Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-6-Aimed at readers who will be part of the first generation of true space tourists, this breezy guide offers general advice about how to prepare for the trip, what to pack, what food and accommodations are going to be like, and suitable recreations both in Earth's orbit and on the Moon. Keeping the tone light, Goodman mentions hazards from vacuum to carbonated drinks (burping in microgravity brings up more than just CO2), intersperses her narrative with amusing or inspirational comments from astronauts and space scientists, and closes with leads to print and Web resources that are well chosen to turn armchair travelers into the other sort (when technology finally catches up with demand, that is). To the accompanying broad array of space and astronaut photos Slack adds goofy cartoon images of figures or spacecraft-sometimes actually within the photos themselves. Aside from an inaccurate claim that "most spacecrafts' engines work only in space," and a vague reference to the danger of an "occasional galactic ray," the information, some of which is drawn from talks with astronauts, reflects either actual conditions and experiences in space or credible speculations about the near future of recreational off-planet outings.-John Peters, Children's Literature Consultant, New York City (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Goodman offers solid information about spacecraft, flight, and the effects of space on the human body in this "travel guide." Readers are encouraged to imagine packing for a space trip, training for the effects of weightlessness, eating and drinking on a space station, and the views from above earth. Cartoon illustrations, photographs, quotes, and asides crowd the pages. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
With space tourism close to becoming a reality, Goodman and Slack offer aspiring young intergalactic travelers an entertaining and informative travel guide. The slim handbook gives readers who will be the first generation of true space tourists general advice about how to prepare for the trip, what to pack, what food and accommodations will be like, and recreational opportunities both in Earth's orbit and on the moon. She also highlights some hazards, such as drinking carbonated drinks: Burping in microgravity brings up more than just CO2. The details included are both revelatory and delivered in a way that maximizes engagement: Space tourists are advised to make sure words on the walls are right side up when orienting themselves in zero gravity. The breezy narrative also incorporates amusing and inspirational comments from astronauts and space scientists. In addition to an abundant collection of space and astronaut photographs are goofy cartoon images complementing Goodman's light tone. An unfortunate oversight in the suggestions for further reading is the omission of Tanya Lee Stone's Sibert-winning Almost Astronauts (2009) among other books on space travel. A fizzy look at what space vacationers of the near future can expect. (photographs, glossary, websites, source notes, index [not seen]) (Nonfiction. 8-12)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
