Neil Armstrong, the first person to step on the moon, uttered the legendary statement: “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” This thrilling book explains how a young boy from Ohio became arguably the most famous astronaut of all time. A pilot by the time he was 16, Armstrong served in the Korean War before joining the US space program. Readers will learn the amazing story of the journey to the moon and gain an understanding of how perilous that mission really was. Armstrong’s interviews, writings, and other insights are interspersed throughout this must-read volume.

On July 20, 1969, the world stood still to watch American astronaut Neil A. Armstrong become the first person ever to step on the surface of another heavenly body. Upon his return to Earth, Armstrong was celebrated for his monumental achievement. He was also--as NASA historian Hansen reveals in this authorized biography--misunderstood. Armstrong's accomplishments as an engineer, a test pilot, and an astronaut have long been a matter of record, but Hansen's access to private documents and unpublished sources and his interviews with more than 125 subjects (including more than fifty hours with Armstrong himself) yield the first in-depth analysis of this elusive, reluctant hero.

Neil Armstrong's journey to the moon is the focus of the fifteenth picture book in the New York Times bestselling series of biographies about heroes. This friendly, fun biography series focuses on the traits that made our heroes great--the traits that kids can aspire to in order to live heroically themselves. Each book tells the story of one of America's icons in a lively, conversational way that works well for the youngest nonfiction readers and that always includes the hero's childhood influences. At the back are an excellent timeline and photos. This volume tells the story of Neil Armstrong from his childhood on a farm to a career as an engineer and pilot and how he became the first person on the moon. All of the small steps he took in life—even his failures—led up to his steps on the moon.

In the years between the historic first moon landing by Apollo 11 on July 20, 1969, and his death at age 82 on August 25, 2012, Neil Armstrong received hundreds of thousands of cards and letters from all over the world, congratulating him, praising him, requesting pictures and autographs, and asking him what must have seemed to him to be limitless—and occasionally intrusive—questions. Of course, all the famous astronauts received fan mail, but the sheer volume Armstrong had to deal with for more than four decades after his moon landing was staggering. Today, the preponderance of those letters—some 75,000 of them—are preserved in the archives at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. Dear Neil Armstrong: Letters to the First Man on the Moon publishes a careful sampling of these letters—roughly 400—reflecting the various kinds of correspondence that Armstrong received along with representative samples of his replies. Selected and edited by James R. Hansen, Armstrong’s authorized biographer and author of the New York Times best seller First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong, this collection sheds light on Armstrong’s enduring impact and offers an intimate glimpse into the cultural meanings of human spaceflight. Readers will explore what the thousands of letters to Neil Armstrong meant not only to those who wrote them, but as a snapshot of one of humankind’s greatest achievements in the twentieth century. They will see how societies and cultures projected their own meanings onto one of the world’s great heroes and iconic figures.

Neil Armstrong, the first person to step on the moon, uttered the legendary statement: “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” This thrilling book explains how a young boy from Ohio became arguably the most famous astronaut of all time. A pilot by the time he was 16, Armstrong served in the Korean War before joining the US space program. Readers will learn the amazing story of the journey to the moon and gain an understanding of how perilous that mission really was. Armstrong’s interviews, writings, and other insights are interspersed throughout this must-read volume.

On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong stepped on the moon and, to an audience of over 450 million people, proclaimed his step a "giant leap for mankind." This Eagle Scout built his own model planes as a little boy and then grew up to be a test pilot for experimental aircraft before becoming an astronaut. Over 80 black-and-white illustrations bring Armstrong's story to life.

A tender story about a tough-as-nails girl forced to take one small step towards understanding during the summer of 1969. "Muscle Man McGinty is a squirrelly runt, a lying snake, and a pitiful excuse for a ten-year old......the problem is that no one knows it but me. In the entire town of Massapequa Park, only I can see him for what he really is. A phony." Tamara Ann Simpson is determined to expose Muscle Man McGinty, a foster boy new to her neighborhood, for the liar that she knows he is. Muscle Man tells the other kids his uncle is Neil Armstrong and he even has the audacity to challenge the entire block to a kickball game. So, why is Tamara the only one who can see through this kid? It's the summer of 1969 and things are changing in Tamara's little town of Massapequa, Long Island, and in the world. Perhaps Tamara can take one small step towards a bit of compassion and understanding.

Everything written about Armstong's life and flights has been from the outside looking in; Jay Barbree is the only person whom Neil Armstrong trusted to share close personal details about his inspiring life story. Working from his years of notes, and with the Armstrong family, Jay Barbree has written the definitive biography of America's most famous astronaut and one of our greatest modern heroes. Armstrong has entrusted Barbree with details of his personal life, including his two marriages and the death of his baby daughter. And, of course, there is the inside story of an extraordinary career, from the time Armstrong flew combat missions in the Korean War and then flew a rocket plane called the X-15 to the edge of space, to when he saved his Gemini 8 by flying the first emergency return from Earth orbit and then flew Apollo-Eleven to the moon's Sea of Tranquillity. Full of never-before-seen photos, this book includes many personal details such as what Armstrong really felt when he took that first step on the moon, and what he felt the future of space exploration should be.

Discover the life of Neil Armstrong—a story about working hard and achieving the impossible for kids ages 6 to 9 Neil Armstrong became the first person ever to step foot on the moon. Before he flew space missions and made history with his moon landing, Neil was a curious kid who loved putting together model airplanes. He dreamed about pushing the boundaries of flight and studied hard in school to achieve his goals. Explore how Neil went from being a young boy growing up in Ohio to one of the most famous astronauts in the entire world (and beyond!). How will his can-do attitude and strong dedication inspire you? Independent reading—This Neil Armstrong biography is broken down into short chapters and simple language so kids 6 to 9 can read and learn on their own. Critical thinking—Kids will learn the Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How of Neil's life, find definitions of new words, discussion questions, and more. A lasting legacy—Find out how Neil Armstrong went from curious kid to famous astronaut. How will Neil Armstrong's story inspire you? Discover activists, artists, athletes, and more from across history with the rest of the Story Of series, including famous figures like: Leonardo da Vinci, the Wright Brothers, Amelia Earhart, Albert Einstein, and Marie Curie.

A biography of former American astronaut, Neil Armstrong, who, in 1969, became the first man to walk on the moon.