Everything About Astronauts - Vol. 1 by Marianne Jennings is filled from the top of the page to the bottom with all things pertaining to astronauts. No stone or moon rock, in this case, is left unturned. Jennings takes us to the highest heights of thrilling missions and the discoveries made, and also brings us down to the tragic lows of space exploration with the deaths that transpired over the 60 years of mankind’s passion to reach for the beyond and unknown. The narration is to the point and factual while still retaining a glimpse of the personality behind the writer that is fun, curious, and eager to share what she knows.

Marianne Jennings’ Everything About Astronauts - Vol. 1 opened me up to so many interesting facts that I never even thought of. As a child of the early 1980s, my first experience watching a shuttle launch was the Challenger in 1986. I don’t think I was even equipped to understand what death really was then, as I had never experienced it in my familial circle. But it always stayed with me, specifically Christa McAuliffe. In the book, to my amazement, they had links to her rehearsal lessons that she would have recreated in space. And there are also links to those lessons that have been created by other astronauts in honor of her. There is so much about space and astronauts that we do not know or quite understand but Marianne Jennings’ Everything About Astronauts - Vol. 1 wonderfully bridges some of that limitless gap.

Everything About Astronauts - Vol. 1: Fascinating Fun Facts and Trivia about Astronauts for Teens and Adults by Marianne Jennings is a delightful and informative resource for space enthusiasts. On April 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first human being to launch into space. On July 20, 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first people to walk on the moon. Jennings explores the process involved for these remarkable achievements to be accomplished. The work comprises a range of surprising facts that delve into space exploration from the past century’s inventions and successes to more recent missions and descriptions of the people who have made these feats achievable. Other exciting topics such as how to apply to be an astronaut and the training involved are included.

Regardless of your knowledge about space exploration, you will learn something new in Everything About Astronauts. I appreciated that the book is extensive and contains a lot of fascinating content that is lesser-known. Its wealth of information makes it a must-read for anyone. Its language is also accessible to any reader and for the more technical terms, it contains a helpful and comprehensive glossary. The book also includes a list of numerous resources for further research, a fun quiz, and enlightening quotes from astronauts. I loved that the book combines fun facts and more in-depth topics such as application requirements, the benefits of space exploration, explanations of the places where training takes place, and more. It also recognizes and pays special tribute to those who have died while part of a space program. The first volume in its series, Everything About Astronauts by Marianne Jennings contains many fun and educative topics.

This book is well-organized and well-written. I learned some information from this book that I didn't know before reading this book. Some of the interesting information in this book include the following information: Space is considered 62 miles and more above the Earth. Buzz Aldrin was the first astronaut with a doctoral degree. He is also the first and only person to hold a religious ceremony on the Moon. 12 humans have walked on the surface of the Moon. The odds of an astronaut dying on the job are about one in 20. The Blue Marble picture of the Earth actually was taken upside down with the South Pole on the top of the globe and inverted from the original picture for mass distribution. As of October 2021, a total of 584 people from 41 different nations have gone into space above the Karman line. 515 were men and 69 were women. As of April 2021, over 244 people from 19 different countries have been to the International Space Station

For all those people fascinated by Space and Discovering Space
I’m very fascinated by all things about space and about the men and women who have been able to travel and explore it. This is a book that appeals people of all ages who share this same fascination. We are entering a time where there is renewed interest in space exploration and the men and women who get to be our eyes and ears exploring it.

The book covers mostly astronaut topics that are about famous astronauts and about things that take place “on the ground,” but the author stated that also a “Volume 2” is under construction.

Can’t wait to read that too!

Fun and easy read.

The author did a great job organizing the topics. She then divides the topics into smaller, easy to understand "bite sized" pieces. You can literally pick up the book, open it to any point, and start reading the interesting facts. Need a quick history/review of our space program? The Soviets? The Chinese? It's there. Same with what all we left on the moon? How about the salary rage of an astronaut? It's in there. (Hint, the career astronauts are government employees, meaning they don't make millions (even though they have a cool job). The author did a great job providing links if you wish to delve a bit further into a topic.

Entertaining and informative!
I dove right into this book, and found it to be both entertaining and informative! It's a quick, lively read, and even a space nerd like myself learned lots of stuff I didn't know before.

Awesome, Awesome, Awesome!

Fascinating and well-researched!

I just finished reading this astronaut fun facts book, and I have to say it is INCREDIBLE!
While I consider myself to be a well-read person, particularly in the space field, I learned many new facts.
This book presented a vast array of information in a highly intriguing, engaging manner. I greatly appreciated the detailed footnotes and sources. It was very well-organized, reader-friendly, and guaranteed to appeal to a variety of readers.

Comprehensive--She Really Means "Everything"

Everything about Astronauts, Vol. 1 is such a comprehensive look at astronauts that it covers information I would have never thought to ask. Jennings has done a tremendous job of researching hundreds of sources for this book, with each source listed and searchable by the reader.

It says "for Teens and Adults" in the subtitle, but I think it would definitely be appropriate for elementary-aged children. Any curious kid would love this book and would be able to understand the writing.

Fun and informative book

(Disclaimer) I was a prepub reviewer and editor for the book.

This is a fun book of short columns about astronauts and space. The items are short enough to be read quickly in most cases and are interesting enough to keep the reader's attention. The author doesn't talk down to the reader, but engages them in such a way that the book is like eating out of a bag of potato chips. All of a sudden they're gone and you can't figure out where they went!
A good book both for the idle curious and the enthusiast.

Fun read for anyone interested at all in astronauts - the title says it al.

Questions about astronauts answered, including the ones we never think to ask. (Why are they called astronauts? Where are they called astronauts?) So interesting I read it right through. But organized so you can read a bit at a time. Great gift idea! I am looking forward to reading Volume 2. I did read another book by the same author - So You Think You Know CANADA, Eh? LIked that too.