Description

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Meet Belka and Strelka, two stray dogs from Moscow who, in 1960, became the first animals to orbit Earth and return home safely. Including additional information about the space race and other animals in orbit, this is an ideal STEM title for the 50th anniversary of the moon landing.

Praise For…

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"This is a gently told story about a moment in history when the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. were racing each other to explore the world beyond our own planet Earth. There's nothing like a pair of dogs to bring something as challenging as a journey into space down to the level and understanding of our children. This one will spark the imaginations as readers and listeners consider the risks and the unknowns and get a glimpse of the rivalry between the nations during the Cold War."
-- A Book and a Hug

"Readers learn the amazing story of how two street dogs-brown-spotted Strelka and fluffy white Belka-become unlikely space pioneers... Deppe's charmingly gonzo illustrations of smiling, bug-eyed dogs cleverly incorporate references to '80s-era sci-fi graphics and Russian Constructivist design, while Southgate's larky imagined telling of a key scientific milestone balances an engaging plot, useful details, and an inspiring message: 'If two little dogs from the streets of Moscow can make history, then perhaps you can too!' Back matter includes timelines of animal launches and the Space Race."
-- Publishers Weekly

"With a happier ending than that enjoyed by their legendary predecessor Laika, dogs Belka and Strelka became, in 1960, among the first animals to return, alive, from orbital flight. That does not, however, deny the suspense with which Southgate and Deppe tell and show their story. The book opens in a dark Moscow alley where a man is luring stray dogs with food, and even the type placement gets in on the drama. But turn the page and not to worry: 'Oleg' is a scientist recruiting canine cadets for the Soviet Union’s space program. Belka and Strelka pass all the tests and endure all the training (try getting your dog to stand at attention on a vibrating mat) to succeed at their mission: to blast off, orbit Earth several times, and come back down unharmed. The story is told with much enthusiasm and little anthropomorphism, with the automatically appealing narrative bolstered by useful scientific facts—Strelka’s later maternity isn’t just a feel-good anecdote, as 'Strelka’s puppies prove spaceflight is not harmful.' With a zip equal to the story, the pictures use well-outlined, simple forms in depicting the dogs, placing them, as the occasion demands, in easy-to-follow panels, or playfully tipping their orientation for the double-page-spread illustration of the launch. The back matter includes a timeline of space flight from Belka and Strelka to the International Space Station."
-- The Horn Book (STARRED!)