Ellen Takes Flight

A Junior Library Guild Selection, Bank Street College Best Children’s Book of the Year, and National Science Teaching Association Best STEM Book ● Celebrate the groundbreaking life of astronaut and Johnson Space Center director Ellen Ochoa, the first Latina in space, in this “picture-book biography for tomorrow’s astronauts” (Booklist).

Young Ellen Ochoa loved to learn. An accomplished engineer by age 30, with three patents to her name, she kept learning and trying new things. When NASA began accepting women and people of color to the astronaut program, Ellen found herself drawn to this exciting and demanding career. On her first mission, she was the only woman aboard the shuttle Discovery and the first Latina to reach outer space. After four space flights, she became the first Latina director of the Johnson Space Center and has received numerous distinctions and awards.

This addition to the award-winning Big Words biography series celebrates a STEM pioneer known for her brilliance, persistence, and an intellectual curiosity as infinite as the stars. With dynamic illustrations by Oliver Dominguez, Doreen Rappaport’s richly detailed narrative—punctuated with standout quotes from Ellen herself—will inspire a new generation to unravel the mysteries of the universe.

★ “Brilliant, sure-handed gouache illustrations add even more vivid life to the well-paced text…. A book sure to fly off shelves and into children’s hands.” —Kirkus Reviews
★ “Inspirational.” —Publishers Weekly
★ “The paintings are reminiscent of Norman Rockwell’s work and have incredible detail…. An excellent picture book biography of a groundbreaking Latina that soars.” —School Library Journal

Don’t miss these other titles in the Big Words series!
Ruth Objects: The Life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Helen’s Big World: The Life of Helen Keller
Wilma’s Way Home: The Life of Wilma Mankiller
Abe’s Honest Words: The Life of Abraham Lincoln
Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

• A Junior Library Guild Selection
  A Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year
  A 2023 Chicago Public Library Best Informational Book for Young Readers
  ​A Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature Best Book of 2023
  A 2024 National Science Teaching Association Best STEM Book
  A CBC Children's and Teacher Favorites List Selection
  A Rhode Island Children’s Book Award Nominee
• * "The writing is excellent: Essential aspects of astronaut qualifications, training, and experience are described in clear detail.... Brilliant, sure-handed gouache illustrations add even more vivid life to the well-paced text.... A book sure to fly off shelves and into children’s hands."
  Kirkus Reviews, starred review
• * "Inspirational.... Dominguez’s engineering-like mixed-media art fittingly captures the underlying details around Ochoa’s determination and time spent in space."
  Publishers Weekly, starred review
• * "The majestic art is done in gouache, ink, color pencil, and pastel. The paintings are reminiscent of Norman Rockwell’s work and have incredible detail.... An excellent picture book biography of a groundbreaking Latina that soars."
   
  School Library Journal, starred review
• "The text is informative and lively.... Pastel-hued scenes of Ochoa’s training and flights into space—in particular, a spread of her learning to parachute—radiate the joy which the astronaut approached her life’s pursuit."
  The Horn Book
• "Rappaport’s informative text moves along at a good pace, and the illustrations—drawings painted with vibrant colors—are lively.... A picture-book biography for tomorrow’s astronauts."
  Booklist
• Praise for Ruth Objects: The Life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg:
  ALSC Notable Children’s Books 
  2021 RISE List Top Ten
  Bank Street College of Education Best Books
• "Striking."
  Booklist
• "A well-researched picture book biography."
  Publishers Weekly
• "Velasquez's arresting jacket portrait of Ginsburg, superimposed on a facsimile of the U.S. Constitution, conveys a woman of purpose; Rappaport's biography, largely focused on Ginsburg's work for gender equality, reinforces this first impression."
  Horn Book