When the editors of the I Was There series asked Barbara Hehner to author First on the Moon, they certainly chose the right person. Hehner’s writing makes us feel as if we really were there in 1969 on Apollo 11, the first American flight to the moon. Throughout the book’s four chapters, Hehner gives a detailed description of what astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins did and said during liftoff, the flight, while on the moon, and on their return trip. She intersperses their activities and reactions with the experiences of Jan, Aldrin’s daughter, 11 at the time. Through Jan’s eyes, we gain an understanding of the excitement and tension an astronaut’s family feels before, during, and after a mission. Immediacy is further enhanced by lots of colour photographs showing the astronauts, Jan, and Apollo 11 at various stages of the mission.

While the text contains a lot of data and technological information, it is never overwhelming. Well-labelled diagrams help explain the complex technology, and the extensive use of fascinating sidebars breaks up the text. The excellent choice of font, the appropriate use of white space, and the placement of photographs all make a complex topic an enjoyable read.

Although First on the Moon was written for a younger audience, its reading level is more suitable for ages 11 and up. Older readers will not only have a better understanding of the content but can also make use of the detailed timeline at the end of the book for research purposes. The well-organized timeline features world milestones in space exploration from 1957 to the present. It is a fitting way to end an excellent book.