The High-Flying, Deep-Diving Adventures of Kathy Sullivan: Astronaut and Oceanographer

Discover the true story of Kathy Sullivan, the first woman to walk in space and the only woman who has been to both outer space and the depths of the ocean, in this inspiring nonfiction picture book biography.

Growing up, Kathy Sullivan always knew the world was bigger than her neighborhood. She loved to study maps and wonder about distant places. And when she was six years old and saw Sputnik in the sky, she knew space would be the most amazing adventure of all.

One of the first six trailblazing women to join NASA's storied astronaut corps, Kathy was the first woman to walk in space and a veteran of three shuttle missions. She was in the first NASA Astronaut Group 8, provided support for the first Space Shuttle mission and the Kennedy Space Center crew, and was part of the team that launched, rescued, and maintained the Hubble Space Telescope.

After spending 532 total hours in space, Kathy left NASA and fulfilled another dream: traveling to the sea floor. Kathy became the first woman to travel to the Mariana Trench, the lowest known point on planet Earth. Kathy never forgot the maps she loved as a child and followed her curiosity to the highest reaches and most sunken depths--farther than anyone else.

Author: Diane Stanley
Publisher: Beach Lane Books
Published: 09/16/2025
Pages: 40
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.12lbs
Size: 12.25h x 9.26w x 0.46d
ISBN: 9781665926409
Audience: Ages 4-8


Review Citation(s):
Booklist 08/25/2025

About the Author
Diane Stanley is the author and/or illustrator of more than sixty books for children, noted especially for her award-winning picture book biographies. She and Jessie Hartland have collaborated on Ada Lovelace, Poet of Science, which was named an ALA Notable Book and an Amelia Bloomer Top Ten Book; Alice Waters Cooks Up a Food Revolution, which Booklist called "lively" in a starred review; and The High-Flying, Deep-Diving Adventures of Kathy Sullivan. Diane is the recipient of The Washington Post/Children's Book Guild Award for Nonfiction for her body of work. She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. You can visit her at DianeStanley.com.

Jessie Hartland is the author and illustrator of many nonfiction titles for young readers, including Our Flag Was Still There, which was named a Bank Street Best Book of the Year. The New York Times praised her "joyful folk-art illustrations" in Harlem Grown, written by Tony Hillery. She has painted murals at a Japanese amusement park, designed Christmas windows for Bloomingdale's, and put her mark on ceramics, watches, and all sorts of other things. She has done drawings for many magazines and newspapers, including The New York Times, Travel and Leisure Family Club, Martha Stewart Kids, and Bon Appétit. She lives in New York City. Visit her at JessieHartland.com.