How We Got to the Moon

The People, Technology, and Daring Feats of Science Behind Humanity's Greatest Adventure

Written by John Rocco

Random House Children's Books Home
For Ages
10 to – 99

LONGLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD • YALSA EXCELLENCE IN NONFICTION FINALIST • A ROBERT F. SIBERT HONOR BOOK

This beautifully illustrated, oversized guide to the people and technology of the moon landing by award-winning author/illustrator John Rocco (illustrator of the Percy Jackson series) is a must-have for space fans, classrooms, and tech geeks.

Everyone knows of Neil Armstrong's famous first steps on the moon. But what did it really take to get us there?

The Moon landing is one of the most ambitious, thrilling, and dangerous ventures in human history. This exquisitely researched and illustrated book tells the stories of the 400,000 unsung heroes--the engineers, mathematicians, seamstresses, welders, and factory workers--and their innovations and life-changing technological leaps forward that allowed NASA to achieve this unparalleled accomplishment.

From the shocking launch of the Russian satellite Sputnik to the triumphant splashdown of Apollo 11, Caldecott Honor winner John Rocco answers every possible question about this world-altering mission. Each challenging step in the space race is revealed, examined, and displayed through stunning diagrams, experiments, moments of crisis, and unforgettable human stories.

Explorers of all ages will want to pore over every page in this comprehensive chronicle detailing the grandest human adventure of all time!

As an astronaut during the Space Shuttle and International Space Station eras, I stood on the shoulders of these innovating pioneers.  This fascinating book illuminates the hard work and risks taken in service of one of the crowning achievements of our history in space.

SCOTT KELLY, Former NASA astronaut and commander of the International Space Station

This spectacular book is going to inspire future generations of problem solvers and dreamers, whether it is to venture back into space or to look more closely at the seemingly overwhelming challenges we confront right here on earth. Nothing short of stunning!

DAVID MACAULAY, Caldecott Medal winner and co-creator of the New York Times bestseller The Way Things Work.

John Rocco tells the story of the Apollo missions with the eye of an artist, the logic of an engineer, and the enthusiasm of a kid taking apart household appliances to see how they work. How We Got to the Moon is a book that that will raise our appreciation for the men and women who made the moon landings happen, and deepen our sense of just how remarkable those voyages really were.

BRIAN FLOCA, Author of Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11