If you can find a Sally Ride book list, it's usually a selection of books about Dr. Ride. So we thought it might be fun to instead gather a list of books by Sally. As you might expect, the following books are all about space and our corner of the universe.
To Space and Back
by Sally Ride and Susan Okie
**Starred Review** School Library Journal
**Starred Review** Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, University of Chicago
Goodreads: 3.92 avg rating — 13 votes
(last updated 7/2012)
In this book, Dr. Ride let's children know exactly what space travel feels like. Having been there, she discloses how it feels to be pushed back into the launch chair, and what it feels like to be weightless. The descriptions are vivid and there are plenty of pictures. Note that this is a book that will have to be read to much of it's target audience: Accelerated Reading level of 6.3!
- Paperback: 96 pages
- ISBN-10: 0688091121
-- amazon
Reading Information
Word Count: 7,420
Interest Level: later elementary and middle-school
Accelerated Reading level: 6.3 / points: 1.0
AR quiz: 48127
Lexile: 1090L
The Mystery of Mars
by Sally Ride and Tam O'Shaughnessy
Annette Cable (Illustrator)
Goodreads: 4.00 avg rating — 6 votes
Written at an advanced level -- AR 7.5! -- this book explores Mars and what exploration of that planet would look like. Children will enjoy Ride's perspective which includes comparing the 'evolution' of Mars and the Earth, and why the two planets are so different.
- Hardcover: 48 pages
- Publisher: Sally Ride Science
- ISBN-10: 1933798106
-- amazon
Reading Information
Word Count: 8,751
Interest Level: later elementary and middle-school
Accelerated Reading level: 7.5 / points: 2.0
AR quiz: 54795
Lexile: 1020L
The Third Planet: Exploring the Earth from Space
by Sally Ride, Tam O'Shaughnessy
Goodreads: 3.67 avg rating — 6 votes
This book focuses on our own planet, from a fun 'outside' perspective. Students will see various regions of the earth and learn the definitions of concepts like aurora and light spectrum. This book functions more as a resource than a fun-read. But given Ride's perspective, it is still inspirational.
- Hardcover: 48 pages
- Publisher: Sally Ride Science
- ISBN-10: 097539200X
-- amazon
Reading Information
Word Count: 4,814
Interest Level: later elementary and middle-school
Accelerated Reading level: 6.8 / points: 1.0
AR quiz: 11558
Lexile: 970L
Exploring Our Solar System
by Sally Ride, Tam O'Shaughnessy
Goodreads: 4.0 avg rating — 3 votes
The focus of this book is our entire solar system. The scope is deliciously wide, including everything from why the planets have such diverse characteristics, to how our knowledge of them has grown over time as our tools -- telescopes -- improved. Nicely illustrated and interesting.
- Hardcover: 112 pages
- Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
- ISBN-10: 0375812040
-- amazon
Reading Information - none
Mission: Planet Earth: Our World and Its Climate--and How Humans Are Changing Them
by Sally Ride, Tam O'Shaughnessy
The focus of this book is the Earth. But unlike the other books penned by Sally and Tam, this one focuses on the environment and how we effect it. Topics include 'carbon footprints' and 'dependency of limited resources'. More upbeat than other, more mature, books on the subject. Again, note the advanced reading level.
Hardcover: 80 pages
Publisher: Flash Point
ISBN-10: 1596433795
-- sample pages available
Reading Information
Word Count: 16,096
Interest Level: tweens and middle-grades
Accelerated Reading level: 6.8 / points: 3.0
AR quiz: 129915