First published 2008
Neil Armstrong builds model airplanes in his childhood bedroom, dreaming of flight. He earns his Eagle Scout badge and learns discipline that will serve him throughout his life. Armstrong becomes a test pilot, pushing experimental aircraft to their limits in dangerous flights above the desert. The space program recruits him as an astronaut, where he trains for missions that could end in disaster. On July 20, 1969, Armstrong steps onto the lunar surface and speaks words that 450 million people hear around the world. He calls his step a giant leap for mankind. The book traces Armstrong's journey from curious boy to American hero, showing how his early passion for aviation led him to make history. Black and white illustrations capture key moments in his remarkable life.
Genres: biography, 20th-century, american, adventure, 21st-century, childrens, aviation, american-history
Vibes: inspirational, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, overcoming-adversity
Setting: United States
Period: 1960s, 1970s
112 pages · Paperback · Penguin Workshop