I remember that warm summer day in 1983, sitting in my neighbour’s living room, watching Sally Ride rocket into space on the Challenger. I sat glued to the TV, very well aware that I was watching history being made.

If you have little people in your life, you need to share this wonderfully written and beautifully illustrated book with them. We need more young people to engage in STEM!

Looking back, Sally Ride’s life is a testament to the idea that sometimes while in pursuit of a dream, we discover our calling and our lives take a path we hadn’t intended. For Sally, choosing a different path made all the difference in the world.

Children will learn that Sally was born 7 years before NASA was even created - being an astronaut wasn’t even her dream. It was in pursuit of her dream that Sally met a teacher who encouraged her strengths in Science. The rest is history. Sally became the first American woman to explore space.

In addition to showing children that it’s okay to shift gears and change focus, this book explores the notion of ‘giving it all.’ When Sally applied to NASA it was the first year that female applicants were even considered. Furthermore, there was a 0.004% chance of her being selected for the Challenger spaceflight. Sally channeled her energy and focused on her goal, breaking the gender barrier for US spaceflight.

This book will encourage us all to seek adventure and follow our dreams, regardless of age.

I was gifted this copy by Quarto Publishing Group, Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

I love this series of books, so this one on Sally Ride was a must read for me. It was well done & of course the pictures were amazing. I did discover something that surprised me, but I should have known it before and just didn't. Good book.

This is exactly the kind of book I want to read my kids one day. I love the story of Sally Ride. I love that the author didn't sugarcoat the pressure she faced, how she did her job, or who she spent her life with.