Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon

Bibliography

Thimmesh, Catherine. 2006. TEAM MOON: HOW 400,000 PEOPLE LANDED APOLLO 11 ON THE MOON. New York: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0618507574

Plot Summary

In a chronological account, Catherine Thimmesh gives credit to the 400,000 people who were involved in the Apollo 11 mission that landed Neil Armstrong and crew on the moon. “When those millions of people tuned in hoping to witness the moonwalk, one thing they wouldn’t see (or at best might just catch a glimpse of) were the nonastronauts, those beyond the glare of the limelight.” She credits “the regular folks” who made the mission possible. Such people included planners, engineers, quality control and safety inspectors, seamstresses, painters, doctors, and trainers. From the beginning of the dream to land man on the moon to day the Apollo 11 descended back down from our sky, Thimmesh beautifully documents the conversations, quotes, and people behind the scenes.

Critical Analysis

May of 1961, President John F. Kennedy declared, “I believe this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to Earth.” Thimmesh has created a fascinating photo essay that documents the work that had to be done to accomplish this mission. This story tells about the contractors who built the rocket, the 500 people who worked to create the Apollo space suits, and the people who built the parachute system that would land the space capsule safely in the water. Detailed accounts along with quotes give this book a story like quality.

Thimmesh uses a black background with white text to create a space-like illusion. Photographs from NASA in both color and black and white are masterfully displayed on every page of the book. Captions are included to describe what is happening in each of the photos. Some of the photographs cover a two-page spread with a simple quote. From the cover of the book to the very last page, these photographs allow readers both young and old to feel connected to the mission.

An Author’s Note, sources, chapter notes, acknowledgments, index, glossary, and documentation for further exploration are placed at the end of the book. Children will enjoy going online to several websites Thimmesh cites to explore the Apollo 11 mission.

Review Excerpts

Robert F. Sibert Award Winner-2007

Publishers Weekly starred review: "This behind-the-scenes look at the first Apollo moon landing has the feel of a public television documentary in its breadth and detail."

School Library Journal review: "This dramatic account will mesmerize even readers already familiar with the event–and also leave them awed by the level of care and dedication it took to surmount so many daunting technological challenges." –SLJ

Horn Book review: "Thimmesh gives names and voices to the army that got Neil Armstrong and company to the moon and back. The result is a spectacular and highly original addition to the literature of space exploration."

Connections

This book would be a great addition to a space unit. Students will enjoy looking at the full page photographs of the Apollo 11 mission, while more serious space lovers will enjoy the story.

Other books by this author include:

Thimmesh, Catherine. THE SKY’S THE LIMIT: STORIES OF DISCOVERY BY WOMEN AND GIRLS. ISBN 0618494898

Thimmesh, Catherine. GIRLS THINK OF EVERYTHING: STORIES OF INGEIOUS INVENTIONS BY WOMEN. ISBN 0395937442

Thimmesh, Catherine. MADAM PRESIDENT. ISBN 0618396667