Reaching for the Moon

On November 18 for National Aviation Month, we looked at Almost Astronauts, the story of some of the astronauts who did not make it into space. To round out the month, let’s take a look at a man who actually traveled to the moon.

In an autobiography of one of our most accomplished astronauts of the twentieth century,  Reaching for the Moon Buzz Aldrin explains how he got his funny name. His sister called him Buzzer, rather than brother, and the family simply shortened it to Buzz. Aldrin discusses his childhood obsession with flight, which began on his first airplane ride at the age of two, and how he adored the Lone Ranger and wanted to be strong, determined, and independent like his hero.

In pursuit of his desire to fly, he became a West Point cadet, and then an air force pilot stationed in Germany. But when the Mercury flight program, America’s first human space flight program, began recruiting potential astronauts, Aldrin knew he wanted to be accepted and needed to find a way to distinguish himself. With great honesty and candor he walks young readers through his process—his need for more education, his first rejection from the program, then his acceptance and training to become an astronaut. Finally, readers follow the space flight of Apollo 11, as Aldrin and Neil Armstrong became the first two men from earth to walk on the moon. As the plaque they placed that day states “We came in peace for all mankind.”

But the real message of the book can be found in Aldrin’s final note: “Not everyone can explore space. But we all have our own moons to reach for. If you set your sights high, you may accomplish more than you ever dreamed was possible. Just as I have.”

Aldrin’s understated text, for children ages six to ten, has been brilliantly illustrated by Wendell Minor. Minor captures Aldrin as a young man and shows his steps along the way to becoming an astronaut. But it’s the illustrations of the moon and space that are truly glorious; better than any photograph, they make you feel as if you are standing on the moon or traveling through space yourself. Together the text and art bring Aldrin’s personal story to life—one that can inspire and challenge young readers.

So if you have a budding pilot in your life, or you just want an autobiography that will inspire young readers, pick up Reaching for the Moon. It—almost—makes me long to travel on a space ship.

Here’s a page from Reaching for the Moon: