{"id":2039,"date":"2018-06-29T19:15:52","date_gmt":"2018-06-30T00:15:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.learningtostem.com\/?p=2039"},"modified":"2018-06-29T19:37:27","modified_gmt":"2018-06-30T00:37:27","slug":"a-is-for-astronaut-book-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.learningtostem.com\/a-is-for-astronaut-book-review\/","title":{"rendered":"A is for Astronaut: Book Review"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3 class=\"bluefontheader\">General Book Information<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Author<\/strong>: Astronaut Clayton Anderson<\/br><br \/>\n<strong>Illustrator<\/strong>: Scott Brundage<\/br><br \/>\n<strong>Lexile Score<\/strong>: 1060<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.learningtostem.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/A-is-for-Astronaut-Front-Cover.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.learningtostem.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/A-is-for-Astronaut-Front-Cover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"734\" height=\"610\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2048\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.learningtostem.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/A-is-for-Astronaut-Front-Cover.jpg 734w, https:\/\/www.learningtostem.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/A-is-for-Astronaut-Front-Cover-300x249.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 734px) 100vw, 734px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"bluefontheader\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sleepingbearpress.com\/shop\/show\/11791\">From the Publisher<\/a><\/h3>\n<p>\u201cRetired astronaut Clayton Anderson takes readers on an A to Z flight through the alphabet from astronaut and blastoff to spacewalk and Zulu Time. Topics cover the history of NASA, science, and practical aspects of being an astronaut using fun poems for each letter paired with longer expository text in the sidebars. Perfect for science buffs, budding astronauts, and astronomy lovers of all ages.\u201d<center><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\namzn_assoc_tracking_id = \"lt0c03-20\";\namzn_assoc_ad_mode = \"manual\";\namzn_assoc_ad_type = \"smart\";\namzn_assoc_marketplace = \"amazon\";\namzn_assoc_region = \"US\";\namzn_assoc_design = \"enhanced_links\";\namzn_assoc_asins = \"1585363960\";\namzn_assoc_placement = \"adunit\";\namzn_assoc_linkid = \"0bf0715c66999bdd9d526f2c174f2332\";\n<\/script><br \/>\n<script src=\"\/\/z-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/onejs?MarketPlace=US\"><\/script><\/center><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"bluefontheader\">My Review<\/h3>\n<p><em>A is for Astronaut<\/em> was featured on our list of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.learningtostem.com\/recently-published-stem-books-kids-march-2018\/\">newly released STEM books in March 2018<\/a> and I was willing take a more thorough look at it. But honestly\u2026I wasn\u2019t expecting much. When I first saw this book, I assumed it was a straightforward ABC book using space as a backdrop to teach young children about the alphabet. The cover looked charming, but not particularly stimulating. I honestly wondered if the book would be too simple my five year old to really enjoy.<\/br><br \/>\nBut when I opened the book, I found something <strong>completely different<\/strong> from my initial expectations. I can assure you, <em>A is for Astronaut<\/em> isn\u2019t a cute little ABC book. It\u2019s incredibly informative, creative, beautifully illustrated, and fun to read for a wide range of ages. A is for Astronaut is certainly a case of \u2018DON\u2019T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER.\u2019<\/br><br \/>\nWhen I opened the book, I was immediately struck by illustrations. The art was not what I expected based on the book\u2019s cover. The illustrations are vibrant, detailed, and quite beautiful. The images on every page present a fun mix of whimsy and realism; the art reminds me a lot of David Shannon\u2019s work in <em>A Bad Case of Stripes<\/em>.<\/br><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.learningtostem.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/A-is-for-Astronaut-Illustration-1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.learningtostem.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/A-is-for-Astronaut-Illustration-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"718\" height=\"603\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-2049\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.learningtostem.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/A-is-for-Astronaut-Illustration-1.jpg 718w, https:\/\/www.learningtostem.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/A-is-for-Astronaut-Illustration-1-300x252.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 718px) 100vw, 718px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\nAs I dug into the book, I noticed that the text presents a good mix of whimsy and realism as well: The whimsy comes from Anderson\u2019s fun use of rhyme on each page, and the realism comes from the accompanying sidebar with factual information about each space-related topic.  While A is for Astronaut is technically an alphabet book, it\u2019s more of a science book employing the alphabet as an organizing structure. Anderson uses the ABCs to provide information about energy, galaxies, meteors, oxygen, and much more. <\/br><br \/>\nWhile the book is exceptionally science-focused, I do love how Anderson incorporates verse. I believe this makes the content appealing to kids of various ages and grade levels.  I also think this structure gives readers options in how to approach this text: For younger children, this book can simply be read as a fun and informative rhyme. For older kids, or younger ones with a deeper interest in space, the sidebar information can be incorporated for a more thorough story about space, engineering, and exploration.<\/br><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.learningtostem.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/A-is-for-Astronaut-Illustration-2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.learningtostem.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/A-is-for-Astronaut-Illustration-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"591\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-2050\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.learningtostem.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/A-is-for-Astronaut-Illustration-2.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.learningtostem.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/A-is-for-Astronaut-Illustration-2-300x236.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\nMy only real critique is that Anderson\u2019s rhymes can, at times, read a bit peculiar. But rhyming well is incredibly difficult and most of his rhymes do read naturally\u2026there were just a few that didn\u2019t quite roll off the tongue. But I believe that one of the greatest things Anderson brings to this book is his own life experience. The fact that Anderson is a retired astronaut adds a layer of expertise and authority that is undeniable while reading. His style is also one that encourages learning: he clearly states that astronauts are constantly investigating, advancing technology, and searching to answer questions about the universe. Through this book, he invites kids to participate in this constant search for more information and discoveries.<\/br><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.learningtostem.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/A-is-for-Astronaut-Illustration-3.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.learningtostem.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/A-is-for-Astronaut-Illustration-3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"731\" height=\"598\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-2051\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.learningtostem.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/A-is-for-Astronaut-Illustration-3.png 731w, https:\/\/www.learningtostem.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/A-is-for-Astronaut-Illustration-3-300x245.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 731px) 100vw, 731px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\nEven if your child just has a general interest in space, or if she is already proclaiming that she will travel to the moon one day, give this book a try. As mentioned, don\u2019t overlook this one based on the cover or the title. There is sure to be something in its pages to inform and entertain kids of nearly every age\u2026and even adults!<center><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\namzn_assoc_tracking_id = \"lt0c03-20\";\namzn_assoc_ad_mode = \"manual\";\namzn_assoc_ad_type = \"smart\";\namzn_assoc_marketplace = \"amazon\";\namzn_assoc_region = \"US\";\namzn_assoc_design = \"enhanced_links\";\namzn_assoc_asins = \"1585363960\";\namzn_assoc_placement = \"adunit\";\namzn_assoc_linkid = \"0bf0715c66999bdd9d526f2c174f2332\";\n<\/script><br \/>\n<script src=\"\/\/z-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/onejs?MarketPlace=US\"><\/script><\/center><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>General Book Information Author: Astronaut Clayton Anderson Illustrator: Scott Brundage Lexile Score: 1060 From the Publisher \u201cRetired astronaut Clayton Anderson takes readers on an A to Z flight through the alphabet from astronaut and blastoff to spacewalk and Zulu Time. Topics cover the history of NASA, science, and practical aspects of being an astronaut using [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"wppr_data":{"cwp_meta_box_check":"No"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>A is for Astronaut: Book Review<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.learningtostem.com\/a-is-for-astronaut-book-review\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A is for Astronaut: Book Review\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"General Book Information Author: Astronaut Clayton Anderson Illustrator: Scott Brundage Lexile Score: 1060 From the Publisher \u201cRetired astronaut Clayton Anderson takes readers on an A to Z flight through the alphabet from astronaut and blastoff to spacewalk and Zulu Time. 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