Space Base (1972)

A summer re-run for you, a re-post and expansion of  "Space Base"

(I first blogged about this book on March 12, 2010)
https://dreamsofspace.blogspot.com/2010/03/space-base-1972.html

Freeman, Mae B. Illustrated by Raul Mina Mora. Space Base. New York : Watts. (63 p.) 26 cm. Illustrated Boards.

 A basic story about a child visiting a space station and learning about the construction and use of space stations. Gives a complete basic description of how they would be constructed, what power sources they would use, and what life on a space station would be like. Many full page illustrations of the exterior and interior of an imaginary circular space station.

This book was written by Mae Freeman, who also wrote the 1959 book "You Will Go To The Moon." You could almost see this book as an update of that vision of the future.  I wish the illustrations were in color but they are still awe-inspiring.

 One of the nice changes is the multi-racial population of this book.

 The book is basically an extended trip to a "Von Braun/Colliers" type space station

 The delta-wing "shuttle" is very distinctive (even if out of date already at the time)

There is also a nice depiction of a "Space telescope"

 The book back-pedals by showing that such a huge station will take steps to build and will take some preliminary steps.

This final illustrations shows some of the possible space stations children could expect in the near future.

A Trip to the Moon (1970)

Happy moon day to you all.  Here is another of those books commemorating the first landing on the moon.  This one was a school primer and has a running timer in the corner of each page when the events occurred. Sixteen pages of history.

Edelman, Jeffrey. Illustrated by Evans, Christopher. A Trip to the Moon. London : Ginn. (16 p.) 23 cm. Softcover.

t minus 2 hours 17 mins

ID. Primary. Color drawings. A very basic book about Project Apollo. “First interest in space books #5” series.

 Lift-off

 195 hours from take-off to landing. One of the greatest human adventures (so far.)

Men in Space (1970)

Edelman, Jeffrey. Illustrated by Evans, Christopher. Men in Space. London : Ginn. (16 p.) 23 cm. Softcover. Color drawings. “First interest in space books #6” series. 1970

This one is special because of the 2001 illustration (see below).

Mostly it is about the life of the astronauts and their training.

 This is an amazing 1st page, the possibilities for punch-lines are endless. There is also the fast that all astronauts live in perfect suburbs with 3 children, a stay at home wife, and a huge front lawn.

 I also appreciate the "realistic" unshaven astronaut.

 This illustration is out of place, except can you think of a better space station to inspire 2nd graders?

 I also love any illustration of the space port of the future. The future is full of lines and airport-like experiences!

This last illustration is almost a recruiting poster for our "dreams of space"