As we look back to the beginnings of the space race, 2009 is also the year for looking forward to humankind's next step toward the stars.
I... read full description
I... read full description
reviews
Jul 15, 2009
Katrina
rated it: 
Answering the questions on many kids’ minds when imagining life in space, this book “will tell you what would happen, and what you would do, if you were the first kid on Mars.” Using the second person, O’Brien then takes readers through every step of the four-month trip from Earth to Mars: aboard space elevators, orbital stations, transport rockets, landing modules, and more. These descriptions help give a speculatively scientific feel to the proceedings, full of technology that isn’t that far o
More...
Jun 03, 2010
Pam
rated it: 
This story is about the planet Mars and it is narrated and the protagonist is any child that is reading the book. It takes them on a journey from the standpoint of them being an astronaut and goes through what life is like from setting foot on a space station to landing on the actual planet Mars. The illustrations were created digitally by computer software and look very much like actual photographs. The theme concerning potential life on Mars is not offensive to Creation from a Christian per
More...
Nov 08, 2009
Debbie (Readerbuzz)
rated it:
With photograph-like paintings and detailed text, this book relates what might happen if a child were to visit Mars. I was taken by the pictures and the details of what a child might experience.
A little from the book:
“You can’t go out on the surface of Mars without a space suit. There’s not enough oxygen to breathe, and it is much too cold. You carry air in tanks on your back, and your suit keeps you warm. Gravity on Mars is less than half as strong as on Earth, so you take big, boun More...
A little from the book:
“You can’t go out on the surface of Mars without a space suit. There’s not enough oxygen to breathe, and it is much too cold. You carry air in tanks on your back, and your suit keeps you warm. Gravity on Mars is less than half as strong as on Earth, so you take big, boun More...
Oct 20, 2009
your neighborhood librarian
rated it: 
The friendly, explanatory second-person narration contrasts nicely with the giant grin on the face of the kid as he bounds across the Martian surface. Makes it feel like the book is being narrated by a teacher chaperoning a really good field trip, trying to keep from letting on that she is just as excited as the kids are.
We had the delightful O'Brien family over for dinner this weekend, and after my husband's excellent fish tacos, I had the chance to ask Pat some questions about the More...
We had the delightful O'Brien family over for dinner this weekend, and after my husband's excellent fish tacos, I had the chance to ask Pat some questions about the More...
Nov 20, 2011
Ryan
rated it:
This book was so interesting (yes, I know I'm a nerd) that although my two year old fell asleep after the third page and my four year old didn't seem all that interested, I still finished the entire thing in one sitting. It totally made me excited to set up a colony on the Red Planet. Who knows maybe they'll pick me to be part of the team! Surely the first Mars colony would need an airline employee. If not I also speak Spanish and am good at having babies. (Or at least my wife is...maybe she'd h
More...
Oct 06, 2009
Mandy
rated it:
This book definitely has kid-appeal...what kid wouldn't at least like to dream about being the first one on Mars? The illustrations are realistic. The text is straightforward. The back matter about Mars is pretty basic. One thing that could have made this book better is some additional info about how much of the ideas included are possible/in the works/author's speculation. I don't know much about space travel, so I have no idea how "true" any of this book could be.
Jun 16, 2009
Gwen the Librarian
rated it:
This is the coolest space book! It imagines what it would be like for a kid to travel to Mars, with great facts about space travel and then both fact and speculation about what it would be like if humans were living and studying on Mars. Perfect for young readers obsessed with space or as an introduction.
Oct 24, 2009
Phoebe
rated it:
What a cool book, from the clear and detailed graphics that look almost photographic, to the well written text that never overwhelms. A perfect book for third and fourth graders. The concept, space travel from a kid's point of view, is brilliant and will hook kids immediately.
Aug 25, 2009
The Library Lady
rated it:
I'd call this "speculative NON-fiction". The art is striking--close to photography, especially in terms of the boy's expressions.I would have liked more author notes--how much of this is from his head, how much of it comes from other sources and some of those sources.
Mar 16, 2010
Beth
rated it:
Imagine if you what might happen if you were the first child to visit the planet Mars. You would be able to see the space elevator, travel 15,000 miles per hour and see sites that marvel Mount Everest (Olympus Mons) and The Grand Canyon (Valles Marineris).
Nov 15, 2011
Charlyn
rated it:
Great graphics take a child from earth on a very long trip to the planet Mars. Facts about the planet itself combined with sciente-based speculation on the future of space travel provides the scene for the child who yearns to visit Mars.
May 30, 2009
Floyd
rated it:
Story was based on designs and theories about how a Mars mission may possibly happen in the future. O'Brien has provided a very detailed account of such a trip. Outstanding illustrations. Floyd
Jun 13, 2010
Alexa
rated it:
Looks like what non-fiction will look like when we have the first kid on Mars. Not a lot of emotion, but good for space loving kids.
Jul 24, 2009
W.H.
rated it:
Very cool space book about traveling to Mars. Now I want to go look up how much of it is based on science and how much is fiction!
Jul 18, 2011
Kim
rated it:
A little long, but a good book for me to use on imagination and higher order thinking skills.
Oct 06, 2010
We could have students write if they were the first on Mars or any other planet.
Jan 30, 2012
Jan 29, 2012
Nov 09, 2011
Oct 28, 2011
Jul 17, 2011
Jul 14, 2011
