Nonfiction Monday

 

How to Eat in Space by Helen Taylor with illustrations by Stevie Lewis provides a humorous easy-to-read look at one of the most important activities aboard the International Space Station—eating!

 

What do you do when you’re speeding through space at five miles a second and you have a case of the hungries? Check out the pantry for your favorite bite—just don’t expect it to be exactly like the ones back home in the kitchen.  When food goes to space, it must be lightweight and long-lasting without refrigeration.

Taylor carefully leads young readers through the process—making a choice, prepping the food, eating, and cleanup. There are challenges at every turn because liquids don’t pour and even a tiny crumb can create problems in zero gravity. Astronauts must be well trained when they and their food float.

And foods must be carefully prepared to avoid problems. Drinks come as packaged powders in pouches ready to add water and drink through a straw. Don’t forget to squeeze that straw closed between sips so the liquid doesn’t escape! Every packet and pouch comes with a fastener to be stuck to a surface like a table or pants so it doesn’t float away!

 The abundance of information is smartly organized into efficient double-page spreads under subheadings—STICK TO THE MENU, KEEP IT TIDY, THROW A PIZZA PARTY, BE WATER WISE, GROW YOUR OWN SALAD, SAVE ROOM FOR DESSERT, and more.  The conversational tone keeps the pace moving briskly along.  Bold yellow text boxes highlight relevant tips throughout.

 Lewis’ energetic illustrations, filled with vivid color and movement are further enhanced with speech bubbles which adds another level of fun. The endpapers are enlivened with actual photographs of astronauts at work aboard the ISS.

 Taylor wisely anticipates inspiring curiosity in her young readers and provides additional material at the end of her narrative to enable further investigation. There is a section—KEEP EXPLORING that provides book, online, and in person resources. SELECTED SOURCES is a list of specific titles for further reading on this subject.

 This is a wonderful resource for anyone curious about HOW TO EAT IN SPACE.

 Highly recommended for aspiring young astronauts and as an excellent introduction to a study of life aboard the International Space Station