Space StorytimeFRIDAY, APRIL 15, 10:30 AMBring the whole family for an imaginary trip into outer space with stories and songs (all ages).

Apron Making & Recipe SwapTUESDAY, APRIL 19, 7 PMLike many housewives of the ‘60s, the Astronaut Wives were always cooking for their friends. Join us to make an apron out of household items and exchange recipes. Please call 703-746-1751 to register.

Movie NightTHURSDAY, APRIL 21, 6 PMApollo 13 (1995 © Universal Pictures) PGStranded 205,000 miles from Earth in a crippled spacecraft, astronauts Jim Lovell, Fred Haise, and Jack Swigert fight a desperate battle to survive. Based on a true story.

PBS POV Documentary ScreeningFRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2 PMJoin us for the screening of the POV Documentary, The City Dark. This event is a collaboration with the award-winning documentary series POV (www.pbs.org/POV). Slide ConservationMONDAY, APRIL 25, 10 AMIf you grew up in the ‘60s, chances are some of your family memories are stored on slides. Reserve a one hour session to convert some of those precious memories to digital. Please call 703-746-1751 to register.

3,2,1 Blast Off! WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 4 PMMake your own paper rockets and shoot them high into the sky with our air rocket launchers (ages 8-12).

Movie NightTHURSDAY, APRIL 28, 6:30 PMOctober Sky (1999 © Universal Pictures) PGTrue story of a young boy growing up in Coalwood, West Virginia, during the 1950s, who dreams of building rockets.

Mad Science ABCsSATURDAY, APRIL 30, 11 AMGet a head-start on your career as an astronaut with this fun science show for

the whole family. Full of amazing and crazy experiments (all ages). Movie MatineeSATURDAY, APRIL 30, 1:30 PMThe Right Stuff (1983 © Warner Bros.) PGThe true story of Alan Shepard, Gus Grissom, John Glenn, Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra, Gordon Cooper, and Deke Slayton-- the seven men chosen for the Mercury Project manned space flight program in the U.S.

Voyage to the MoonTUESDAY, MAY 3, 11 AM & 1 PMPresented by Greg Anderson, join us in Cosmic Adventure’s mobile planetarium to learn about Earth’s closest neighbor...the moon. Space is limited. Please call 703-746-1751 to register (ages 4+).

Recycled Alien CraftWEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 4 PMUse recycled materials to make your own unique alien to take home (ages 8+).

Movie NightTHURSDAY, MAY 5, 6:30 PMGravity (2013 © Warner Bros.) PG-13A medical engineer and an astronaut work together to survive after an accident leaves them adrift in space.

Family Movie Matinee SATURDAY, MAY 7, 11 AMTomorrowland (2015 © Walt Disney Pictures) PGCome watch Disney’s Tomorrowland on our giant screen and take home a free movie poster (all ages).

Mother’s Day TeaSUNDAY, MAY 8, 2 PMEnjoy drinking tea just like the Astronaut Wives? Join us to celebrate Mother’s Day with sweet treats and a cosmic craft! Join us for a tea party just for mothers and their children. Please call 703-746-1751 to register (all ages).

Slide ConservationMONDAY, MAY 9, 10 AMIf you grew up in the ‘60s, chances are some of your family memories are stored on slides. Reserve a one hour session to convert some of those precious memories to digital. Please call 703-746-1751 to register.

BEATLEY CENTRAL5005 Duke Street

AboutAll Alexandria ReadsFacilitated by the Alexandria Library, this program is designed to create shared experiences through reading. Everyone is invited to read the featured title and selected books for younger readers. Join the events and discussions that relate to the themes of The Astronaut Wives Club.

AboutThe Astronaut Wives ClubFROM LIBRARY JOURNAL:“Engaging…[Koppel] hits the mark, crafting an exceptional story that seriously examines the imperfection and humanity of America’s heroic astronauts, their wives, and their families. This work will hold vast appeal for armchair historians, and those interested in feminism, women’s history, and 20th-century history.”

SIMILAR “READ-ALIKE” BOOKS FOR YOUNGER READERS

PICTURE BOOKMousetronautby Mark Kelly

CHAPTER BOOKGeorge’s Secret Key to the Universeby Steven Hawking & Lucy Hawking

YOUNG ADULTThe Martianby Andy Weir

Library Events

Nebulas and Clusters and Galaxies, Oh My!SATURDAY, MAY 14, 2 PMJoin Cal Powell for this fun and interactive presentation and learn about wonders visible with binoculars or a modest telescope (all ages).

Remembering the Real Space Cowboys: A Salute to the Husbands of the Astronaut Wives at the T.C. Williams PlanetariumTUESDAY, MAY 17, 7 PMRelive the space race from Sputnik to Apollo Soyuz. Uncover some of the behind the scenes stories that never made the front pages, and follow the adventures of our astronauts as they showed time and time again that they indeed had the right stuff. Space is limited. To register, please email planetarium@acps.k12.va.us. Registration begins on April 15.

Recline & DineWEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 7 PMTV dinners revolutionized the ‘50s and ‘60s. Experience a modern take on this classic and an episode or two of a classic TV show. Space is limited. Please call 703-746-1751 to register (all ages).

Train Like an Astronaut at the Charles Houston Recreation CenterTUESDAYS, APRIL 12-MAY 17, 3:30 PMGet moving with NASA activities used to exercise the same body parts as astronauts do in training and on missions in space. Presented in partnership with the Charles Houston Recreation Center (grades K-5).

Saturday MatineeSATURDAY, APRIL 16, 1 PMThe Right Stuff (1983 © Warner Bros.) PGThe true story of Alan Shepard, Gus Grissom, John Glenn, Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra, Gordon Cooper, and Deke Slayton-- the seven men chosen for the Mercury Project manned space flight program in the U.S.

The Women’s Movement in the 1960sMONDAY, APRIL 18, 7 PMDr. Leigh Johnson, Interim Director of

Composition at Marymount University, will speak on the elements that contributed to the early second-wave Women’s Movement.

Archived Lecture: An Evening with Two AstronautsTUESDAY, APRIL 19, 7 PMIn this archived lecture from the National Air and Space Museum, astronauts John Glenn and Scott Carpenter talk about their space careers. The lecture originally occurred June 23, 2011, as part of the John H. Glenn Lecture in Space History Series.

Children’s Movie MatineeWEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 4 PMThe Magic School Bus Gets Lost In Space (1994 © Scholastic Productions) NRJoin Miss Frizzle’s class as they learn all about our Solar System in this episode of the classic TV series based on the books by Joanna Cole. (ages 5+)

Blast Off!SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 10:30 AMCreate a spaceship that can fly using simple materials like paper plates (ages 5+).

The Future of Human Space Flight MONDAY, APRIL 25, 7 PMJames Schier of NASA’s Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate will discuss the past, present and future of human space exploration and space communications from the Mercury missions featured in the book to the ongoing planning for the human journey to Mars in the 2030s.

Dress Like an Astronaut Wife:1960s FashionsMONDAY, MAY 2, 7 PMFashion historian Deb Fuller talks about the fabulous fashions of the ‘60s and brings vintage samples from Amalgamated Costume & Design Studio.

The International Space Station:A Perspective from NASA’s Mission ControlTUESDAY, MAY 3, 7 PMNASA’s Kevin Metrocavage will provide an overview of the International Space Station (ISS), orbiting Earth since 1998, and currently hosting a crew of six astronauts. He will present his experiences as a former Flight Controller in Mission Control, discuss the ISS benefits to everyday life and explain its role

in the future of human spaceflight. Children’s Movie MatineeWEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 4 PMThe Magic School Bus: Out of This World (1995 © Scholastic Productions) NRTake another field trip aboard the Magic School Bus and learn about space rocks (ages 5+).

Star Wars LegoSATURDAY, MAY 7, 10:30 AM Take “one giant leap” from the space program of the 1960s into a “galaxy far, far, away,” as you get creative with a large collection of Star Wars Lego and Duplo. (ages 5+)

Rockin’ & Rollin’ with GrooveQuest BandSATURDAY, MAY 7, 1 PMHave a blast dancing to the music of the ‘60s and ‘70s performed by GrooveQuest (all ages).

Sixties Dance PartyTHURSDAY, MAY 12, 4 PMGrab your love beads, put on your bell bottoms and get ready to dance with us to The Beatles, Motown and more groovy ‘60s favorites. (ages 3+)

Archived Lecture: NASA’s Legacy and Future: Personal Reflections of a Space FlyerSATURDAY, MAY 14, 11 AMIn this archived lecture from the National Air and Space Museum, NASA Administrator Charles F. Bolden Jr. talks on his career and the future of the space program. The lecture originally occurred June 27, 2012 as part of the John H. Glenn Lecture in Space History Series.

New Horizons Mission to Pluto and CharonTUESDAY, MAY 17, 7 PMMichael E. Summers, Professor of Planetary Science and Astronomy at George Mason University, will discuss the results from the New Horizons mission to Pluto and Charon, including the latest high resolution images downlinked from the spacecraft.

Space STEAMSATURDAY, MAY 21, 10:30 AMCome and try some simple hands on experiments that explore energy and motion (ages 5+).

BARRETT BRANCH717 Queen Street

Library Events

BURKE BRANCH4701 Seminary Road

Pajama StorytimeTHURSDAY, APRIL 14, 7 PMJoin us for a read aloud of the AAR picture book: Mousetronaut (ages 3-7 with an adult).

Movie MatineeMONDAY, APRIL 18, 4 PMHome (2015 © Twentieth Century Fox) PGWorlds collide when Oh, a life form from another planet, befriends a human girl named Tip (ages 5+).

Survival at the Edge of SpaceTUESDAY, APRIL 19, 4 PMHow do high altitude pilots and astronauts survive at the edge of space? Join us as a NASA representative provides an exploratory look at density in space. (ages 6-13).

Survival at the Edge of SpaceTHURSDAY, APRIL 21, 7 PMHow do high altitude pilots and astronauts survive at the edge of space? Join us as a NASA representative provides an exploratory look at density in space (ages 14+).

Maryland Science Center Presents Science UnscriptedFRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2 PMJoin us for amazing science demonstrations that include liquid nitrogen, biochemistry, combustion reactions and more (ages 6-12).

Tea TastingSATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2 PMEnjoy drinking tea just like the Astronaut Wives? Experience a selection of specialty teas from around the world. Space is limited. Please call 703-746-1771 to register.

Let’s Build with LegosMONDAY, APRIL 25, 5 PMUse your creativity, imagination and hands to build cool Lego structures with a space theme (ages 5+).

Movie MatineeWEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 2 PMThe Martian (2015 © Twentieth Century Fox) PG-13Astronaut Watney fights for survival on Mars after being stranded by his crew during a mission.

Original Moonlighters® BandSATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2 PMBlast off with our atomic-powered band as we take you on a groovy time trip back to another era not so long ago (all ages).

Movie MatineeMONDAY, MAY 2, 4 PMPlanet 51 (2009 © TriStar Pictures) PGAn alien civilization is invaded by Astronaut Chuck Baker, who believed that the planet was uninhabited. Wanted by the military, Baker must get back to his ship before it goes into orbit without him (ages 5+). Women in the Cold WarSATURDAY, MAY 7, 2 PMProfessor Alice Reagan returns to talk about the change in attitude of women’s domesticity and the beginning of the sexual revolution.

Maker MondayMONDAY, MAY 9, 3:30 PMUse your hands and imagination to create DIY projects that are out of this world! All materials provided (ages 5-12).

Movie MatineeTUESDAY, MAY 24, 2 PMJersey Boys (2014 © Warner Bros.) RFour young men from the wrong side of the tracks in New Jersey come together to form the iconic 1960s rock group, The Four Seasons.

Project Natale at FirefliesFRIDAY, APRIL 22, 7 PMJoin us for a Jazz program at FireFlies in Del Ray. Bring out the cool sixties attitude. Sponsored by the Friends of Duncan Library (all ages).

Space Exploration: Dressing for AltitudeMONDAY, APRIL 25, 3 PMJoin a NASA educator to learn about how astronauts dress for altitude (ages 6-12). Sixties Film SeriesWEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 6 PMWest Side Story (1961 © Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc.) NRJoin us on a cinematic journey through the decade of the sixties. Not only were new worlds being explored, but new ideas were being stretched, pulled and delivered to a new cultural phenomenon.

DUNCAN BRANCH2501 Commonwealth Avenue

Space Themed StorytimeTHURSDAY, APRIL 28, 11 AMJoin us as we read stories, sing songs and do a craft about astronauts and outer space (ages 3-5).

Robotics ChallengeSATURDAY, APRIL 30, 1 PMWork with a roboticist to develop your own unique robotic creation. Compete for bragging rights. No experience necessary (ages 9-14). Please call 703-746-1783 to register. Sixties Film SeriesMONDAY, MAY 2, 7 PMDr. Strangelove (1964 © Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.) PGJoin us on a cinematic journey through the decade of the sixties. Not only were new worlds being explored, but new ideas were being stretched, pulled and delivered to a new cultural phenomenon.

Star Wars Day CelebrationWEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 3:30 PMSpecial Star Wars craft to celebrate Star Wars Day (ages 6-12).

Growing up in Alexandria in the Sixties - An Oral HistorySATURDAY, MAY 7, 3 PMJoin the Alexandria Legends and not so Legends, in a sharing of stories of an Alexandria that was changing while the Country grew.

Sixties Film SeriesMONDAY, MAY 9, 7 PMButch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid (1969 © Twentieth Century Fox) PGJoin us on a cinematic journey through the decade of the sixties. Not only were new worlds being explored, but new ideas were being stretched, pulled and delivered to a new cultural phenomenon.

Space Theme Kids CraftingWEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 3:30 PMJoin us for a special space theme project (ages 6-12).

All Alexandria Reads is made possible through a generous grant from the James M. Duncan, Jr. Library Foundation, Inc.

All Alexandria Reads is made possible through a generous grant from the James M. Duncan, Jr. Library Foundation, Inc.

Additional sponsors and partners include the following local businesses and organizations:

Sponsors

BOOK DISCUSSION GROUPS

BARRETT BRANCHMONDAY, APRIL 11, 7 PM

BURKE BRANCHWEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2 PM

BEATLEY CENTRALMONDAY, MAY 9, 6:30 PM

DUNCAN BRANCHWEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 7 PM

¤ In reading the book, did you identify with a particular astronaut wife and if so, why?

¤ Why were the wives so interesting to the public?

¤ How were these women representative of the changes in how women were viewed in society during the ‘60s?

¤ The Mercury 7 families were some of our first celebrity families. How has celebrity changed or stayed the same over the years?

¤ How do you think you would feel seeing a family member or friend head out into space? Did you see any of those feelings mirrored in any of the wives?

¤ LIFE Magazine™ had an exclusive contract to document their lives to the public. The families benefitted with insurance policies that they surely needed given the Astronauts’ dangerous careers. Do you think the families regretted making this deal?

¤ How did the failure or success of an individual astronaut affect his wife and family, for example not being picked to be first for a mission? Does a spouse still affect someone’s reputation today, or are couples considered separately as individuals now?

¤ Do you think women are still as supportive of each other today as they were in the Astronaut Wives Club?

¤ The wives of the Mercury 7 astronauts became famous because of their marriages to men, who were considered the most heroic of the time. Who do you think are the heroes/ heroines today?

¤ Now that you know more about where the space program started, where do you see it going in the next 50 years?

VISIT ALEXANDRIA LIBRARY, ITS WEBSITE AND FACEBOOK PAGE, FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS INITIATIVE AND OTHER PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.

www.alexandria.lib.va.us

while reading The Astronaut Wives Club

Questions to think about