Almost Underwear

Praise for Almost Underwear Orange Blossom Nonfiction Award

“A flight of fancy–and facts–sure to set aspiring scientists’ imaginations soaring.” –Kirkus, starred review

“Jonathan Roth explains how an ordinary piece of cloth intended to be made into underwear ended up on the wings of the Wright brothers’ airplane and eventually made it to the Moon – and then Mars. A true story!”–The Washington Post“Combining historical photographs and NASA concept art with the author’s cartoonish illustrations creates an enjoyable informational picture book that connects the past to the present. Roth’s clear and compelling narrative follows the swatch’s fascinating journey through the history of flight.” –The Horn Book“Eye-catching spreads feature photographs with additional ebullient, cartoonlike illustrations, including the charming cloth and historical figures. Roth’s text will enthrall readers of all ages, brimming with humor and successfully building suspense as the apparently ordinary cloth embarks on incredible adventures. A fascinating and factual examination of a fantastic piece of flight history, and a welcome addition to all collections.” –School Library Journal“A blend of cartooning and archival photos from NASA and the National Air and Space Museum evokes an informative comic book feel, adding in mechanical detail that’s just right for budding aeronautical gearheads. But it’s the work’s narrative voice, which alternates between droll humor and geeky enthusiasm, that makes this textile yarn a delight from takeoff to landing.” –Publishers Weekly“Inserting cartoon figures into photos of actual sites both terrestrial and extraterrestrial, Roth explains how a certain bolt of unbleached muslin has been “woven into the fabric of history.” Readers with stars (and planets) in their eyes will be fascinated by this little-known swatch of detail from the story of our space program.”–Booklist, starred review