Bok's Giant Leap

August 15, 2021
A small bit of the primordial Earth is blasted into space...and a long time later makes a return journey via Apollo 11. Utilizing parts of a talk Armstrong delivered in 2006, Baker-Smith recasts a chunk of basalt that became part of the moon (thanks to a "celestial fender bender" in the solar system's early days) as a witness to the history of our planet. Measuring by the "billennium," Bok oversees continents rising and falling, life's appearance, and the arrival of dinosaurs. "But they disappeared almost before Bok noticed them." Taking a brief nap, he then misses "the unfolding story of humankind" until suddenly a "peculiar creature" in a vacuum suit snatches him up and carries him back to where his story began. The artist puts a tiny face on the potato-shaped rock, but for the most part he focuses on large-scale events--vividly capturing the wild violence of those molten eons, the eerie wonder of Earth's shallow early oceans in bright moonlight, extinction events, ice ages, and views of the suspenseful flight. In the backmatter, short biographies of the moon and Armstrong's astronautical career fill in further detail. Though the photos in the last part are all of White men, an earlier picture encapsulates our aforementioned "unfolding story" with portraits of Plato, Hypatia, Maria Mitchell, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, and Bessie Coleman. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A compelling invitation to take the long view. (Informational picture book. 7-9)

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October 11, 2021
Based on a 2006 speech that late American astronaut Armstrong delivered upon receiving a basalt moon rock he subsequently named Bok, this picture book follows Bok through billions of years, from inception to his journey to Earth aboard Apollo 11 in 1969, resulting in a piece of him (“A chip off the old Bok, you could say!”) being permanently displayed in a Cincinnati museum. The narrative’s tone embodies a wry sense of humor as it personifies Bok: “He was roughly thrown into a box with some acquaintances he knew only slightly.” Baker-Smith contributes engrossing, cinematic spreads detailing the formation of the continents, life growing beneath the ocean, dinosaurs, ice ages, and more. Back matter includes more information on the moon, Earth, and Armstrong, with photographs. Ages 4–8.

November 1, 2021

Gr 1-4-Bok, a cute anthropomorphized rock with craters for eyes, has been on the moon from the very beginning. From the violent cosmic collision of its creation to the subsequent cooling, the moon's long geologic history seems to be the focus of the story. But what starts as a study of the moon's history transforms into an overview of life on earth. That shift in direction is unexpected, as Bok's role is downgraded from an active participant through billions of years of geologic change, to a far-off observer to the evolution of life on earth, to a sleeper through human history, until picked up by Neil Armstrong to be taken back to earth for further study. The overview of earth's natural history skips some steps to get to the modern day. As Bok is sleeping, humanity is innovating and inventing, with significant historical figures such as Bessie Coleman and Plato mentioned, although without explanation of their significance. Eventually, humans succeed in putting men on the moon, completing the circle started with the moon's creation billions of years ago. Back matter includes additional information about the moon, earth, and the 1969 moon landing, but no glossary or time line, so the time frames and vocabulary may be confusing to young readers. The illustrations are lovely, creating a clear vision of the cosmic impacts and volcanic explosions of the moon's early days and the strangeness of the earth's early life forms. VERDICT Despite its minor flaws, this exploration of deep time as witnessed by one ancient little moon rock will appeal to budding astronauts, future paleontologists, and burgeoning geologists alike.-Alyssa Annico, Youngstown State Univ., OH

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December 15, 2021
Grades K-3 In 2006, NASA presented Armstrong with a moon rock, a souvenir of his 1969 lunar stroll. He named the basalt fragment Bok and here, with the proclamation "Rocks remember," he chronicles its history. Armstrong notes his own early interest in the moon and provides a history of Earth's satellite from its formation 4.5 billion years ago (following a small planet colliding with Earth) through its turbulent early years (filled with erupting geysers and flowing lava) to its more settled recent existence as observed by Bok himself. Baker-Smith's art includes ethereal spreads that highlight the drama of cosmic evolution, as well as anthropomorphized views of Bok, who sports human facial features. Dark blues and black are used effectively to convey deep space and ancient settings, while reds and yellows predominate in scenes depicting violent upheaval. Equally appealing are the early Earth scenes, portraying ocean environments, the end of dinosaurs, and the Ice Age, as well as Bok's retrieval by Armstrong. Appended with spreads detailing lunar history and Armstrong's career highlights, this makes an appealing STEM read-aloud.

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