Above and Beyond: NASA's Journey to Tomorrow

Gr 5 Up—This book is a complement to and was inspired by the documentary of the same name created by Rory Kennedy celebrating the 60th anniversary of NASA. It profiles the history of NASA, beginning with Wilbur and Orville Wright and the first flight and continuing to the International Space Station and the planned 2020 launch of the James Webb Space Telescope. Boxes highlight fun and fast facts. Sidebars and larger boxes profile key figures in the field. The layout is bright and eye-catching, with many images provided by NASA. However, not all of the images are annotated, and the text layout might be confusing for some. The coverage is broad, discussing animals in space, climate change, NASA's role in the fight for equality, and more. This ode to the history and future of NASA and the pioneering spirit of space travel will appeal to young adults with an interest in the subject, along with casual browsers of all ages.