Neil Armstrong: One Giant Leap for Mankind

Sterling Biographies

by Tara Dixon-Engel, Mike Jackson

Neil Armstrong was America’s rocket man, the first person to set foot on the moon and turn science fiction into amazing reality. Award-winning authors Tara Dixon-Engel and Mike Jackson tell the fascinating story of how Armstrong went where no one had gone before, leaving his mark on the powdery surface of another world.
Even at an age when other boys were just learning to drive, Neil was training to reach the skies. He went on to study aeronautical engineering, win medals as a fighter pilot, try out the X-15 experimental rocket plane, and become one of the elite few chosen to be a NASA astronaut…where he took the test pilot’s credo of “higher, faster and farther” to thrilling heights.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2008

Reviews

[Noor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a biography about Neil Armstrong. Neil Armstrong was the first man to step on the moon. His famous quote was, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind". He recently died a few years ago. He lived from 1930 to 2012. Armstrong was interested in engineering and space at a young age. When he was a child, he used to build planes out of wood and paper and tested to see how long they would fly for. As he grew older, he went to a college about engineering. He was doing so well in college. A few years later when he got his master degree, he wanted to follow what he learned in college and so he worked for NASA. He got a job for flying planes, building rockets, and learning about space. But this took Armstrong a very long time. So, after some years it was time to go to space in a rocket he built and try and step on the moon. When he stepped on the moon and came back to earth, then everyone admired him as a brave man that he was the first to step foot on the moon.

[Allegra S · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a pretty cheezy biography, even if it was meant to be for kids. It's more facts and hero worship than a real biography. Even if books are written for kids they can be gritty and touch on imperfections and unanswered questions - look at Kathleen Krull's biographies for kids, the giants of science series is great.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

Neil Armstrong: One Giant Leap for Mankind by Tara Dixon-Engel and Mike Jackson is a biography about Neil Armstrong, the first person to ever set foot on the moon. At first, Neil is just a little boy with big dreams. Neil was bornsoon after the Great Depression, so money was not easy to come by. He is very interested in flying airplanes, and he even does different experiments relating to flight in his own home. Little Neil starts working at the age of 10 at a bakery so that he can fund for his own projects. Neil grows up to become a pilot as well as an expert engineer. Neil earns his pilot’s license at the age of 16, and he has quite the childhood, too.
I think that this book is a very good informational book because it includes different events in history as well as facts about planes and space, yet it seems bland. It is not a book that one would want to read for entertainment, but those curious about historic events relating to space and airplanes are perfect for this book. Neil Armstrong is described many times as a hero. As he takes his first step onto the moon he says: “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” (99). In my opinion, this is the only exciting part of the book because it is a huge moment in history. This is significant because it was a defining moment in all science. However, this part of the book is unlike other parts of the book. The majority of this book is just him growing up while the book spits facts at one the entire time. I would recommend this book only to those wanting to learn about space and Neil Armstrong himself, not to those who are looking for entertainment.

[Lorna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I came across it while doing collection development in the biographies and liked the look of it. It does a good job of telling Armstrong's life story plus you get a mini-history of the early years of the space program as well. It's a good read for enjoyment but would also be an excellent source for school report information. I plan on reading some others in this Sterling Biographies series. Next up, Amelia Earhart!

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Houston, we have liftoff." These were the legendary words uttered by Neil Armstrong, the firt man on the moon. An Eagle scout and a former test pilot, Neil was a quite, adventrous man. He proved, during his Gemini mission, that he could think fast under pressure. He saved his and his co-pilot's lives. And now he is on a mission to the moon. He and fellow astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Mike Collins have captivated the entire world. Now the only question is ...... will he disappoint them?

[Stuarts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This legend was apart of more than just landing on the moon. He flew in a project that would benefit the making of planes faster than we could imagine. Neil Armstrong did all this and much more. This biography deeply explains Neil's life as if he written much of it.
Tara Dixon and Mike Jackson use their words well in a book with 115 pages. I would recommend this book because you may learn something you never would have guessed.

[Britani Poulsen]

Neil Armstrong: One Giant Leap for Mankind
By: Tara Dixon-Engel and Mike Jackson

This book is a biography because it tells about Neil Armstrong's childhood to how he became the man he became today. I liked the book because I like space and it talks about Neil Armstrong and he was the first man on the moon. In the book it talks about that his family was poor and how he got the money for college and how he achieved his goals.

[Sean Meth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It showed in detail what happened leading up to America going on the moon. This was a huge part of world history but especially American history because we were the first country to land on the moon. This book also showed me perfectly how the people of America reacted to the moon landing. They all thought it was amazing and seemed unbelievable.

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very interesting. It guides me through the life of one of the coolest, most legendary people ever. Neil Armstrong is undoubtedly the most famous astronaut ever since he stepped on the moon first. I also thought the lingo he talked to the operators with was unique.

[Melanie Martel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Children will enjoy the photos in this book. It is full of interesting facts about Neil Armstrong and the moon. The book would be great for a science unit on the moon.