race and the 1957 launch of Sputnik by the Soviet Union, up to the Apollo 11 mission in 1969, every aspect of technology, physics, space vehicles, propulsion, lunar knowledge and spacesuits, including the personnel behind them, is covered. The layout of each page and page opening varies, with text, illustration, side bars and boxouts organizing and presenting facts. Many scientists are profiled, including many women I had never heard about, such as Dorothy Lee and Rita Rapp, as well as members of the Apollo workforce that were African Americans, such as Dorothy Vaughan and Charles Smoot. Non American scientists are also given mention. Author’s notes, sources, a bibliography, a list of acronyms, and an index add to the usefulness of the book for scholarly research.
February 7, 2022
What a breathtaking and painstakingly researched chronicle of the technology, ingenuity, and manpower involved in one of mankind's greatest achievements. Rocco's choice to illustrate every moment and his experimental asides make this a perfect choice for the casual browser, while his detailed accounts of every aspect of the Apollo missions from conception to fruition are ideal for avid space fans. He showcases the importance of problem solving and computational thinking in STEM fields in a way that will inspire budding young scientists and engineers. The final chapter on the moon landing itself evokes the palpable suspense and excitement of being a spectator and watching it happen live (or at least what I imagine it must have felt like). I would recommend this book to anyone interested in space travel.
August 1, 2021
The best book I've read about the moon and the Apollo program and I've read a few. In the author's notes at the end of the book John Rocco said he wanted to create a book he would have devoured as a boy. He succeeded. Read this one yourself and marvel at the illustrations and then read it with a younger relative or friend. Perfect for any kid who loves space, mechanics, engineering, how-to do complicated things. Very inspiring.
My review: https://headfullofbooks.blogspot.com/...
My review: https://headfullofbooks.blogspot.com/...
May 11, 2021
Fantastic.
March 19, 2021
How We Got the Moon is an expository text suitable for grades 4-8 that details the exciting history, technology, and science behind landing on the moon for the first time. Rocco's engaging writing style and captivating illustrations allow young readers to become curious and interested with the topic. Rocco starts by explaining how the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union caused a race space and to the moon. The Russians were the first in space with the launch of Sputnik in 1957. This caused paranoia is the American people, which then lead to the creation of NASA in 1958. Next, Americans had to figure out how to get to the moon by designing a moon rocket. This book is rich in informational illustrations and text features to explain complex scientific concepts, such as how an airplane flies in comparison to how a rocket flies. Rocco also does a wonderful job with putting things into perspective for young readers. For example, he uses illustrations to help readers visualize the Earth-Moon scale with a basketball and a tennis ball, and a basketball court to demonstrate the distance between the Earth and the moon. Even more impactful, he uses a finger that is just about to touch a basketball to illustrate the distance that the Mercury astronauts traveled from Earth. These explanations really help to put this complex information into perspective for young readers. I also really liked that Rocco included an entire page dedicated to Katherine Johnson's essential contribution to NASA. He also makes sure to include other women such as Dorothy B. Lee and JoAnn H. Morgan, which is important for students to see that anyone can be a scientist, not just white men.
This text is so versatile in the classroom because it's perfect for interdisciplinary integration! There are so many ways to use this book...
Social Studies/History:
Students can create a timeline of the key events leading Americans to the moon.
Students can also choose their favorite NASA scientist that worked during this time and create a live museum presentation.
Students can research more about the Cold War and create a venn diagram comparing and contrasting the United States and the Soviet Union.
Students can research and write about how the Civil Rights movement during this time and how segregation and sexism impacted women at NASA such as Katherine Johnson.
Science:
Students can design their own working model rocket and write a report explaining their plan and scientific reasoning.
Students can explore circuits and electricity by creating their own working battery and then writing an explanation of how and why their battery works, as well as how it relates to the fuel cells from the Apollo.
Reading:
Text Structure: Students can look for 3 problems and solutions and explain the significance of how that impacted the ability to go to the moon.
Text Features: Students can do a scavenger hunt to locate various text features and explain their purpose and importance for readers.
This text is so versatile in the classroom because it's perfect for interdisciplinary integration! There are so many ways to use this book...
Social Studies/History:
Students can create a timeline of the key events leading Americans to the moon.
Students can also choose their favorite NASA scientist that worked during this time and create a live museum presentation.
Students can research more about the Cold War and create a venn diagram comparing and contrasting the United States and the Soviet Union.
Students can research and write about how the Civil Rights movement during this time and how segregation and sexism impacted women at NASA such as Katherine Johnson.
Science:
Students can design their own working model rocket and write a report explaining their plan and scientific reasoning.
Students can explore circuits and electricity by creating their own working battery and then writing an explanation of how and why their battery works, as well as how it relates to the fuel cells from the Apollo.
Reading:
Text Structure: Students can look for 3 problems and solutions and explain the significance of how that impacted the ability to go to the moon.
Text Features: Students can do a scavenger hunt to locate various text features and explain their purpose and importance for readers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews