Books transport young readers from Earth to the stars
‘Mae Among the Stars’
by Roda Ahmed and illustrated by Stasia Burrington HarperCollins, 40 pp., $17.99 Ages 4-8 became American in a girls stars. inspiration the hero 1992, When Stars.” looking Now, for she the Mae a to It’s for her generation also to first travel Jemison a “Mae reach life beautiful became African is to Among the the space of picture Ahmed, author, book and a black Stasia written Norwegian by Roda Burrington, illustrator. a JapaneseAmerican It tells the who story dreams of “Little of dancing Mae,” in space and floating among the stars. She reads every book on space at the school library and even makes her own astronaut costume. And she goes on to live her dreams. The message for young readers: “If you can dream it, if you believe it and work hard for it, anything is possible.”
‘Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth’
Written and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers Penguin for Young Readers, 48 pp., $19.99 Ages 3-7
“Here We Are” was an idea that came to bestselling picture-book author and illustrator Oliver Jeffers after the birth of his son, Harland. Jeffers, who has penned 16 children’s books, searched for ways to teach his growing boy about the Earth, from the planets floating in space to the creatures swimming in the ocean. His story takes young readers on a funny and colorful journey through life with bonus lessons about being kind to animals and people, even those who don’t look or sound like them.
‘My Journey to the Stars’
By Scott Kelly and illustrated by Andre Ceolin Crown Books for Young Readers, 48 pp., $17.99 Here’s another one for young space lovers. It’s the story of NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, who was the first American to spend an entire year in space. The picture book is a memoir about Kelly’s journey from childhood to space, with his personal photos and illustrations by Brazilian selftaught artist André Ceolin. Fans of Kelly’s adult book “Endurance: A Year in Space, a Lifetime of Discovery” will enjoy telling the story of this ordinary boy who grew up to do extraordinary things.
‘Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race’
by Margot Lee Shetterly with Winifred Conkling and illustrated by Laura Freeman HarperCollins Childrens, 40 pp., $17.99 Ages 4-8 Now you can share the inspiring story of “Hidden Figures,” the four African American female mathematicians who helped NASA launch men into space, with your little ones. Author Margot Lee Shetterly, who wrote the New York Times best-selling book (which was made into the Academy Award– nominated movie), and illustrator Laura Freeman explore the women’s story. “Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson and Christine Darden were good at math … really good,” Shetterly writes. It’s a history lesson that’s not in many textbooks (yet) and shows young readers how these women changed space travel forever.
‘Thank You, Earth’
Written and photographed by April Pulley Sayre HarperCollins Childrens, 40 pp., $17.99 Award-winning photographer April Pulley Sayre captures the simple beauty of the planet in “Thank You, Earth: A Love Letter to Our Planet.” Sayre has written more than 65 children’s books, including “Raindrops Roll” and “Best in Snow.” Her latest effort makes the concepts of science and nature so easy to digest for children.