If You Decide To Go To The Moon

by Faith McNulty

Other authorsSteven Kellogg (Illustrator)
Hardcover, 2005

Status

Available

Local notes

E Mcn

Barcode

2274

Publication

Scholastic Press (2005), Edition: 1st, 48 pages

Description

"If you decide to go to the moon," writes Faith McNulty, "read this book first. It will tellyou how to get there and what to do after youland. The most important part tells you how to get home. Written in the second person, the text allows the reader to participate in every aspect of the journey, from packing ("don't forget your diary and plenty of food") to liftoff (at first you'll feel heavy; don't worry") to traveling thorugh space (where "the moon glows like a pearl in the black, black sky"). The reader lands at the Sea of Tranquility, the site of the first lunar landing.

Language

Original language

English

Original publication date

2007

Physical description

48 p.; 10 inches

User reviews

LibraryThing member akrause
This story tells the imaginary journey a young boy takes to the moon. Although the book is technically considered science fiction, all of the information about the Earth, moon and space are in fact non-fiction. Students could learn a great deal from the story as well as from the breathtaking
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illustrations. The specific attention to detail described in the boy's journey and from the pictures really makes the reader feel as if they're on their first trip to the moon. As much as the story is about a trip to the moon, it is also about appreciating our planet and all of the life on it. The boy describes how lonely it is space and wonders what it would be like if Earth had no air or water which are the two important things we need to survive that we sometimes take for granted. This book is very educational but also makes you appreciate what you call home.
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LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26
Written in the style of an advice manual for young would-be astronauts, Faith McNulty's If You Decide To Go To The Moon is an engaging and informative picture-book about a (theoretical) lunar landing, complete with a mostly unwritten personal adventure story - a young boy-astronaut leaves behind
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his sister, heading for space, and the moon! - and quite a bit of factual information, concerning everything from what one would bring, on a spaceship to the moon, to how one would walk, once there. A final, four-page fold-out spread, in full color, greets the young space-traveler, as he returns to Earth, emphasizing that, in the end, there really is no place like home...

One of our November selections, over in The Picture-Book Club to which I belong, where our current theme is "Outer Space," this is yet another book I am glad to have discovered! The manner in which the story is presented will be very appealing for young children, I think, and the illustrations by Steven Kellogg will draw them further into the adventure. After all, what child doesn't dream of going to the moon? With this book, they will be encouraged to really believe that they can!
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LibraryThing member jessicacl
You take an imaginary journey and discover the beauty of the moon. I can use this book when teaching Earth Science, the moon and its phases. The illustrations look like paintings. They're beautiful. Makes you appreciate the wonderful things we have on Earth.
LibraryThing member beckyhill
This book is a guide for what to do if the reader plans to take a trip to the moon. The characters are not really developed at all, and are only drawn as a representation of what it would be like to travel to the moon. It is set in a spaceship flying through space, and on the moon. The style is
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slightly wordy and dull, but the illustrations do well to express what the text is saying. The theme is that everyone needs to learn to appreciate the resources we have on earth and take care of them so that we can continue our lives on Earth. Though the text is dull, the theme and illustrations make up for it, and I would include this book in my collection.
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LibraryThing member dchaikin
I found this book wonderful because it appeals to both my 4-yr-old daughter and me. My daughter told she wants to keep it in case she might want to go to the moon sometime (we borrowed it from the library). I love it because it talks about some serious stuff, like what would actually happen if you
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took your spacesuit off while on the moon. It spends a lot of time on what its like on the moon without air - no sound, no heat insulation, no protection from the sun - and without life. And it makes earth sound so special, it leaves you wondering why we don't take better care of our own atmosphere.
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LibraryThing member mlcraft
This is a great introduction to space. It focuses on what it would be like to be there and what it feels like...very lonely. The illustrations are mixed with real pictures and comical characters so that the readers can feel a connection to space.
LibraryThing member LaceyKay
This book is creative and thoughtful and really captures a moon journey as if you were going yourself. I especially like the educational factoids sprinkled throughout. In this story a boy goes on a fascinating excursion to the moon. The lyrical text provides tips on what to pack and describes the
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distance to be covered. After blastoff, facts about space travel are mingled with descriptions of what the journey might be like: the loneliness, the lack of gravity, and how you might pass the time. After landing, the text warns: Your first step will be difficult. You will rise in the air and leap forward like a kangaroo, but once you learn how, walking will be fun. It also suggests that the moon's lack of sound and color may make it seem like a dream. After viewing the flag left behind by astronauts, it's time to depart. As Earth looms closer, a four-page foldout in a glorious burst of color marks our planet's contrast to the moon's black-and-white shades. These pages depict a variety of wonders: all sorts of animals and landscapes as well as people from different historical periods and locales.
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LibraryThing member Kathdavis54
This was a very colorful book about traveling to the moon. It was very informative, but at times dragged a bit. Nevertheless, students always enjoy learning about space.
LibraryThing member janeyiaC
This books talks about the journey to the moon. Things you will need to go on your journey, things you will see when you are out of space and things you will do. This story gives students facts about space and the moon, they will use their imagination based on the illustrations and the story on how
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it will be traveling to the moon. This story has key facts throughout the book, that will give students knowledge about space. After reading the story, to a first or second grade class. I would ask students to write a list of things they will be bring with them to travel to the moon.
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LibraryThing member DanielleHuslinger91
In this thrilling introduction to space travel, the author combines science with how one feels in space. Kellogg’s illustrations emphasize the spectacular vastness of our universe and immense quantity of space and moonscapes. this would be a good book for teaching about space travel. This would
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be a good book for lesson
about what is happening in space around us.
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LibraryThing member DayehSensei
Although this book is technically fiction (it portrays the ficticious journey of a young boy in outer space), so much of the information presented is nonfiction. Written in second person perspective in the style of a how-to, "If You Decide to Go to the Moon," gives young readers tons of information
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about how and what you need to survive in space. It vividly describes what life feels and looks like in space, and gives elaborate information and beautiful illustrations of the moon. I read this book to first graders as a supplement to our solar system science unit, and they loved it, although the text did feel overly wordy and heavy at times. This might read best with a slightly older audience (grade 2 or 3 and up).
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LibraryThing member kelseymajor
This fun book is about how to get to the moon and what to do after you land. Most importantly, it tells you how to return home. The story starts by telling the reading what to pack, what they will experience during lift off, as well as traveling through space. Reading this book will take a student
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through the experience of going to the moon step by step in an exciting way. The book follows the journey of a young boy as he blasts off into space in the rocket ship headed for the moon. It follows his activities, swimming about the cabin, sleeping tied down, and landing on the moon in his spacesuit.
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LibraryThing member r13
Shows children how to make writing about factual information interesting and fun. Also ideal for a unit on space!
LibraryThing member Omrythea
This delightful non-fiction book tells what it would be like to take a trip to moon. What to pack, how to walk, and how long it will take to get there are topics discovered.
LibraryThing member Whitney_Taylor
Summary: In this thrilling introduction to space travel, the author combines science with how one feels in space- “very alone”. Kellogg’s mixed media illustrations emphasize the spectacular vastness of our universe and immense quantity of space and moonscapes.

Personal Reaction: I thought this
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book was very fun to read.

Classroom extension: I would have the kids break up into groups and plan their own trip to the moon.
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LibraryThing member Turrean
Beautiful picture book that seamlessly combines information about space travel and the moon with a little fantasy of a young astronaut who makes the journey. McNulty's voice evokes the loneliness and stark beauty of the lunar landscape, and is perfectly paired with Kellogg's artwork. Be prepared
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for an "Ohhhhh!" of appreciation from students when you fold out the four spread showing a glorious scene of earth's land, oceans, and creatures. Perfect read-aloud for grade two and up, or as part of a unit on space or for Earth Day.
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LibraryThing member TeresaCruz
FANTASTIC book about traveling through space! This book is fun to read because it takes the reader on an adventure of the possibilities of traveling through space, how it's like, what you'll experience, and what you'll see. The illustrations are impeccable! LOVE IT!
LibraryThing member AmyGelle
This is a book about a young boy who thinks about what it would be like to travel to the moon. He discusses what kinds of things you would encounter and what you would face.
I would recommend this book for kids 3rd grade and up because the book is longer and slightly challenging.
I like this book
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because it is very informative and does a good job of describing key aspects of space.
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LibraryThing member TessaB28
This book was not what I was expecting initially! I thought it would be about a child pretending to go to the moon in a box or something using his imagination, but this book is so much more! It is educational and uses beautiful artwork to explain details about space and the moon. There are a lot of
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words and some large words, so it is definitely a great book for carpet time if a teacher is teaching about space! It gives lots of details while keeping everything fun!
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LibraryThing member ccampeaux
This book is about going to the moon. It tells you what you will need to go to the moon and how it might feel. The pictures are darker and almost scary looking.
LibraryThing member DaliaL.
Genre: science fiction
Why it fits this genre: The book is about a child who decided to go to the moon all by himself and this is something that is not possible in our world today.

I would use this book to:
1. present students to science fiction books.
2. start a lesson on outer space.

Summary: This
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book tells the reader what they should do and what they will see if they decide to go to the moon. The book talks about how long it takes to get to the moon. It also talks about what it is like inside a space shuttle. The book also talks about what the moon is like and how it differs from earth.

Media: color pencil, acrylic paint

Critique: "If You Decide to Go to the Moon" is an okay example of science fiction because it talks about going to the moon, which is something that has been done. Therefore, going to the moon is not something that is unfamiliar to our world today. Something that is impossible in our world today is for a child to go to the moon in a rocket ship all by them self.
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LibraryThing member Cheryl_in_CC_NV
I learned something - I didn't know the seas were lava flows (I'd assumed they were extra big meteor craters). I liked that it explained things that often don't get mentioned elsewhere, such as the fact of no sound or wind, and the wires in the flag. I liked the environmental message, and the back
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cover which makes it clear that the female is going to get a turn, too.
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LibraryThing member jfe16
Young readers discover the breathtaking beauty of both the moon and of the earth as they take an imaginary trip to the moon.

With captivating pictures and elegant, informative prose, readers both young and old will happily embark on a rocket flight hurling them into an exciting space
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adventure.

Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member 1Avidfan
A fictional account of traveling to the moon that has a lot of scientific information.

Pages

48

Rating

(66 ratings; 4.2)
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