Review of David's space flight - Waking Up

[Nancy Ferris Postilli]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "David's space flight - Waking Up" by Sharron L Hillman-Dwyer.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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The book, David's Space Flight—Waking Up by Sharron L. Hillman-Dwyer, is a colorfully illustrated educational children’s book about finding value in others and giving the benefit of the doubt.
The author shows how the main character, David, is negatively impacted by not getting enough sleep. He falls asleep at school, which in turn makes him miss out on important learning. One of his classmates is bothered when students are tasked with completing a project together. She criticized him for not staying awake in class or being able to add anything interesting to their presentation. When another student explains why David is so tired, the classmate becomes more empathetic and helps him find a way to add value to their project.
One aspect of this book I appreciated was that the author shows how misunderstandings can make us think and believe something false. This is something that happens regularly for many people. Our society is quick to make judgments about what we perceive to be true rather than what may be real. This book illustrates for children how assuming something without merit can be harmful to others. The one child clarifies and stands up for what she knows is the truth. It helps children reading this book to maybe stop and get the facts before deciding. The resolution in the book shows that when the students all work together and see that everyone has value, they can create a cool product.
The brightly colored pictures and speech bubbles will appeal to children who enjoy reading comics or graphic novels. After teaching for 30 years, I know both are popular with the age group depicted in the book. The numerous extension activities in the back of the book are also a bonus. The word search will draw students of all ages in. Parents or teachers can use the many prompts to promote a broader discovery of topics. I think it is helpful that the author put them into subcategories. 
I recommend this book and give it a 4 out of 5 for the realistic illustrations and theme. It would have received a perfect score if it had flawless editing. However, even with the errors I noticed, it was well written and can immerse its readers. People should read it to learn what makes Venus a unique planet and how to create a working volcano!

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David's space flight - Waking Up
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