Celebrate National Astronaut Day with one of these fun reads! From Yasmin the Astronaut for kids to The Martian for Adults! Find something for everyone by checking out the WNPL catalog.
Yasmin the Astronaut by Saadia Faruqi
“Yasmin is not sure she is cut out to be an astronaut, but a class trip to the space museum, and a tour of the mission control exhibit gives her another idea about how she could still be involved in the space program”–Copyright page.
A Day in the Life of an Astronaut, Mars, and the Distant Stars
“Blast off for a day in the life of space and the people (and animals!) who have explored it. From hilarious comics to secret diaries and detailed diagrams, there are tons of things to discover and fantastic facts to learn.”– Amazon.com.
The Gravity of Us by Phil Stamper
When his volatile father is picked to become an astronaut for NASA’s mission to Mars, seventeen-year-old Cal, an aspiring journalist, reluctantly moves from Brooklyn to Houston, Texas, and looks for a story to report, finding an ally (and crush) in Leon, the son of another astronaut.
Earthrise: My Adventures as an Apollo 14 Astronaut
“On February 5, 1971, Edgar Mitchell jumped off the last rungs of a ladder connecting him to NASA’s Antares spacecraft and landed with two feet on the Moon. Following the disastrous Apollo 13 mission, Mitchell was one of three astronauts to successfully complete the Apollo 14 journey to the Moon, though it wasn’t without its own alarming moments. In Earthrise, Edgar recalls his spectacular trip to the Moon and the life experiences that got him there”–From publisher description.
The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal
On a cold spring night in 1952, a huge meteorite fell to earth and obliterated much of the east coast of the United States, including Washington D.C. The ensuing climate cataclysm will soon render the earth inhospitable for humanity, as the last such meteorite did for the dinosaurs. This looming threat calls for a radically accelerated effort to colonize space, and requires a much larger share of humanity to take part in the process…Elma York’s experience as a WASP pilot and mathematician earns her a place in the International Aerospace Coalition’s attempts to put man on the moon, as a calculator. But with so many skilled and experienced women pilots and scientists involved with the program, it doesn’t take long before Elma begins to wonder why they can’t go into space, too. Elma’s drive to become the first Lady Astronaut is so strong that even the most dearly held conventions of society may not stand a chance against her.
The Martian: A Novel by Any Weir
Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney was one of the first people to walk on Mars. Now, he’ll be the first person to die there. After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark is stranded alone with no way to even signal Earth. Even if he could, he wouldn’t last until rescue arrived. Chances are, though, he won’t starve — so many other things are likely to kill him first. But Mark isn’t ready to give up yet.