To the Stars! The First American Woman to Walk in Space

Astronaut Sullivan collaborates with Van Vleet to recount her path to becoming the first American woman to walk in space, while aboard the Challenger shuttle in 1984. In one scene, a young Sullivan dives into a lake, while on the following spread she’s seen working on deep-sea submersibles as an adult. Wong’s lemony ink-and-watercolor illustrations picture Sullivan as calm and curious, and her decision to pursue exactly what interests her (“I know what I love, and I’m just going to follow that compass”) may encourage readers to give more credence to their own aspirations. Extensive endnotes offer additional details about Sullivan’s life and accomplishments, as well as those of other pioneering female astronauts. Ages 5–8. Authors’ agent: Marie Lamba, Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency. Illustrator’s agent: Teresa Kietlinski, Prospect Agency. (Jan.) [em] [/em]