BOOK REVIEW: HAPPY SPACE EXPLORATION DAY!

​Did you know that ladybugs have traveled in space? Neither did I, until I read a picture book inspired by the true story about how some Chilean high school girls convinced NASA to send ladybugs in space.

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​TITLE: LADYBUG LAUNCH: INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY OF CHINITAS IN SPACE

AUTHORS: Melissa Trempe & Natalia Ojeda​

ILLUSTRATOR: Manuela Montoya

PUBLISHER: Margaret K. McElderry Books

OPENING LINES:

A tiny chinita and a little chica lived in the southernmost corner of the world.
Other chinitas loved polka dots, but Luna preferred stars.
Other chicas stirred up porotos con riendas, but Natalia stirred up experiments.
Ka-BOOM!

This book parallels two stories – one of a chinita (ladybug) who dreams of going to space, and the other of a chica (girl) who dreams of becoming a scientist. Both dreams seem impossible. Who ever heard of a ladybug space explorer? And no one in Natalia’s family had ever attended a university. But both characters make their dreams a reality with perseverance, experimentation, hard work, and a positive mindset. Although the story is fictionalized, the author’s note explains how these two dreams really did come true. On July 23, 1999, four chinitas, named John, Paul, Ringo, and George, traveled to space on the space shuttle Columbia after a class of Chilean girls convinced NASA that their ladybug experiment was worthy of space travel. Manuela Montoya’s bright, cheerful illustrations elevate Melissa Trempe and Dr. Natalia Ojeda fascinating tale that will inspire young readers and keep them turning the pages to the end where they will find supplemental back matter complete with authors note, glossary, and additional resources. This book is full of STEM, girl power, ladybugs and an all-around great read!
 
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