By Brianna Caplan Sayres; illustrated by Ryan o’Rourke
32 pages; ages 3-7
Charlesbridge, 2020
theme: Mars, space, bedtime story
The first line in this story is a speech bubble. As Mom walks out the door she says, “I’m taking off for work! Have a good night!”
While Mom and other NASA scientists prepare for a Mars landing of the rover, Curiosity, Dad flies the little girl up the stairs for a bedtime story. As he tucks her under covers, she imagines what it might be like for a rover to touch down on a strange planet.
What I like about this book: I love the girl’s imagination. She and Curiosity fly through space and, once landed, set off on an adventure of discovery. They send pictures and messages back to Earth, an echo of what is going on over at NASA. I also love the illustrations of her and Curiosity on Mars, rendered in tones of sandy Martian reds.
Beyond the Books:
Postcards from Curiosity! Last month, Curiosity celebrated 8 years of exploring Mars and sent home some postcards. Make your own “postcard from Mars.
A new rover is headed to Mars. On July 30, NASA’s Perseverance Rover launched from Cape Canaveral. NASA scientists expect Perseverance to make a Mars landing on February 18, 2021. Check out this video of the launch. And here’s more information about the new rover.
Design a rover using things from your recycling bin, Legos, or whatever you have at hand. Think about how it will travel across uneven ground, and how cameras might be attached.
Today we're joining Perfect Picture Book Friday, an event where bloggers share great picture books at Susanna Leonard Hill's website. Review copy provided by the publisher.
And I'm a fan of the gender role-flipping here! Mom goes to work and dad puts the child to bed. Fabulous!
ReplyDeleteYes, Jilanne - that's what makes this book just a bit extra-special. Highlighting that women play essential roles in STEM fields.
DeleteSue - you ought to link to the STEMTuesday book list. In case anyone is interested in a couple of other or older books. I have to find this book! Thanks for increasing my Library list! :-)
ReplyDeleteMom's in space, and dad's taking care of the kids. I love the daughter's imagination and how it mirrors what her mother is doing. Have you seen the new Netflix movie "Away," about a mother commanding a mission to Mars. Season 1 just began and it's good!
ReplyDelete