On July 16, 1969, a Saturn V rocket brought the Apollo 11 astronauts, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins to the Moon.

In the book, First on the Moon by Barbara Hehner, illustrated by Greg Ruhl, readers get a personal look at Buzz Aldrin’s family life, especially that of his daughter Jan who watches her father on their family television set in their living room. Beautifully illustrated with paintings of Buzz Aldrin’s family and that of actual images of the astronauts and the Earth and Moon; readers are treated to an up-close and personal look at what an astronaut would see from their lunar module as well as on the surface of the Moon.

This book is an excellent source of historical information for the curious student doing his/her classroom project on human space exploration and the Solar System. It is also a fun read for the kid in all of us who wants to vividly remember that brief moment in time when we explored our neighbor in space and once again found our sense of discovery. At that moment in time it can honestly be said that America’s FIRST Vision for Space Exploration was accomplished.

I strongly recommend this book to all NSS members, educators, students and all individuals who are working to get us from the Earth to the Moon. A great reference which begs the question, “When are we going back?”

© 2006 Veronica Ann Zabala-Aliberto