Hardcover, 40 pages
ISBN-10: 1442458240
ISBN-13: 9781442458246
Grades: P - 3
Synopsis:
"A heartwarming picture book tale of the power of the small, from bestselling author and retired NASA astronaut Commander Mark Kelly.
Astronaut Mark Kelly flew with “mice-tronauts” on his first spaceflight aboard space shuttle Endeavour in 2001. Mousetronaut tells the story of a small mouse that wants nothing more than to travel to outer space. The little mouse works as hard as the bigger mice to show readiness for the mission . . . and is chosen for the flight! While in space, the astronauts are busy with their mission when disaster strikes—and only the smallest member of the crew can save the day. With lively illustrations by award-winning artist C. F. Payne, Mousetronaut is a charming tale of perseverance, courage, and the importance of the small!"
My Thoughts:
I had stumbled upon Mark Kelly's book after reading "Gabby," which he co-wrote with his wife, Gabrielle Giffords, the congresswoman who was shot while meeting with her constituents in Arizona. During this attempted assassination, six people lost their lives and thirteen were wounded. Gabby suffered a shot to her head and survived. This book shares their account of this horrific event and her road to recovery. It was truly an awe inspiring and honest book, that I couldn't put down. Once I was done, I Googled Mark to see what other books he wrote and stumbled across "Mousetronaut", his first children's book, and couldn't wait to pick up and share with the girls.
Did you know that mice have been to space? Mark Kelly was on the Endeavor mission, where six mice were brought into space, and after seeing one mouse excited about the weightlessness feature, he came up with the idea for this book. This cute book, which is beautifully illustrated, follows Meteor, an unlikely choice to send up in Space, who ends up using his tiny size to help the crew rescue a key which becomes lodged in the control panel. Without Meteor's help, they will not be able to return home.
Children will enjoy the story, and will have you flipping back to point out things they say on each page. And, at times, you may find your little Outer Space fans flipping through this easy to read and understand book, just to admire the illustrations. Once you see Meteor, your heart will melt. He is so darn cute. This book has become a favorite at bedtime, and I enjoy sharing stories with the girls, which are based on true life events.
So, if you are looking for a new book to share with your children, why not pick up a copy of "Mousetronaut" today. I know you will love this cute story just as much as we do! :-) And, if you are looking for a book to read, why not check out "Gabby," which is also available at Simon and Schuster? If you do read either of these books, I'd love to hear what you think.
About the Author:
Mark Kelly was a Captain in the United States Navy when he commanded the final mission of Space Shuttle Endeavour in May of 2011. A veteran of four space flights to the International Space Station he is a graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy and holds a masters degree from the U.S. Naval Post Graduate School. As a naval aviator he flew thirty-nine combat missions in Operation Desert Storm in 1991.
Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book by the publisher in order to write up an honest review. The views above are mine and mine alone.
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