The Earth Satellite: Man's first true space adventure (1957)

Happy 52nd (and 15 days) anniversary of the lunch of Sputnik 1! OK I just was trying to come up with one for today and thought about satellites. With the US joining into the IGY, there were a number of books in 1957 issue (pre-sputnik) to talk about this new science. So while the adults were out of the loop, children knew satellites were coming. I will try to show off some of the pre-and post Sputnik books during the next couple of days.

Lewellen, John. Illustrated by Scheib, Ida. The Earth Satellite: Man's First True Space Adventure. New York: Alfred A Knopf. (59 p.) 22 cm.

A wonderful basic book about satellites and space exploration written pre-Sputnik. The text focuses on how a satellite would get into orbit and how would it stay there. There are additional chapters on viewing the satellite, the use of satellites in the future, and manned space exploration. Illustrations of rockets, satellites, and space suits.

"Space travel and guided missiles" from the World Book Encyclopedia

Just a quick one today. "Space travel and guided missiles" from the World Book Encyclopedia. Encyclopedias (remember those?) sometimes would gather a couple of their articles and print them as a separate pamphlet. Sometimes this was advertising to get you to buy the encyclopedia and sometimes it was meant for schools to supplement the curriculum. Something fun and colorful for a grey morning.

The Golden Book of Astronomy (1955)

As I mentioned before, some of the best space art is in the children's astronomy books. This one stars the art of John Polgreen, one of my favorite space artists. He went on to illustrate a number of my favorite space books from the 1950s.

Wyler, Rose and Ames, Gerald. Illustrated by Polgreen, John. The Golden Book of Astronomy: A Child's Introduction to the Wonders of Space. New York: Golden Press. (97 p.) 33 cm.

Text focuses on astronomy with illustrations of the Moon, planetary surfaces, the solar system, and star maps. Last section includes illustrations of astronauts and rockets. Also 1959, 1965 editions.

Heroes of Space Series: Wernher von Braun, Yuri Gagarin, and Apollo Astronauts

Three for one day at Dreams of Space! Wanted to highlight a great non-fiction series: Heroes of Space.

The titles in the series are:

Wernher von Braun, Yuri Gagarin, John Glenn, and Apollo Astronauts.

Goodrum, J C. (1969). Wernher von Braun, space pioneer,. [Huntsville Ala.]: Strode Publishers.

Akens, D S. (1969). John Glenn, first American in orbit,. [Huntsville Ala.]: Strode Publishers.

Sharpe, M R. (1969). Yuri Gagarin first man in space,. [Huntsville Ala.]: Strode Publishers.

Richey, B J. (1970). Apollo astronauts first men to the moon,. Huntsville Ala.: Strode Publishers.

Written in response to the impending moon landing these are very interesting biographies published in Huntsville, AL.

They got some very knowledgeable people to write these and they encapsulate in 4 books the development of manned spaceflight and how man got to the moon.

BJ Richey was space correspondent for the Newhouse News service and worked for the Huntsville Times. John Goodrum was an Apollo engineer and a staff member on the von Brun team.

Beyond the Moon: Future explorations in interplanetary space (1971)

Just got in an upgraded copy of this. I love this cool cover.


Colby, C.B. Beyond the Moon: Future Explorations in Interplanetary Space. New York: Coward, McCann & Geoghegan. (48 p.) 28 cm.

Primarily a heavily annotated photo album. This one is notable for its space art of space shuttle prototypes, and timetables of space stations, Moon bases and exploration of the solar system. Reprinted several times with a new photographic cover.

The Wonderful World of the Air (1958)

To celebrate my 100th post here is some freaky space art! Some artists in these books took the chance to create surrealistic masterpieces to inspire the children. This one uses a very different feel from most art. Instead of optimistic it seems almost paranoid and constricted.

Fisher, Jamie. Illustrated by G. Leigh Davies. The wonderful world of the air. Garden City, N.Y. : Doubleday. 68 p. : 33 cm.

Man's Reach Into Space (1959)

Gallant, Roy A, Illustrated by Ames, Lee J. Man's Reach into Space. Garden City, NY: Garden City Books. (152 p.) 32 cm.

This one primarily discusses conditions in high speed flight and in space and human testing and preparation. Discussions of vacuum, g-forces, weightlessness, isolation. An interesting book in its focus on the people of space flight rather than the ships. Very dynamic illustrations of rockets, space suits, physical testing of pilots and astronauts, a Moon landing, and Mars from space. Also 1964 edition.