The space adventurer's guide : your passport to the coolest things to see and do in the universe /

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

It's not just astronauts who get to travel into space anymore. Forward-thinking entrepreneurs have now made space flight a reality for adventure-seekers of all kinds. And just in time, here's a travel guide for kids to plan their own out-of-this-world journeys. Eight potential space vacations are described, one per chapter, complete with information about pre-trip preparations (like training to withstand extreme g-forces), accommodations and dining (hot dogs in zero gravity, anyone?), awesome activities (how about a real moon walk?) and so much more. The trips range from orbiting Earth (available now), to voyaging through Saturn's rings, which may be possible within the next few decades. Featuring the coolest things to see and do in the universe, these space vacations are not to be missed!



Award-winning science journalist Peter McMahon has come up with an intriguing concept sure to pique a young reader's interest in all things outer space. Based on the latest science and featuring first-person accounts from experts in the field, this book is chock-full of opportunities for science and technology lessons. With kid-sized bursts of text (including loads of amazing, and sometimes icky, facts), fascinating photographs of everyday life on actual space flights, as well as fun-filled illustrations from Josh Holinaty, this hugely appealing book is also one that children will gladly pick up on their own --- and devour. A glossary and index are included.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• So ... You Want To Go To Space? (p. 6)
• Suborbit: Surfboard Spaceships and Giant-Panda G-FORCES (p. 18)
• Earth Orbit: Around the World in 90 Minutes (p. 28)
• Orbital Cruise: All Aboard Your Space Yacht (p. 38)
• The MOON: Crater Skiing and Bamboo Hotels (p. 48)
• Comets: Discovering Your Own Space Snowball (p. 58)
• Mars: A Journey to the Red Planet (p. 66)
• Juriter: A Solar System Within a Solar System (p. 76)
• Saturn: A Frozen Paradise (p. 84)
• What's Next? To The Stars! (p. 94)
• Index (p. 97)

Reviews provided by Syndetics

School Library Journal Review

Gr 4-8-Written like a travel guide, this title leads readers throughout space, from orbiting Earth, visiting planets, and traveling to the stars. Beginning with training and expectations of a space trip, readers will learn how astronauts have prepared and how everyday items react in space. With photographs of actual space missions alongside drawings and diagrams, readers can easily determine what has actually been accomplished in space travel and what lies in the future. To help prepare for the trip, a glossary is provided near the beginning that includes terms used by astronauts. An index makes it easy for readers to locate specific astronauts, space voyages, and other interests. Information about Mars, Saturn and Jupiter is presented here as an itinerary: what to see and do upon arrival. The format lends itself easily to school research, as well as independent reading. VERDICT With up-to-date information and captivating photographs and illustrations, this would be a welcome addition to school libraries.--Denise Moore, formerly at O'Gorman -Junior High School, Sioux Falls, SD © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Booklist Review

*Starred Review* Composed as a futuristic travel guide, this inventive, inviting volume introduces young readers to some basic space science along with a bevy of thrilling proposed advancements on the horizon. Beginning with a discussion of the requirements of space travel, such as intense training and the realities of living in zero gravity, and an overview of the current state of space tourism, McMahon then launches into the possible future of space vacations, such as taking a spin in a luxury space yacht or touring some of Jupiter's moons. In each section, McMahon uses a genial tone to introduce concepts, like time dilation during speed-of-light travel or how magnetic fields affect the likelihood of auroras on other planets. Each section is packed with weird and wonderful tidbits all of which are grounded in real science photos of actual astronauts, and clearly labeled full-color images of planets, moons, asteroids, and comets, all tied to the text. Inset boxes, tone-setting cartoon spot illustrations, and quotes from astronauts make the magazine-like pages even more engaging. Though sources notes and a further reading list would have been welcome, this thoughtfully designed, browser-friendly, fantastically entertaining look at the future of space travel will have science-mad kids utterly enthralled.--Hunter, Sarah Copyright 2018 Booklist

Kirkus Book Review

With a new era of commercial space flight in the offing, here's a timely guide for young prospective travelers headed to choice astro-destinations.Whether the itinerary features a suborbital flight, extended stays aboard the International Space Station, or longer excursions to the moon, Mars, a comet, Jupiter, or Saturn, McMahon supplies not only advice about preparing for each journey and coping with issues from boredom to bone loss, but also suggestions for appropriate activities. These include swimming in a zero-gravity pool, spotting certain terrestrial landmarks from orbit, or windsurfing on Saturn's moon Titan. The author fills in background facts about major sights on the planets and other destinations, and he describes several spacecraft currently operational or under development. Additional reflections from such experienced astronauts as Chris Hadfield and Sunita Williams, plus plenty of color photos complementing Holinaty's illustrations, bring space tourism that much closer to seeming like a real thing. Frank cautionary references to "consciousness-losing, barf-inducing g-forces" and other hazards only serve to buff up the promise that the experience of space travel will be a vivid one. Humans in the photos are diverse, as are Holinaty's cartoon figures of space-suited young travelers.Tickets (not to mention affordable ones) may still be a few years off…but it's never too soon to start planning. (index) (Nonfiction. 10-13)

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Peter McMahon is an online science journalist who has written for the Toronto Star, CTV and Science.ca. Peter also runs a consulting company that offers training and planning for children's science programming. He is the author of Ultimate Trains. Peter lives in Port Hope, Ontario.