To everyone's surprise, two unlikely candidates - Belka and Strelka - were invited to compete in a competition for speed, agility, and other special skills. And even though these two furry friends came in last place, they were awarded a special prize. . . they would be the first dogs to travel to space ! Follow their real life journey through training, to space, and back home again. An exciting real life story that celebrates science , space exploration , and our furry companions - dogs ! Includes accessible science information for even the littlest space enthusiasts . FIRST DOGS IN SPACE is an excellent way for preschoolers to learn about a true space mission .