Brian Floca is the author and illustrator of the acclaimed picture books Locomotive, winner of the Caldecott Medal and a New York Times bestseller; Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11; and Lightship, each a Robert F. Sibert Honor Book. He is the illustrator of numerous additional books, including Avi’s Poppy series. You can visit him online at BrianFloca.com.
Gr 2-5-Brian Floca's marvelous nonfiction picture book (Atheneum/Richard Jackson Bks., 2009) relates the story of NASA's 1969 Apollo 11 mission to the moon. His simple, straightforward text begins on Earth, with pictures of the distant moon. The three astronauts who will become the first people to walk on the moon are introduced, and Floca clearly describes how they prepared for and executed this historic mission. Floca's beautiful illustrations highlight the text. Narrator Asa Dorfman reads in a clear, crisp tone that combines the excitement of the space mission with the reasonable tones of an adult explaining complex matters to children. This delivery effectively captures the text's expository style, while relating the stages in the project at a pace young readers can follow. Sound effects underscore the action without overpowering the narration. For example, the rockets rumble in the background, getting louder as Apollo 11 approaches liftoff. Dorfman pauses to let the rockets reach full blast, then carries on as Apollo 11 reaches outer space. Ethereal electronic music enhances the telling. An excellent choice for school and public libraries.-Mary Landrum, Lexington Public Library, KY Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.
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