Reading: THE DARKEST DARK - Colonel Chris Hadfield & Kate Fillion (authors), Terry & Eric Fan/The Fan Brothers (Illustrators)

1st Line: "Chris was an astronaut."

Prose (Story): An autobiographical picture book by astronaut Colonel Chris Hadfield, about a young boy named Chris who  - though completely enamored of space and rocketships and going beyond the stars - still has one minor issue that could hamper his future career: he's afraid of the dark!

Don's (Review): Sweet story about a young boy reaching for his dream to go into space, whose fears unfortunately come out at night in the dark - and the transformation he goes through when he, his family, and neighbors gather together in front of a TV to watch the first moon landing in 1969. Colonel Hadfield's love of his subject matter (and memories from childhood) rings true on every page, but to raise the heart and soul of his story even further is the rich, deeply atmospheric artwork that breathes to life on every page, courtesy of Terry and Eric Fan (The Fan Brothers). In smoky blues, purples and indigos, at first the picture book depicts the night as strange and myserious in young Chris's eyes ... before the brothers Fan transform Chris's fears into a landscape of wonder and adventure after Chris's viewing of the moon landing changes his perception of the endess night skies. Exceptionally well-done by Col. Hadfield (if you get/the digital version, the narration guiding you and your kids through his story is wonderful), with - as always - The Fan Brothers elevating any kidlit they touch into genuine art, with their own formidable, one-of-a-kind skills on every page.  4/5 stars