Look to the Stars
Aldrin, of Apollo 11 fame, leads a journey through centuries of air and space aviation and action, from Isaac Newton’s theories on gravity to the future of Martian colonies and space tours. The text packs in a lot of information, including praise of lesser-known heroes like rocket designer Robert Goddard and fighter pilot Chuck Yeager. Aldrin’s experience gives authority to that which he chooses to spotlight, but he also takes care to personalize each entry. For instance, when speaking of the Wright brothers, he notes that he and Neil Armstrong took a piece of fabric from the Wright Flyer 1 with them to the moon, writing, “I think Orville and Wilbur would have been pleased—and very proud.” The art has a soft touch that may not have enough vigor for some, though it is nicely varied, switching from double-page spreads and inserts to side-by-side comparisons of craft. Historical quotes run across the bottom of each page, and there are two fantastic time lines that fill in details of dates, craft, crew, and much more. Grades 1-3. --Daniel Kraus