This book in the “Profiles” series gives historical and biographical information about three Soviet cosmonauts and four American astronauts who accomplished several “firsts” in space; the seven are Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space; Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space; Alexi Leonov, the first man to walk in space; Wally Schirra, the first man to rendezvous two orbiting spacecraft; Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon; John Young, the first man to command a space shuttle mission; and Eileen Collins, the first woman to command a shuttle mission. The entire book, including the Introduction which supplies general background material on space exploration, is filled with black-and-white photographs. We picked it up from the Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom Memorial at Spring Mill State Park near Mitchell, IN, which was Grissom’s hometown.
Spectacular Space Travelers is fascinating reading for anyone, but will be especially beneficial for youngsters who are interested in space travel. Other books in the “Profiles” series include Amazing Archaeologists and Their Finds, America’s Most Influential First Ladies, Black Abolitionists and Freedom Fighters, Environmental Pioneers, Great Justices of the Supreme Court, and Black Civil Rights Champions. Still others that are a little odd and may appeal to kids who like esoterica are America’s Third-Party Presidential Candidates, Charismatic Cult Leaders, Hatemongers and Demagogues, Hoaxers and Hustlers, International Terrorists, Soviet Leaders from Lenin to Gorbachev, Treacherous Traitors, and Utopian Visionaries, plus several devoted to women’s accomplishments. Jason Richie, a former non-commissioned officer in the U. S. Army, has authored several other titles for The Oliver Press, such as Secretaries of State: Making Foreign Policy; Secretaries of War, Navy, and Defense: Ensuring National Security; Space Flight: Crossing the Last Frontier; and Weapons: Designing the Tools of War. ( )