(2) YA This Wonderful Wizard of Oz–inspired graphic novel creatively explores growing up, loneliness, and loss. Fenn, a boy obsessed with space, finds and brings home the titular Tin Man, whose name is Campbell, after scavenging the local junkyard for scrap metal. The unusual pair becomes friends, but that relationship is overshadowed by the behavior of Fenn's teen sister, Solar. Formerly studious, Solar has started cutting school and hanging out with a band of slackers, including her possessive boyfriend, Merrick. The bright, angular illustrations emphasize the isolation and yearning felt by the three protagonists as they weather small-town life (which is pretty gloomy, despite several Oz references). Madson creates a rich backstory for Campbell, explaining why he wants a mechanical heart and the circumstances around his decades-long junkyard abandonment. Likewise, readers come to understand Solar's rebellious behavior, which is rooted in her desire to figure out who she really is in the wake of her beloved grandmother's death. Everything comes to a head with the obligatory tornado; what will resonate with readers most is the story's emotional arc.

Reviewer: Michelle Lee | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2022

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Sally Wern Comport. Slade (A Computer Called Katherine, rev. 7/19; June Almeida, Virus Detective!) follows noted chemist Morgan from her North Dakota childhood working on the family farm to the triumph of watching the rocket that launched the U.S.'s first satellite into Earth's orbit--using fuel she developed--with many obstacles and challenges along the way. Comport's (Wonder Women of Science) illustrations ("a hybrid of collage, digital collage, prisma drawings on vellum, and digital paint") are effective in showing the discrimination Morgan faced as a young female chemist in the 1940s, her isolation surrounded by men, and the wonderment of her accomplishments. Some of the spreads, for example, layer graph-paper squares and scientific formulas over Midcentury-style starbursts and linoleum patterns, appearing more complex in parallel with the difficulty of problems Morgan solved. Detailed back matter includes a timeline of Morgan's life and further biographical information; photographs; more on the rocket and satellite; and an author's note explaining that since such little information about her subject's work was available, Slade "used known facts to creatively fill in a few gaps." An engaging introduction to one woman's mostly unheralded contributions to American space flight.

Reviewer: Laura Koenig | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2022

(1) 4-6 In seven parts arranged chronologically, Rocco delivers a strikingly beautiful and highly informative account of the United States's audacious effort to send human beings to the moon. Tackling both historical and scientific concepts, the book examines everything from the space race to the mechanics of an F-1 rocket engine, with equal clarity. A plethora of full-color pencil, watercolor, and digital illustrations supports the conversational (and mostly present-tense) text. Frequent side panels feature biographical information about historical figures (often emphasizing the contributions of women, people of color, and production workers) as well as instructions for straightforward experiments for readers to try. Through skillful scaffolding, scientific concepts build in complexity throughout the book (e.g., Newton's Laws of Motion lead to Draper's Inertial Guidance System). Many formidable engineering challenges are presented through a clearly defined problem/solution format. From delicate portraits to intricate schematics to fiery liftoffs, Rocco creates a strong visual continuity throughout. The final chapter is a thrilling minute-by-minute account of the Apollo 11 mission, greatly enhanced by the previous information. A thoughtful epilogue praises the collaborative spirit of the Apollo missions and challenges readers with the following: "What new grand idea will bring together hundreds of thousands of individuals to achieve a common goal?" Extensive back matter includes a fact sheet on piloted Apollo missions, research/art notes, sources, further reading, commonly used acronyms, a map of Apollo lunar landings, and an index.

Reviewer: Patrick Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2020

(4) 1-3 Makers Make It Work series. Illustrated by Tammie Lyon. In each of these early-reader stories, the main character employs a makerspace skill--chemistry, rocketry, beekeeping, and sewing--to solve a problem. If the child's first effort fails, he or she persists to achieve success. The various illustrations (by different artists) are serviceable and the stories are fairly engaging, but kids will likely be more interested in the instructions for hands-on activities. Useful for early-elementary classrooms and makerspaces. Review covers these Makers Make It Work titles: Slime King, Rocket Rivals, The Broken Bees' Nest, and The Lost and Found Weekend.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(4) K-3 Rhyming text (sometimes awkwardly) tells of a rocket that shoots into space once a year to deliver a "Happy Birthday World" banner. The immersive, retro-style illustrations use bright colors contrasted against dark expanses of outer space; a final gatefold depicts fireworks surrounding Earth on one side and the solar system on the flip side. An author's note contributes more information about the age of our planet.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Diego Funck. Robert Goddard, who successfully launched the first liquid-fueled rocket in 1926, was a pioneer whose innovations continue to influence space exploration. Fulton's picture book biography emphasizes Goddard's perseverance and meticulous scientific documentation, which aided in his important breakthroughs. Funck's warmhearted illustrations document Goddard's growth from curious boy to scientist, the evolution of his experiments, and the technological trappings of the early-twentieth-century era. Bib.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) K-3 Pebble Plus: Hands-On Science Fun series. With descriptive directions and large, clear photographs, each appealing volume takes readers step-by-step through a simple experiment then explains the science behind it. A few materials may be hard to find, and the target audience will need adult help, but the concrete examples lend themselves well to the concepts of liquid density (Rainbow), gases (Rocket), and molecules (Balloon). Additional content available through the Capstone 4D app. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Pebble Plus: Hands-On Science Fun titles: How to Build a Fizzy Rocket, How to Make a Liquid Rainbow, and How to Make a Mystery Smell Balloon.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(3) 4-6 Eleven-year-old Alex makes audio recordings to send into space to inform intelligent beings about life on Earth. Book-smart Alex is clueless about his mom's troubles, his dead father, and why his older brother never visits. On a road trip from Colorado to Albuquerque to Las Vegas, he realizes that the truth he's been seeking is in the bonds with his family, friends, and beloved dog, Carl Sagan.

Reviewer: Dean Schneider

(3) K-3 Green Light Readers series. Illustrated by Jess Golden. When Lana can't convince her family to go to the moon (it's "far away" and "has no gravity"), she decides to go by herself. With glow-in-the-dark stars on her walls, some boxes-turned-rocketship, and a bit of imagination, Lana blasts off. Golden's watercolor illustrations effectively complement Silverman's text, which is just challenging enough for an emergent reader and dynamic enough for a classroom read-aloud.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Ward Jenkins. José earns money to buy himself a pair of rocket shoes. High-spirited rhymes describe him and other children "zooming, zipping, hopping, soaring. / Sky-high flying, world-exploring." After some rooftop high jinks, the mayor bans the shoes until José uses the forbidden footwear to rescue a neighbor and her cat from a snowstorm. Colorful digital illustrations depict a diverse cast of characters and plenty of action.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(4) 4-6 Stickmen's Guides to How Everything Works series. Illustrated by John Paul de Quay. With appeal for future engineers, this series looks at the history of selected machines and how they work, from basic design and function to inner workings. Technical drawings, including cross-sections and diagrams, and simple explanatory texts (in tiny font) illustrate, for example, how pistons are used to power engines. Stick figures throughout the books add unneeded but benign-enough novelty. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Stickmen's Guide to How Everything Works titles: Stickmen's Guide to Aircraft, Stickmen's Guide to Gigantic Machines, Stickmen's Guide to Trains and Automobiles, and Stickmen's Guide to Watercraft.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 Astrotwins series. This second series title (Project Blastoff), set in 1976 and based on the real childhood antics and imaginings of the author and his twin (both NASA astronauts), takes the twin protagonists to space to rescue a Russian cosmonaut trapped on the Salyut space station. Budding middle-grade astronauts will appreciate the well-paced blend of fiction, science, and history in this adventure story. Author's note. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(3) K-3 Fox schemes his way to winning first place in a jumping contest by building a jetpack, painted red-orange like his fur so no one will notice. Humor abounds as each animal contestant performs; Fox goes all the way to space and back. Digitally composed watercolor, ink, and pencil vignettes depict the animals' escapades, complementing the text and building tension until the story's funny conclusion.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Benji Davies. This lighthearted storytelling primer explains that every story begins "with nothing" before introducing a character who desires something and must somehow "earn it." A tale then develops about a ukelele-playing octopus and a spaceship, but the resolution is left up to budding storytellers (a.k.a. readers). The rich-hued digital illustrations and the characters' speech-bubble text echo the yarn's zany tone.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) 4-6 With Martha Freeman. Based on the childhood antics of NASA astronauts and twins Mark and Scott Kelly, this novel recounts a fictional summertime project. The brothers and their friends set out to build a rocket to orbit Earth--and they succeed. The premise strains credulity and scientific facts are awkwardly inserted into dialogue, but the adventure is well paced. Hardcore astronautics fans will enjoy this series-starter. Reading list. Glos.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(4) PS Illustrated by Macky Pamintuan. The zoo animals hop into a rocket and blast off to the moon, but an asleep-at-the-wheel rhino sends them off course, returning them to Earth. The text, with its quasi-rhymes, wordplay, and onomatopoeia, is awkward, but the story has an easy-to-follow trajectory. Clear, energetic digital illustrations reminiscent of film animation will engage both the space-travel and zoo-animal fandoms.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(3) PS Illustrated by Lori Nichols. "Kitten wants... / ...a helmet," plus "engines, gadgets, and lasers" and other seemingly feline-unfriendly items. Kitten's owner, a schoolmarmishly scolding child, tries to reason with her pet, who ultimately creates a rocket and blasts off--and earns the girl's respect and understanding. Thomas tells her free-spirited story--a celebration of resourcefulness--with impressively few words; Nichols's mischief-riddled illustrations fill in the gaps.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) PS Illustrated by Barroux. A rocket ship moves around the bright orange, yellow, and blue pages of this book introducing young children to prepositions: e.g., the rocket is behind a whale then in front; it zips from the top of a tree to the bottom. The attractive art is clean and simple, but the text does little to pull the images and ideas together.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) K-3 Davey departs from history (and science) to reimagine the fate of Laika, the stray dog shot into space by the USSR rocket Sputnik 2 in 1957. Only the barest facts are provided in this sentimental alternate version, complete with a happily-ever-after ending: a "loving family" of green aliens embraces the lonely dog. The stylish digital illustrations lend the book its charming retro feel.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) 4-6 Skurzynski outlines the history of rocketry, covering its origins in Chinese uses of gunpowder, the advances of the "Fathers of Modern Rocketry," the mid-twentieth-century war research of German, Soviet, and American scientists, and current and future private and government-funded rocket research. Crisp color and black-and-white illustrations include both historical and contemporary space shuttle/rocket images and future space vehicles. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford