Michael Collins

August 1, 2019

Gr 3-5-Unless you are a serious NASA enthusiast, the name Michael Collins might be hard to place-and that is why his story fits so well in the "Discovering History's Heroes" series. The author deftly describes the path of Collins from growing up on army bases and building model planes to traveling to the moon as part of Apollo 11. Readers may be amazed to learn about all the preparation that NASA required of its astronauts, including jungle survival training in Panama. Along with a thorough look at the career of Collins, there are also background details such as how the names were chosen for the NASA programs or how the U.S. Navy helped to recover space capsules when they returned to Earth. Endnotes and a bibliography offer readers a place to start their own exploration into the life of Michael Collins. VERDICT What truly brings this historical figure to life is the use of quotations from Collins's own writing. An excellent addition to biography collections, with ties to STEM, U.S. history, and character education.-Suzanne Costner, Fairview Elementary School, Maryville, TN

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