Eight Days Gone

K-Gr 3—Eight Days Gone is the story of the eight-day journey to the moon taken by astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, and Michael Collins. The tale is told in simple, rhyming text. First, a crowd gathers to witness the launch, followed by a countdown. The rocket's engines fire, propelling it toward the moon as the astronauts watch Earth grow smaller and smaller in the window. While Collins watches from the ship, Armstrong and Aldrin walk on the moon. After collecting rocks, taking photos, and planting the American flag in the ground, the men return to the ship and set off towards home. The shuttle lands safely in the ocean and the men are picked up and met with a hero's welcome. The author's note provides more details of the mission. George Guidall narrates in a calm, steady voice that can be a bit slow at times but successfully conveys the silent, barren surface of the moon. Armstrong's original broadcast plays in the background as Guidall describes the first steps on the moon. This work will fuel the imaginations of listeners with an interest in space travel.—Jenny Ventling, Greene County Public Library, OH