The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) launches new e-book for kids
The historic Artemis II mission is the first crewed test flight of the Artemis program. The crew includes CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen, who will be the first Canadian to fly around the Moon. (Credit: CSA)
Some 90 excited Grade 3 students from Cornell Junior Public School assembled today at the Toronto Public Library's Cedarbrae branch in Scarborough to take part in the launch of a new e-book with CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen. Another 39 students in Grades 2–4 from Viscount Alexander Public School connected to the event from the Library and Archives Canada facilities in Ottawa.
After a short presentation by Jeremy Hansen about the historic Artemis II mission on which he will embark in early , local actress Jasmine Brough did a special reading of The Explorers Club: To the Moon! for the students and people following via livestream.
Toronto-based actress Jasmine Brough did a special reading of the e-book for students assembled in Toronto and Ottawa. (Credit: CSA)
The out-of-this-world story features the Explorers Club – Gemma, Niko, Layla, Mathias and their loyal doggy Chewie – as they fly to the Moon and back with the help of Jeremy Hansen and his astronaut colleague Jenni Gibbons. The free e-book, available in both official languages, aims to spark children's curiosity about space, while fostering learning and a love of reading. A printable version (PDF, 5.4 MB) of the book, and colouring sheets featuring characters from the e-book, are also available.
“Jeremy told us that he had a treehouse too when he was young, and he turned it into a rocketship with cardboard and stuff he found on his farm,” said a student. “He used his imagination to go on adventures and now he gets to go to the Moon! I'd like to go too!”
Rewatch the event on the CSA's YouTube channel!