The Big Beyond: The Story of Space Travel

The story of space travel began with humans interpreting the stars, Carter suggests (“And in those stars across the night,/ they drew some creatures formed of light:/ crab and lion, bull and bear”). Illustrations show a quick progression of technological advancements, from Galileo peering through a telescope to flying machines and satellite Sputnik 1, which “soared/ toward the heavens,” first carrying animal passengers such as Laika the dog. In Cushley’s sturdy artwork, families surround their televisions as the Saturn V carrying Apollo 11 takes off. Readers themselves are invited to dream about future voyages: “We’ll need an astronaut (or two)—/ so what do you think?/ Could it be you?” A wide-lens survey of space exploration that names imagination and curiosity as precursors to exploration. Ages 3–7. [em](Apr.) [/em]