How To Be An Astronaut and Other Space Jobs

Name: William Joseph
Price range: $

by Dr Sheila Kanani and Sol Linero, illustrated by Sol Linero

Interest age: 6 to 11
Reading age: 6+

Published by Nosy Crow, 2019

Non-fiction

About this book

Lots of children think they might like to be an astronaut, but what other jobs could one do and still be involved in space exploration and study?

You might be interested in becoming a satellite designer or engineer, a computer engineer, a spacesuit designer, a space doctor who looks after astronauts’ health, a flight director in charge of the whole team at Mission Control, or an astrobiologist, studying animals and plants in remote areas of the earth to try and work out what aliens might look like!

This fascinating picture book is full of brilliant information for children about the lesser-known elements of space exploration and clues them in as to how they might aspire to be involved one day. It’s useful to learn that astronauts can come from a military, medical or scientific background and be able to speak Russian as well as English. They also need to be highly qualified in their subject, as well as very fit and healthy for all the physical and mental training they will encounter.

Complete with a press-out model rocket to build and pages of stickers to play with, this is an original and inspiring read for young readers.

About the author

Dr Sheila Kanani is a space cadet, with her head high up in the clouds, even though her feet are firmly on planet Earth. Sheila became interested in space and astronomy at the age of 13 and her passion sky-rocketed from there. She has a PhD in planetary science and her favourite planet is Saturn. Her favourite "work" interests are teaching GCSE astronomy and giving public talks to audiences of all ages and sizes, while representing her place of work, the Royal Astronomical Society, which she adores.

Outside of astronomy, Sheila loves to play hockey and the saxophone, enjoys listening to records and dancing like no one is watching with her husband and young son, and curling up on the sofa with an excellent book and her six-fingered cat. Sheila's love of writing began when she was nine and she started a daily journal, which she has kept (mostly) up to date ever since!

About the author

Sol is a children's book illustrator and graphic designer from Buenos Aires. Her illustrations are filled with details and beautiful colours focused on children's products like books, puzzles, board books and memory games. Sol has worked for Airbnb, Pottery Barn Kids, Unicef and international magazines such as Oprah, Jamie Oliver, Wired and The Washington Post.