Book Talk: Reading can take you out of this world

I had an exhilarating experience this past week. I, along with my Authors Out Loud! co-host Susan Supak, interviewed the first American woman astronaut to walk in space: Kathryn D. Sullivan. She and her co-author, Michael J. Rosen, have written How to Spacewalk: Step-by-Step With Shuttle Astronauts (Sullivan and Rosen, illustrated by Rosen, MIT Kids Press, 2023, 48 pages, $19.99).

Sullivan has a desire to connect, to bring you along on her journey. She has provided the reader with some of her background, but focuses in the book on the training for her missions as well as the execution. She speaks to the reader as if you are her partner and takes you through the whole time of training and then rocketing into space. There is so much to prepare for those few hours of walking in space, and then the safe return home.

Rosen is both co-author and illustrator. There are many spectacular NASA photos, but they are accompanied by clever sketches that provide a lighter side to the information.

You have an opportunity to watch the interview and get the inside scoop both on the book and the people who created it. Our interview is part of the University of North Texas Authors Out Loud! series created for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute program.

Another former astronaut has written an autobiography that covers the exhaustive training it takes to become a pilot in the astronaut program, along with the additional training once she became an astronaut. It all led to her becoming the first American woman to command a space mission. Through the Glass Ceiling to the Stars: The Story of the First American Woman to Command a Space Mission (Col. Eileen M. Collins with Jonathan H. Ward, Arcade Publishing, 2021, 316 pages, $27.99) is a perfect book for those who want a detailed knowledge of the journey to the stars and the traits that are important to be successful. Collins stresses leadership, preparation and teamwork.

I met astronaut Terry Virts in April at the Texas Library Association Conference. He, too, has walked in space. His new book The Astronaut’s Guide to Leaving the Planet (Terry Virts, illustrated by Andres Lozano, Workman Publishing, 2023, 171 pages, $14.99) is aimed at middle and high school readers. Illustrated with graphic novel-type pictures, it covers everything you ever wanted to know about being an astronaut and the space program. The text is clear and never condescending.

Information about space can be very complex, filled with unfamiliar terminology and cosmic ideas. Enter The Milky Way: An Autobiography of Our Galaxy (Moiya McTier, illustrated by Annamarie Salai, Grand Central Publishing, 2022, 244 pages, $27), a snarky, funny, yet informed look at our galaxy.

The author is both an astrophysicist and a folklorist and puts both areas of expertise to wonderful use in revealing the past and future of our universe. Adopting the voice of this celestial being, McTier covers 13 billion years of existence with informed scientific information and ancient and modern myths. Though some of it was over my head, I thoroughly enjoyed and learned from the book.

Noted author and scientist Neil deGrasse Tyson has provided us with a look To Infinity and Beyond: A Journey of Cosmic Discovery (Tyson and Lindsey Nyx Walker, National Geographic Books, 2023, 320 pages, $30). This compendium includes a history of the study of space, information on the planets in our solar system, discussions of topics such as light and gravity, and on to black holes, exoplanets, nebulae and galaxies. There are also some humorous discussions of how Hollywood has depicted space travel.

Whoa, I would never have believed I would have sat up most of a night reading about black holes! A Brief History of Black Holes: And Why Nearly Everything You Know About Them Is Wrong (Becky Smethurst, Macmillan, 2022, 280 pages, $25) is engaging, clearly written and witty. I even liked the footnotes! I actually understand what black holes are, for the first time and see why an astrophysicist would spend a lifetime studying them. One also gets a thorough history of astronomy and astrophysics and those who are the giants in the fields. Don’t overlook this book!

Ever wonder what it was like to be an astronomer? Are you prepared for oxygen deprivation, biting cold, heat, volcano eruptions, condors, tarantulas and many other hazards? The Last Stargazers: The Enduring Story of Astronomy’s Vanishing Explorers (Emily Levesque, Sourcebooks, 2020, 314 pages, $25.99) is a grand tour of the most powerful telescopes in the world and the folks who run them. Appealing stories such as the author’s viewing of the total eclipse in 2017 show that scientific knowledge does not block out the excitement and appreciation of beauty in celestial events.

The creators of a podcast on science have taken the most-often-asked questions and turned them into a book that combines scientific accuracy with humor to answer them. Frequently Asked Questions About the Universe (Jorge Cham and Daniel Whiteson, Riverhead Books, 2021, 324 pages, $28) include: Where did the universe come from? What happens if I get sucked into a black hole? And can we build a warp drive? These and more are answered in text and cartoons that provide a lighter look at the universe we live in.

Those who are drawn to graphic novels will enjoy the format of A Day in the Life of an Astronaut, Mars, and the Distant Stars (Mike Barfield, illustrated by Jess Bradley, Aladdin, 2023, 120 pages, $16.99). The book is chock full of short, lighthearted bits of information about the solar system, outer space and space travel.

For a more thorough exploration of space and the universe, The Space Encyclopedia (Gail Radley, Abdo Reference, 2022, 192 pages, $32.95) is perfect. Excellent design and photos enhance the precise text. The content covers the planets, the sun and moon, asteroids, stars, galaxies, the universe and space exploration. The book can be used as a reference tool or read it in its entirety.

For those who love facts they can drop into a conversation, 1,000 Facts About Space (Dean Regas, National Geographic Kids, 2022, 96 pages, $14.99) will be a treasure chest! Organized into 41 topics, the spreads are arranged in text boxes accompanied by excellent photos. Facts, fiction and urban legends fill the pages.

Can’t Get Enough Space Stuff (Julie Beer and Stephanie Warren Drimmer, National Geographic Kids, 2022, 128 pages, 14.99)? If you want some fun facts, awesome info, cool games, silly jokes and more, add this book to your list. Intriguing bits of information are presented in a colorful design with excellent photos. The book can be approached at any spot that snags the attention. It would be a super book to take on a road trip, especially if your plan includes a visit to a museum that displays exhibits on space. That is exactly how I plan to use it this summer!

One celestial event that was recorded in history and is still studied today is depicted in A Star Explodes: The Story of Supernova 1054 (James Gladstone, illustrated by Yaara Eshet, Owlkids Books, 2023, 32 pages, $21.95). This supernova became the Crab Nebula, which is how we refer to it today. The lovely illustrations show how the event was observed all over the world, the creation of the Crab Nebula, and how the starry remains have become part of life on our planet.

An exploration of the chemical makeup of the universe can be found in The Stardust That Made Us (Colin Stuart, illustrated by Ximo Abadia, Big Picture Press, 2022, 80 Pages, $24.99). This oversize book is illustrated in a graphic novel style. It explains where stardust came from, the metals and noble gasses that were formed and the people who have been giants in the study of this science.

The first book in a series that showcases astrophysics, I’m a Neutrino: Tiny Particles in a Big Universe (Eve Vavagiakis, illustrated by Ilze Lemesis, MIT Kids Press, 2022, 40 pages, $18.99) combines elegant illustrations with rhyming text to present a difficult science concept. Even with older students, a picture book is the best way to introduce a concept that is difficult to grasp.

This is a book that gave me goosebumps when I read it! Moon Tree: The Story of One Extraordinary Tree (Carolyn Fraiser, illustrated by Simona Mulazzani, Reycraft Books, 2022, 32 pages, $8.95) begins with one ordinary boy who loves trees, who became a firefighter who saved trees, who became a test pilot, who became an astronaut. Stuart Roosa took a container of tree seeds into space, and they circled the moon with him. When he returned, the container broke, but a forest researcher planted them, they were distributed around the country and then forgotten.

One ordinary girl at camp notices a sign that states “Moon Tree”, and her ordinary third grade class researches what the sign means. Eighty moon trees have been located and are mentioned in the back matter. You see, we are not ordinary, we can search for something extraordinary! No trees from Texas are mentioned in the book, but you can do a bit of research and locate several. I know I was able to!

Even the youngest can learn about space in Space Block (Christopher Franceschelli, art by Peski Studio, Abrams Appleseed, 2022, 80 pages, $17.99). This is an excellent board book with minimal text, colorful illustrations and flaps galore. It is fun for all ages.