The Spacesuit

What could a seamstress know about the specific requirements of astronaut clothing? What cloth might she/ he need to construct any garments? What sizes? Would they need to consider movement, warmth, mobility? Imagine considering all of this without Google?

Ellie Forsaker was an esteemed seamstress approached by Playtex to lead their entry in a national competition to create spacesuits for the Apollo 11 crew. What were the special conditions to be taken into account? What sort of machinery would be available? Who would help? What considerations did Ellie include in her designs? What about the competition?

‘The Spacesuit‘ is a fascinating story about a woman with a key role in a momentous event in history. Told in picture book format, Alison Donal and Ariel Landy employ factual asides in this tale, accompanied by bright Jetson style pictures.