ALMOST UNDERWEAR: How a Piece of Cloth Traveled From Kitty Hawk to the MOON and MARS!

 

Christy Ottaviana Books
Little, Brown and Company 2024

Did that headline get you? I can't imagine it didn't, and the cover of this new picture book will attract young readers as much or more. ALMOST UNDERWEAR: How A Piece of Cloth Traveled from Kitty hawk to the MOON and MARS is written and illustrated by Jonathon Roth. 

This delightful nonfiction picture book is a winner on many levels. 

First, progressively smaller swatches of sturdy muslin fabric (woven for use as the ubiquitous but unglamorous role of becoming underwear) are showcased in their roles in aviation history. Spanning the years from 1903, and experimental situations from Dayton, Ohio to Mars, this clever and true account of lesser known science history is gently personified with two eyes and a set of expressive eyebrows. 

That muslin cloth served as wing coverings for the Wright Brothers early attempts, with a small swatch honored as part of a travel pouch accompanying Neil Armstrong on the first Moon landing. Decades later an even tinier swatch from that original bolt of fabric became part of the experimental helicopter flight on Mars, launched by one of the Mars Rovers. This appealing cloth/character makes the span of more than a century read cohesively and compellingly.

Next, the illustration approach uses a visually clever technique, mounting full spreads or small inserts of photographic images from actual sites in Dayton, from Kitty Hawk, from the lunar module and the first Moon landing, on to helicopter test flights on Mars. Those dramatically anchoring images are inset with (or framed by) charmingly simple art that depicts the people and activities that are depicted.

Finally, the subject matter of flight, space exploration, following dreams, and innovation are strong hooks for many ages and backgrounds. The backmatter includes a helpful author note as well as an illustrated glossary/explainer about six of the advanced technology tools being used in space exploration. This will be a hit and offers a bibliography for anyone seeking further details!

Don;'t be surprised iff you need to wait on a library hold for quite a while, as i did. That might encourage you to purchase this as a holiday gift for someone who will love it!