Jerome Beatty, Jr. (1916–2002)

I was born the year this book was published: 1965. Man had not yet been to the moon. Sometime in the early or mid 1970s I got this book for Christmas. It was a favorite immediately! I loved science fiction, and I loved humor, and like most any young child, I loved stories where the child-hero holds a position of importance. There is no telling how many times I re-read this light, fun story. Nothing too profound here, just entertainment.
Upon finding a copy in a used bookstore, I was delighted to relive a bit of my childhood. And unlike so many things that one relives from their childhood, this one held up! I enjoyed it yet again.
The citizens of the Moon are split. Some want to go to Earth and discover what is there. Others want to just blow it up because it's ugly and in the way.
Matthew Looney, a moonchild of unspecified age is selected to go on a mission to Earth. They land somewhere in the swamps of Florida near Cape Kennedy. I enjoyed once again seeing Matthew's delight and confusion at his first encounter with Earthlings (flamingos) and his commanding officer's more alarming encounter (alligators). I relished their horror when it begins to rain, and they are convinced the Earth people are attacking them with poisonous water-bullets. At this point, the expedition is so terrified, they take off to return to the moon, leaving Matthew behind (rather E.T. like). It is then up to Matthew Looney, moon boy, to save both the Earth and the Moon from annihilating each other.… (mer)

This volume was published as part of the Little Big Books which were noted for their thickness and the small height and width. Most titles were intended for children, but this one seems aimed at adults and those who followed Hollywood cerebrates in the 1930's. Loaded with stills from some of his films including behind the scene photos of his dressing room and preparations on the set.
Beatty includes some of Rogers political commentary. If you are looking for a brief overview of his life, this will do despite the almost childish gushy text especially when the author covers Mrs. Rogers.
Rogers was killed along with Wiley Post in an plane crash in Alaska just before the book was published. The publisher included a one paragraph summary of Rogers' death on the last page.… (mer)