Meet Matilda Rocket Builder

This is a very original story about a ten-year-old girl who knows there is absolutely no reason why she can’t emulate the Apollo missions’ success and build a rocket to the moon.

Matilda is fantastically confident, very intelligent and excellent at explaining complicated things. Though her book tells a story, its obvious ambition is to provide a description of the science behind the moon landings in a fun and engaging way. The book is a stream of Matilda’s conscience as she considers each step along the way to interstellar success.

It’s an original format that feels similar to reading a real astronaut’s autobiography. It won’t be a style that suits all readers, some of whom may be expecting a page-turner about young rocketeers. However, it is a very likeable approach, and might be enjoyed best by reading a little bit at a time. It’s unashamedly detailed and, though the information is easy-to-digest, Conlon doesn’t over-simplify things, and readers have the opportunity to develop a genuine understanding of big topics like gravity, air pressure, coding, and how to do a poo in space.

Matilda’s story will appeal to any children who are curious about the world and beyond, and will teach them that anything is possible – as long as you keep asking questions.