Everyone is excited for American astronaut John Glenn’s orbit around the Earth. As he flies through the sky people across the world will stare up at him. But will he be able to see them? Probably not, only really big things are visible from up in space. One little girl and one young boy have a plan to let John know they are with him. All they need to do is lit up the city of Perth…
City of Light is a beautifully rendered true story of how an idea thought up by two young children grew and grew and grew and culminated with a lit city that was observed from a rocket soaring through space and gave astronaut John Glenn a connection to Earth and the comfort that although he was far away he was never out of thoughts.
Through the eyes of an inquisitive young child, the excitement of Glenn’s orbit around the Earth and the desire for a community to let him know they are with him and watching him are brilliantly told. The period artwork immerses readers in an era when dunnys could be found in the backyard, of televisions that would elicit a cry from today’s children of, ‘yo Dad, what’s on the back of the TV,’ and phones with cords and a dial that needed to be turned. The old streets of Perth with vehicles of the time, dad smoking a pipe, toys, home furnishings and clothing all add a real flavour to what 1960’s life was like in Western Australia.
Would make for a great accompaniment to a space topic. Comprehensive teaching notes are available here. Recommended for 4+. With huge thanks to Wild Dog Books for the copy I received in exchange for an honest review.
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