  | Moon landing (DK Science Stories) Author: Krensky, Stephen | |
| Price: $19.08 | ||
Summary:
On July 16, 1969, three men sit at the top of a towering rocket. Strapped into their Command Module, the astronauts brace themselves as the engines roar into life, flames lick out from beneath the rocket, and the ground starts to tremble. They are going where no one has ever been before.
| Illustrator: | Samuel, Greta |
Reviews:
School Library Journal (03/20/26)
Booklist (04/01/26)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 03/20/2026 Gr 4–7—Krensky's retelling of the moon landing by the astronauts of Apollo 11 covers the main events starting with the liftoff on July 16, 1969 and ending with splashdown on July 24,1969. Based on the mission logs and the astronauts' own recollections, the book follows the adventures of the three-man crew as they complete each stage of their mission. Quotes from the astronauts as well as mission control in Houston give readers a glimpse into what really happened as events unfolded. A brief epilogue explains what took place during recovery and the required quarantine that occurred after. Short explanations of the personal experiences of each astronaut are also included. Although the lack of source notes, photographs, and an index might make this title unhelpful for reports, and slight fictionalization is mentioned but not detailed, this book reads as a compelling adventure story with attractive illustrations that may encourage young readers to investigate further. VERDICT A nice addition to middle grade collections where compelling narrative nonfiction is desired.—Heidi Grange - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 04/01/2026 Krensky’s account of the Apollo 11 space mission is written in present tense, describing technical events and human reactions in real time. Readers are walked step-by-step through countdown, ignition, blast-off, and every subsequent action, from checking and rechecking the spaceship’s roughly three million parts to eating and sleeping, dealing with unexpected events, the actual touchdown, collecting specimens, reentering Earth’s atmosphere, and coming home safely. The author relied on memoirs and reports written by the three astronauts (Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Mike Collins) to recreate conversations and share the men’s emotions, whether fears and worries or awe and exhilaration. There’s an overview of the missions that led up to the successful venture and a brief “What Happened Next” epilogue. Ample graphics, primarily in muted hues of orange and blue, portray dramatic action scenes; space vistas; detailed close-ups of spacesuits, equipment, and machinery; and flight paths. There aren’t any notes or references, but this offering still does a fine job of stirring interest and conveying the monumental task of getting humans on the Moon. - Copyright 2026 Booklist.
