GENRE: **STEM/STEAM, SEL, Non-Fiction
WORDS: 850
Query:
Dear agents and editors,
I am thrilled to submit my Hi-Lo 850-word picture book nonfiction manuscript, Mission in Space: Saving the Hubble Space Telescope.
In 1990, shortly after launching the Hubble Space Telescope, NASA faced a notorious crisis: the telescope’s mirror was flawed. Mission in Space tells the gripping true story of NASA’s urgent race to fix the telescope, offering a window into problem-solving, teamwork, and resilience.
Like the Space Explorer Guidebooks series and the Destination Space series, Mission in Space explores the wonders of space science. However, it distinguishes itself by employing storytelling techniques that bring scientists to life, highlighting their resilience and problem-solving capabilities.
Mission in Space is the first in a planned series of standalone books, each focusing on a different space telescope and its groundbreaking contributions to astronomy. The series proposal and similar manuscripts are available upon request. Holding a Ph.D. in Astrophysics, I craft stories that make complex science engaging and accessible to young readers.
In addition to nonfiction, my query package includes both completed STEM narrative nonfiction picture books and a chapter book series inspired by the culture of Iran, my homeland.
Over the past few years, I have honed my writing skills through various platforms, including publishing blog posts and engaging with critique groups. Participating in the 12×12 Picture Book Challenge and SCBWI webinars has also allowed me to refine my craft and stay connected to the children’s literature community.
Thanks for your time and consideration.
Excerpt:
[Header: April 24, 1990]
In a few days, when the Hubble Space Telescope would take its first pictures…
[The shuttle’s bay is open; the telescope floats out]
…for the first time, humans could see the stars above all the clouds and air. Everyone was ready to celebrate, but like a tornado, the news hit. The telescope, which cost hundreds of millions of dollars, took blurry photos.
What inspired you to write this story & what do you have in common with it:
Growing up near a desert in Iran, the night sky spellbound me and inspired me to pursue my studies in astrophysics. Writing children’s books about the sky allows me to share that sense of awe and discovery with young minds, encouraging them to dream big, ask questions, and explore the wonders of the cosmos.
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