So Long, Space Shuttle!


Well, despite the iffy weather, the last space shuttle launched safely at 11:29 this morning, marking the end of an era. When I wrote "Blast Off Day!" way back in (gulp) 1990, the space shuttle program was in full swing, and there was high demand for books on the subject. Now I see on Amazon that you can buy a used copy for 58 cents! I had so much fun writing this book, contacting people at NASA to learn how astronauts eat, sleep, and work in space.

I've written over 20 educational books for kids, on subjects ranging from animal camouflage to the Roaring Twenties to the changing seasons, and I can tell you there's no better way to get a clear understanding of a subject than to write a kids' book about it. First you have to delve deeply enough into it that you're sure you have it clear in your own mind, and then you have to distill it into words that curious young minds can digest. It's a great challenge and great fun.

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