Welcome to Mars: Making a Home on the Red Planet

by Marianne Dyson, Buzz Aldrin

Overview

Space is still the final frontier and Mars continues to make news and attract generations of young people. In this fascinating book, hero-astronaut Buzz Aldrin challenges curious kids to think about Mars as not just a faraway red planet but as a possible future home for Earthlings!  What will your new home be like? How will you get there? What will you eat for breakfast? Find out what life might be like far, far from Earth as you navigate your way through this fun and fascinating book. What kid wouldn't want to blast off with him on this (literary) journey!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781426322075
Publisher:	National Geographic
Publication date:	09/01/2015
Pages:	96
Product dimensions:	7.80(w) x 9.80(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	900L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

BUZZ ALDRIN speaks out as a vital advocate for the continuing quest to reach out into the frontier of space. As a pioneering astronaut who first set foot on the moon during mankind's first landing of Apollo 11—and as a rocket scientist who developed the orbital rendezvous technique critical to America's moon landings and the Aldrin Mars Cycler—Aldrin has a vision and in this book he plots out the path he proposes into an amazing future. MARIANNE DYSON is an award-winning author and former NASA flight controller. She has a degree in physics and became one of NASA's first women flight controllers during the early Space Shuttle program. She has won the Golden Kite Award and the American Institute of Physics Science Writing Award for her children's books. Her science articles and science fiction stories for adults and children have appeared in national magazines and anthologies. She has served as a technical reviewer for Scholastic, Enslow, and as a National Geographic Explorer.

Editorial Reviews

"Apollo 11 astronaut Aldrin welcomes young people to his crew for a journey 'to build the first city on Mars,' while related passages fill in information about the planet and the challenges of colonizing it." — Booklist


"Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, 'Welcome to Mars: Making a Home on the Red Planet' is profusely illustrated and enthusiastically recommended for students in 3 to 7, and should be a part of every school and community library collection for young readers." – Midwest Book Review


"Welcome to Mars... could be the book that inspires a new generation of astronauts.” — International Business Times





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From the Publisher

11/01/2015
Gr 4–8—Drawing on his experiences as an astronaut, Aldrin takes readers on a journey to the Red Planet. Written in the first person, Aldrin's narrative addresses his audience as though they are part of the first group to populate Mars. The history of space travel is covered—students will get a sense of just how much has been discovered over the years to make this "journey" a possibility—as well as what we know about Mars itself (the surface, gases, dust). Aldrin discusses what readers will need to do to successfully inhabit the planet, such as finding a home and growing food. Activities including making "Swiss cheese" terrain and comparing the sizes of Mars and Earth are interspersed throughout, offering potential astronauts an idea of what to expect on a voyage to Mars. Colorful images, a time line, and a map of Mars enhance the text. VERDICT A solid option for readers doing school reports or those curious about exploring a new frontier.—Denise Moore, formerly at O'Gorman Junior High School, Sioux Falls, SD

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