# Name this kids' book? Long shot from my childhood. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 6, 2009, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-kids-book-long-shot-from-my-childhood/505555 "2009-08-06T18:23:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-kids-book-long-shot-from-my-childhood/505555/1 "2009-08-06T18:23:55Z")
I recall a book I loved when I was in Junior Infants (about 4 or 5 years old) that was in the library in my Primary school classroom. It was the tale of a rocket that goes on an adventure to the moon, something like Thomas The Tank Engine except with a rocket ship. I have no idea how old the book was at the time, but it was 1986 when I saw it, so it could be early '80s or earlier. It was colourfully illustrated and I have no idea how popular such a book was. Anyway I hope someone knows what the hell I’m on about. ---
**Author:** ![Chanteuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de053/32.png) [@Chanteuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chanteuse)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-kids-book-long-shot-from-my-childhood/505555/2 "2009-08-06T19:53:48Z")
Perhaps it’s [The Berenstain Bears on the Moon](http://www.amazon.com/Berenstain-Bears-Bright-Early-Books/dp/0394871804)? ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-kids-book-long-shot-from-my-childhood/505555/3 "2009-08-06T20:06:34Z")
Googling on “anthropomorphic rocket” and “personified rocket” all I could find is a character named Rusty Rocket, who seems to be in multimedia shows at planetariums all over the US. But not a book, sorry. I’ll post this question at goodreads in the “what’s the name of that book?” section. ---
**Author:** ![Snowcarpet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowcarpet/32/257_2.png) [@Snowcarpet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowcarpet)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-kids-book-long-shot-from-my-childhood/505555/4 "2009-08-06T22:52:55Z")
Totally random guesses (just books _I_ recall from childhood with a lunar-adventure bent): Little Bear (contains “Little Bear Goes to the Moon”) > **[Amazon.com: Little Bear (An I Can Read Book): 9780064440042: Elsa Holmelund...](https://www.amazon.com/Little-Bear-Can-Read-Book/dp/0064440044)** > > Amazon.com: Little Bear (An I Can Read Book): 9780064440042: Elsa Holmelund Minarik, Maurice Sendak: Books Babar? > **[Babar Visits Another Planet: Laurent De Brunhoff: 9780810942448: Amazon.com:...](https://www.amazon.com/Visits-Another-Planet-Laurent-Brunhoff/dp/0810942445)** > > Babar Visits Another Planet \[Laurent De Brunhoff\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. Babar Visits Another Planet ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-kids-book-long-shot-from-my-childhood/505555/5 "2009-08-06T23:05:12Z")
If the rocket is a vehicle and not a character, my guess would be **Harold’s Trip to the Sky** by Crockett Johnson. The Harold and The Purple Crayon books were still popular in the 80s. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2009, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-kids-book-long-shot-from-my-childhood/505555/6 "2009-08-07T16:51:31Z")
I could swear that the rocket ship was the character but then it’s so long ago maybe I dreamt it! ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2009, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-kids-book-long-shot-from-my-childhood/505555/7 "2009-08-07T17:41:39Z")
You didn’t grow up in the US, right? You might be better off asking this question on a forum with a higher percentage of people from UK/Ireland; a lot of children’s books of the type you describe don’t make it across the pond. ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2009, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-kids-book-long-shot-from-my-childhood/505555/8 "2009-08-07T18:15:53Z")
Was it [You Will Go To The Moon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Will_Go_to_the_Moon_(book))? It’s one of my husband’s favorite children’s books.