A DAY ON THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION

How astronauts eat, sleep, and work in space.

Like other entries in the We Both Read series, this elementary overview is designed for shared reading, offering short passages of information alternating with, on opposite pages, even shorter segments written in simpler language and printed in a larger typeface. Despite the visual separation and (minor) differences in reading level, the narrative moves in a single unified flow rather than following independent tracks—covering, here, typical daily routines aboard the ISS with looks at the history of space stations, at astronaut training and duties, and ahead to potential future settlements on Mars. Aside from several uncredited cutaway views and digital paintings, the illustrations are NASA photos of the station and some of the men and women (unidentified and mostly but not all white) who have lived and worked there. The book lacks such standard features as glossary and index, but it does offer a few websites for readers to explore for further information.

A serviceable picture of life in orbit, equally suitable for reading together or, despite the textual tweaking, solo.