My Journey to the Stars

August 14, 2017
Releasing simultaneously with NASA astronaut Kelly’s adult memoir, Endurance, this picture book offers a condensed portrait of his life. It opens with Kelly’s 2016 departure from the International Space Station, where he spent a record-breaking 340 days. Noting that his identical twin and fellow astronaut Mark Kelly “is waiting for me back on Earth,” Kelly backtracks to their childhood, when they “always had a talent for finding trouble and taking risks.” Their parents’ fighting turned the twins into peacemakers, whose ability to stay calm in tough times served them well (“You never know when your problems can become your strengths”). Family snapshots and NASA photographs track Kelly’s career as a Navy fighter pilot and astronaut. Ceolin’s, soft, nostalgic illustrations are used mainly in the retrospective portions of the book; photographs dominate the pages after Kelly’s NASA career gets underway. The result is a bit of a visual hodgepodge, but Kelly’s account firmly underscores the rewards of dedication to one’s dreams. Ages 5–8. Author’s agent: Elyse Cheney, Elyse Cheney Agency. Illustrator’s agent: Mela Bolinao, MB Artists.

August 1, 2017
An astronaut's story, from early adventures with his twin brother (who also became an astronaut) to record-breaking feats in space.Though in most respects typical of astronaut profiles for younger readers, this one features unusually personal notes--a nod to his "girlfriend," Amiko, and early childhood memories of hiding in the bedroom with his brother when their parents fought--and also vivid writing. Kelly describes re-entry as "like going over Niagara Falls in a barrel--but while you're on fire!" In a personable voice he highlights major youthful experiences, then goes on to give quicker accounts of his training and career, which began with a life-changing reading of Tom Wolfe's The Right Stuff (1979) and culminated in four missions capped by a year spent in orbit to track long-term physical changes, with his brother back on Earth serving as control. (Kelly will doubtless cover all of this in greater detail in his memoir for adult readers, scheduled for publication at the same time.) In an ill-judged attempt to fill in gaps, the illustrations, most of which are a mix of family snapshots and official NASA photos, alternate with or are superimposed on very simply drawn cartoon portraits or frames. The Kelly family is white; some astronauts and other figures in both the photos and in Ceolin's scenes are dark-skinned. The pictures are a patchwork, but the authorial voice is distinct and the story has its unique aspects. (Picture book/autobiography. 7-9)

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October 1, 2017

K-Gr 2-Astronaut Kelly recalls the early experiences that led up to his joyful return to Earth in March 2016, after spending nearly a year in space. This picture book biography introduces the wiggly, unfocused student who, with his twin brother Mark, enjoyed risk-taking adventure and learned to stay calm in the face of parental storms. It was Tom Wolfe's biography of the Mercury Seven, The Right Stuff that inspired Kelly to become an astronaut. Both brothers joined NASA in 1996 and flew into space four times-separately, "in case something went wrong." Kelly's long sojourn in the International Space Station (ISS) offered a unique scientific opportunity because Mark remained on Earth as a comparison. The first-person narrative is immediate and relatively simple. It opens with the astronaut entering the tiny space ship that will take him back to Earth, flashes back through childhood and training, and ends with a happy splash in his home swimming pool. Photographs from the Kellys' childhood as well as Scott's time in the ISS are reproduced on appropriate backgrounds. Their realism makes an interesting contrast with Ceolin's smooth digital illustrations and almost featureless figures. Timed to appear alongside his adult memoir, Endurance: A Year in Space this story of his preparation and his experience has well-chosen details and just the right amount of information for his intended audience. VERDICT Pair with Carmella van Vleet's To the Stars!: The First American Woman To Walk in Space to inspire a new generation of space travelers.-Kathleen Isaacs, Children's Literature Specialist, Pasadena, MD

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