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  • Published: 4 September 2018
  • ISBN: 9781682630136
  • Imprint: Holiday House
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 144
  • RRP: $55.00

Countdown

2979 Days to the Moon




The captivating true story of NASA's effort to land the first man on the Moon is told through powerful free verse and stunning illustrations.

An inspiring testament to American grit, teamwork, and ingenuity, Countdown presents exhilarating, informative, and accessible free verse by award-winning author Suzanne Slade paired with historic photographs and detailed illustrations by New York Times best-selling illustrator Thomas Gonzalez.
Together, they capture the gripping historic story of NASA's twentieth century efforts to conquer a new space frontier.

Through triumph and tragedy, success and failure, an entire nation is glued to the high-stakes, 2,979-day mission as eighteen astronauts climb into spacecraft; three men die before even leaving the ground; eight rockets soar into space; and four hundred thousand people―engineers, technicians, scientists, mathematicians, and machinists―join Project Apollo in pursuit of making a dream a reality.

  • Published: 4 September 2018
  • ISBN: 9781682630136
  • Imprint: Holiday House
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 144
  • RRP: $55.00

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Praise for Countdown

★ "Stunning. . . Slade's carefully crafted, often alliterative text, written in free verse, is both succinct and readable, drawing this large topic down to the most necessary and interesting facts with enough detail to excite young teens as well as adults who may have lived through the missions.. . . Truly out of this world. A must-buy for most poetry collections." —School Library Journal, Starred Review "[A] book that will captivate and entertain young readers while educating them about an amazing decade of U.S. space exploration. . . In the 21st century, space travel goals aim much further away than the moon, but Countdown drives home how truly incredible the Apollo missions are in the history of mankind." —Shelf Awareness ★ "Captivating free-verse narrative. . . vivid mixed-media illustrations that stun with photographic realism and varied perspectives. . . this well-researched title offers a stirring introduction to one of humankind's most impressive undertakings." —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review "A grand—if, so many years later, nostalgic—tale about a magnificent effort. A handsomely packaged look back at an epochal achievement."—Kirkus Reviews ★ "Elegant and informative, this is sure to attract casual browsers and true space nerds alike."—Booklist, Starred Review