The Astronaut Who Painted the Moon: The True Story of Alan Bean

 

The Astronaut Who Painted the Moon: The True Story of Alan Bean + Dean RobbinsIllustrated by Sean Rubin (Scholastic, May 28, 2019)

This adventure story celebrates the only artist to travel in outer space. Alan is both a brave astronaut and a painter who expresses his feelings through art. After the Apollo 12 mission, he pursues a one-of-a-kind dream: painting the magic and mystery of his trip to the moon.

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More than an account of a singular figure, Robbins’s notable biography is a beautiful reminder that science and art are a vital combination and, together, can create new understanding.

— New York Times

Starred review: As the story of the only artist ever to see the moon up close, this is a standout among titles that blend art and science, and it reflects the best aims of STEAM.

— Booklist

Starred review: A portrait of Alan Bean, the fourth man to walk on the moon and the first to express what that felt like in paint. Dean Robbins’ glowing tribute is inspiring fare for readers who, as the author puts it, dream of becoming ‘brave astronauts,’ ‘great artists,’ or both.

— Kirkus Reviews

This slim book is packed with a brief Alan Bean bio, breathtaking details about Apollo 12, and how-to tips on painting moonscapes. Before his death in 2018, Bean lent paintings, expertise, and passion to this unique slant on moon travel. Bean’s self-assessment is rather surprising: “I think of myself not as an astronaut who paints but as an artist who was once an astronaut.” Now there is a shout-out for STEAM education — science, technology, engineering, mathematics and the arts.

— San Francisco Chronicle

Of the many space books timed for the moon landing anniversary, The Astronaut Who Painted the Moon: The True Story of Alan Bean stands out for its luminescent illustrations and interdisciplinary appeal. Journalist Dean Robbins worked closely with Bean to bring the artist-astronaut’s story to a wider audience, immersing readers of this picture book biography in the thoughts and perspective of the fourth person to walk on the moon. Robbins’s action-infused text and color-tinged vocabulary shed light on the adrenaline-filled experience. Sean Rubin’s always lovely and lush renderings will likely captivate aspiring explorers and artists. The true star is the moon itself; with each page turn, the orb changes colors–sometimes white or shades of gray, other times a spectrum of violets and blues. The back matter reflects the research that Robbins put into this packed text, and the most fascinating tidbits include a side-by-side comparison of Bean’s original photos from his expedition and the paintings they inspired. The scientific accuracy and sheer artistry of the subject’s work is sure to mesmerize future astronauts and artists alike.

— Shelf Awareness

Dean Robbins, who interviewed Bean before his death in 2018, imbues the book with a wonderful sense of humanity, and Sean Rubin’s illustrations pay tribute to Bean’s art without duplicating it. The words and pictures work together beautifully to create a portrait of an astronaut who found new ways to express the inspiration he found in space.

— The Virginian-Pilot

Dean Robbins introduces Alan Bean, the Apollo 12 astronaut who painted his experience of walking on the moon. He provides an intriguing look into how some math- and science-based experiences can best be communicated with art.

— Publishers Weekly

Readers will learn about Alan Bean’s extraordinary life, journey to the moon through his mind’s eye, and view whimsical recreations of his artwork. This captivating story blends art and science to showcase the electrifying thrill of space travel and the beauty of its otherworldly imagery.

— Milwaukee Shepherd Express

Starred review: Science and art meet beautifully in this true story about Alan Bean, astronaut and painter, who brought his visit to the moon to life in his artwork. The book is very approachable for older preschoolers through elementary schoolers, and the illustrations include a lot of color and detail that will be fantastic for older readers. The back information also adds to the broad appeal. Highly recommend for children who love science, art, and/or history.

— YA Books Central

This inspiring picture-book account shows how Alan Bean, whose career as an astronaut was grounded in science and technology, found art essential to expressing and sharing what it meant to him.

— Cooperative Children’s Book Center: Best Children’s Books of 2020

After walking on the moon, astronaut Alan Bean devoted his later career to capturing that experience on canvas. A book of outstanding merit.

— Bank Street College of Education: Best Children’s Books of 2020

Dean Robbins’ picture book focuses on how artistic communication enhanced Alan Bean’s career as a space pioneer. Sean Rubin’s illustrations, with fine line hatching and subtle humor suggestive of S.D. Schindler, splash the lunar surface with pops of vivid color and add hues not to be found in deep space.

— The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

A beautiful work of nonfiction. Robbins’ text is poetic and does a great job of taking the reader through Alan Bean’s life without getting bogged down in extraneous detail. The book is illustrated by Sean Rubin, and it’s a visual delight. It’s wonderful for space fans and for artists and dreamers of all kinds.

— Picture Book Builders

As the story of the only artist ever to see the moon up close, this book is a standout among titles that blend art and science.

— Fairfax County Times

Dean Robbins’ tale of this extraordinary astronaut is masterful, and artist Sean Rubin’s illustrations are whimsical and unexpected. With back matter that includes photos of the NASA mission, images of Alan Bean’s paintings, and a timeline of lunar space travel, this is one adventure readers won’t want to miss.

— Lunar and Planetary Institute

Sean Rubin’s illustrations complement Dean Robbins’ text wonderfully, and his use of a bright color palette and watercolor effects throughout the book captures Alan Bean’s painting style perfectly. The text is clear and concise for young readers, and the illustrations make it accessible even to children who are just starting to read. The story puts the reader in Bean’s space boots as he looks upon the Earth from the moonscape for the first time.

— Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter

In November 1969, Alan Bean became the fourth astronaut to walk on the moon, and the only artist to ever do so. His life is beautifully capsulized in “The Astronaut Who Painted the Moon: The True Story of Alan Bean,” a smashing picture book.

— The Missourian

A fantastic look at one of the men who changed our view of the moon forever.

— Cracking the Cover

It’s a treat to see a book for children that acknowledges how influential art can be.

— The Nonfiction Detectives