To Burp or Not to Burp: A Guide to Your Body in Space

by Dave Williams, Loredana Cunti, Theo Krynauw (Illustrator)

Overview

Of all the questions astronauts are asked by kids, the most frequent one is “How do you go to the toilet in space?”
This book not only answers that question, but many others about the effect of zero gravity on the human body:
How do you brush your hair in space? What happens when you sweat? What does food taste like? The best thing is that the answers are provided by Dr. Dave Williams, a NASA astronaut who speaks from first-hand experience. Written for kids ages 7 to 10, this book uses age-appropriate language to explain the different phenomena that astronauts encounter during a mission. The bright, colorful pages, short blocks of text accompanied by photos and humorous illustrations make this a very attractive choice for young readers. The opening message from Dr. Dave empowers kids to follow his example by believing in themselves and following their dreams.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781554518531
Publisher:	Annick Press, Limited
Publication date:	10/11/2016
Series:	Dr. Dave ¿ Astronaut
Pages:	56
Sales rank:	1,120,687
Product dimensions:	8.40(w) x 10.70(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	940L (what's this?)
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

About the Author

Dr. Dave Williams is a Canadian astronaut who participated in spaceflights aboard two NASA space shuttles; he also became an aquanaut through undersea research in the world's only underwater research laboratory. Dr. Williams currently works in healthcare and To Burp or Not to Burp is his first book. He lives in Oakville, ON, Canada.

Loredana Cunti specializes in children’s entertainment, a former Senior VP of Children’s Programming at Universal Pictures and a Cordon Bleu Pastry Chef. Loredana has developed book-based characters for TV including Geronimo Stilton and the Pink Panther. To Burp or Not to Burp is her first book. She lives in Toronto, ON, Canada.

Theo Krynauwis a freelance illustrator whose work includes hand drawn illustration for editorial, textbook and children’s publications. He lives in Cape Town, South Africa.

Editorial Reviews

10/01/2016
Gr 2–5—Astronaut Williams will have readers entranced with this short guide to bodily functions in space. Text and photos cover how Williams and his fellow astronauts go about daily life aboard the International Space Station: how they eat, bathe, wash their hair, brush their teeth, dispose of waste, and more. There is a range of information here, from lessons on gravity to the inventive ways astronauts have to buckle in to get a good night's sleep and, yes, go to the bathroom ("It's hard to do your business when you're weightless! That's why space toilets have foot restraints that help us to stay in place."). The text and cartoon illustrations maintain a humorous edge without ever becoming too outrageous. The photos include astronauts and cosmonauts, men and women, working together in positive spirits. VERDICT A great purchase for schools and libraries that serve students interested in space travel and the grosser aspects of life in orbit.—Dorcas Hand, Annunciation Orthodox School, Houston, TX

School Library Journal

★ 2016-07-20
An ex-astronaut shares vital information about what he calls “our, um, bodily functions” in microgravity.Prospective space travelers can find out about astro-toilets from many guides, but with the help of co-author Loredana, Williams goes far beyond that—offering not only frank observations about toilet facilities for men and women both aboard the International Space Station and in space suits, but measures taken to deal with constipation and farting. In addition, he offers accepted techniques for keeping body, hair, nose, and teeth clean; how to eat and sleep in space; and what to expect in the way of temporary body changes in, for instance, height and bone density. Burping, as it turns out, is a chancy business, because there’s no way of telling what will come up: “make sure you have a cleanup plan ready!” He does leave out a few topics, notably menstruation, but along with the alimentary information, he also slips in some general facts about astronaut gear and practices. Krynauwis adds cartoon images of smiling children floating in the void to the mix of narrative blocks and photos of ISS residents at work and play. The cast, both in the photos and the cartoons, displays a range of nationalities and skin colors (including green). Riveting reading for junior astronauts—and just about everybody else. (index, resource lists) (Nonfiction. 7-11)

Kirkus Reviews