Rocket Man: The Story of Robert Goddard (Trailblazer Biographies)

Grade 5-8?Streissguth's writing is clear, objective, and interesting, and the material is well organized. The author recounts how, as a young man, Robert Goddard was sickly, but he used the days he was forced to stay home from school to read about science and experiment in his home laboratory, and how he became fascinated with the idea of space travel. Streissguth follows his subject's education, research, inventions, and his invaluable contributions to the U.S. rocket program during World War II. A couple of diagrams clarify the text, but the black-and-white photographs scattered throughout add only marginal interest. Nevertheless, this biography is worth purchasing because it gives information about the early days of space travel and about a lesser-known pioneer.?Margaret M. Hagel, Norfolk Public Library System, VA
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Gr. 5^-7. In a recent addition to the Trailblazer biography series, Streissguth describes Goddard's pioneering efforts to build rockets capable of leaving Earth's atmosphere that would become the basis of modern astronautical engineering. Explaining potentially difficult scientific principles clearly, he paints a vivid portrait of a brilliant but secretive scientist who refused to share his research and persevered in spite of repeated failures. Kids will be amazed to learn the rocket history. Detailed notes provide additional information. Black-and-white photos, a glossary, and a bibliography are supplied. Chris Sherman