posted 02-19-2021 06:24 PM               

I wanted to browse through the book, when I got stuck right at the beginning. On the first two pages, the right page shows a space shuttle. The description reads:

Raumfähre
CHALLENGER
-----------
1986

Schau nur, das ist eine Rakete.
Gleich fliegt sie in den Himmel.
Der Countdown beginnt...

(Look, this is a rocket.
She's about to fly into the sky.
The countdown starts...)

I was curious about the original version which I found on Amazon:

Once upon a rocket a countdown has begun...

I know this is a children's book. And I think for children that are new to the topic it provides a good introduction.

But in my opinion the decision to use the space shuttle Challenger at the beginning is very unlucky. Imagine you are reading this book with your child, you are counting down, the rocket starts...

Further the German version includes the sentence "Gleich fliegt sie in den Himmel," which is an addition that can't be found in the original version. This sounds very similar to "Gleich fliegt sie in die Luft."

In German "In die Luft fliegen" (to fly in the air) literally means to explode.

I don't want to belittle this book. But to start the history of spaceflight with Challenger is questionable.

English version:

• Hardcover: 32 pages
  
• Reading age: 3 - 7 years
  
• Tiger Tales (April 01, 2019)
  
• ISBN-10 : 1680101471
  
• ISBN-13 : 978-1680101478

• Hardcover: 32 pages
  
• Reading age: 5 - 16 years
  
• 360 Grad Verlag GmbH (January 31, 2019)
  
• ISBN-10 : 396185016X
  
• ISBN-13 : 978-3961850167