Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

A compelling look at the history of one of NASA's most iconic photographs.In 1968, at a time of worldwide instability, NASA's Apollo 8 mission accomplished the historic feat of the first manned spacecraft not only to leave Earth's orbit, but also to enter that of the moon. And from that most distant and alien of perspectives, the three white astronauts snapped a color photo of their planet Earth. Called Earthrise, the photograph stirred the imaginations of people around the globe as they looked at themselves for the first time as inhabitants of one world from over 220,000 miles away. Gladstone's prose is factual but richly so, as he puts historical record and mission transcripts to effective use to recapture the amazement and unity inspired by this momentous first in space travel. Not to be outdone, Lundy's illustrations are almost minimalist in their simple lines and shading and swathes of color that nonetheless provide intricate emotional detail, from the tension of mission control to the inky wonder of space to the exhilaration of the racially diverse public, including one young, brown-skinned space enthusiast in afro puffs. An understated but arresting double-page spread presents Earthrise as a visual climax even as a figurative hush falls over the narrative. Despite what feels like a slightly obvious attempt at relevance with not-so-subtle messages of unity in the face of global unrest, the book's whole far outweighs the sum of its parts.For any fan of Earth. (Nonfiction picture book. 4-8)

Horn Book (Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

Apollo 8 was the first mission to orbit the moon, but it also gave us the first photograph of Earth from space. In lyrical picture-book text, Gladstone explains how the now-iconic image, taken by astronaut Bill Anders in 1968, conveyed a message of unity to a world in turmoil. Lundy's stylish illustrations feature the hues and fashions of the time; the original Earthrise photo is included at book's end.

School Library Journal (Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

PreS-Gr 2 1968 was a year replete with political upheaval in the United States, yet something fascinating halted people's minds, reminding them that Earth was home to us all. Through the eyes of a young girl, Gladstone depicts the Apollo 8 launch. This informational picture book for primary schoolers focuses first on people as they gather to listen to the radio or watch TV to witness the liftoff. Then, astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and Bill Anders, amazed with the view of the Earth and the moon, take the iconic picture, "Earthrise." The rhythmic narrative steadily builds suspense and captures the astronauts' awe, and the artwork nicely complements the text. Lundy's soft palette of earthy tones and muted pinks and yellows captures the historical time period with a pleasing retro vibe. An ending note emphasizes to readers the importance of the titular photo asking, "What message does Earthrise send to you?" VERDICT A fine snapshot of a milestone event in U.S. and world history for robust nonfiction picture book collections. Kathia Ibacache, Simi Valley Public Library, CA

Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews

A compelling look at the history of one of NASA's most iconic photographs.In 1968, at a time of worldwide instability, NASA's Apollo 8 mission accomplished the historic feat of the first manned spacecraft not only to leave Earth's orbit, but also to enter that of the moon. And from that most distant and alien of perspectives, the three white astronauts snapped a color photo of their planet Earth. Called Earthrise, the photograph stirred the imaginations of people around the globe as they looked at themselves for the first time as inhabitants of one world from over 220,000 miles away. Gladstone's prose is factual but richly so, as he puts historical record and mission transcripts to effective use to recapture the amazement and unity inspired by this momentous first in space travel. Not to be outdone, Lundy's illustrations are almost minimalist in their simple lines and shading and swathes of color that nonetheless provide intricate emotional detail, from the tension of mission control to the inky wonder of space to the exhilaration of the racially diverse public, including one young, brown-skinned space enthusiast in afro puffs. An understated but arresting double-page spread presents Earthrise as a visual climax even as a figurative hush falls over the narrative. Despite what feels like a slightly obvious attempt at relevance with not-so-subtle messages of unity in the face of global unrest, the book's whole far outweighs the sum of its parts.For any fan of Earth. (Nonfiction picture book. 4-8)

ALA Booklist (Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

Although the Apollo 11 moon landing generally garners more attention, other missions (particularly Apollo 8, chronicled here) also boast noteworthy accomplishments. Astronauts Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders piloted this flight, the first to completely leave Earth's gravity. They orbited the moon, took photographs to help NASA select a landing site for Apollo 11, and returned safely to Earth. While in lunar orbit, Bill Anders noticed Earth rising above the moon and snapped the now iconic photo known as Earthrise. Gladstone's spare text offers just enough detail to intrigue young audiences, and Lundy's retro-style artwork in blues, black, and cream is both pleasing and apt. Situating 1968 as a time of protest and unrest, she depicts a brown-skinned family following the events on their rabbit-eared TV, a crowd outside a storefront broadcasting the news, and a girl taping a keepsake photo to her wall. Other scenes portray mission control, inside the spacecraft, and views from space, with an entire spread dedicated to titular photo, for which an appended note offers more details. A star-bright account of space exploration.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

-Earthrise,- the famed photograph taken by Bill Anders during the Apollo 8 mission, is the subject of this quietly resonant picture book. A brown-skinned child with wide, red-rimmed glasses and puffy pigtails peers out her window onto protestors demanding the end to the Vietnam War. It-s 1968-a year rife with civic and political discord. Illustrating in an evocative retro style, Lundy alternates between views of the Apollo 8 lift-off and journey, mission control, and Earth, where families-including the girl-s-intently watch the footage from the spacecraft-s TV camera. Lundy captures the powerful moment when Anders photographs Earth rising with a full, wordless spread that depicts the view from the spacecraft. Gladstone expresses the collective experience of awe and wonder in response to the image while showing its more intimate impact on a single child. Ages 4-8. (Oct.)