Astronaut training

Aneta Cruz

Book - 2021

Astrid is training to go to space! But as she builds her shuttle, cooks astronaut food, and practices floating in zero gravity, Dad tells Astrid that the ship's construction is too dangerous, she's too little to cook alone, and she's not allowed to flood the bathroom. When Astrid dreams she's an astronaut, the challenges she encounters are overwhelming. Astrid realizes she isn't as ready as she thought.

Saved in:

Children's Room Show me where

jE/Cruz
0 / 1 copies available
Location Call Number   Status
Children's Room jE/Cruz On Holdshelf
+1 Hold
Subjects
Genres
Picture books for children
Children's stories Pictorial works
Picture books
Published
New York, NY : Boyds Mills Press, an imprint of Boyds Mills & Kane 2021.
Language
English
Main Author
Aneta Cruz (author)
Other Authors
Olivia Aserr (illustrator)
Edition
First edition
Physical Description
32 unnumbered pages : color illustrations ; 23 x 29 cm
ISBN
9781635922882
Contents unavailable.
Review by Booklist Review

Astrid, a small girl with brown skin and black curly hair, plans to become an astronaut, and she spends her days preparing for her chosen career. She attempts to build a rocket ship, make food suitable for space, create microgravity by floating in her bathtub, and count as many stars as possible while her father watches over her (and cleans up her messes). One night, she slips into a dream about visiting two planets: the first is inhabited by huge creatures, and the other is populated by tiny beings. All of the aliens are interested in becoming astronauts, and though Astrid tries to support them in their efforts, the size differences make it too difficult for her to be of much assistance. When she wakes, she's still determined to become a space traveler, but she realizes she'll need her father's help. Bold, brightly colored digital illustrations cover the pages from margin to margin and are filled with details of home and outer space. Brief information about space travel is given at the book's conclusion.

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review

PreS-Gr 1--Though Astrid aspires to be an astronaut, whenever she tries to build a spaceship, make astronaut food, or float in the bathtub as though she's in space, the results are disastrous. When she attempts to count the stars, she runs out of numbers. Frustrated, she falls asleep and in her dreams her wish comes true. She goes on a Gulliver-esque journey (complete with an aerial illustration of Astrid in a supine position surrounded by small creatures), traveling to the planets of "the bigs" and "the littles," but still cannot successfully complete her astronaut tasks. Upon waking, she complains to her dad, the only parent present in the story. He then helps her build, cook, float, and count, and like Goldilocks, she finds that her own planet is "just right." The digital illustrations are detailed and animated. The scenes in space are tinted with cool blue tones. Astrid and her dad have brown skin and black hair. The premise of the book, including the protagonist's name, brings to mind Ken Wilson-Max's Astro Girl. However, unlike the earlier book, the message of this book is unclear. The Goldilocks theme is undeveloped, and the repetition of certain words feels uninspired. Back matter extrapolates on space shuttles, space food, and gravity in an effort to connect Astrid's play with real space exploration. VERDICT Despite the lack of clear message, this bright and cheery book fills a hole in the shelves for budding astronauts and space enthusiasts.--Clara Hendricks, Cambridge P.L., MA

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review

Enthusiastic Astrid prepares to be an astronaut while her father chases after her. Organic lines and jewel tones warmly depict Astrid building spaceships, making astronaut food, and practicing floating in space. She counts stars to fall asleep, then finds herself on a planet populated by giant ETs. They're too big for her to build them spaceships, so she blasts off to a planet that has tiny aliens instead. No success there either. In an arresting full-bleed illustration, starry sky blends into Astrid's celestial bedspread as she wakes up back on Earth. Finally, she asks her dad for help, and he's only too happy to assist her building, cooking, floating, and star-counting. In another striking double-page spread depicting them stargazing together, even her dad's fuzzy sweater seems palpable. Astrid's turtle pal appears frequently, never in its terrarium. Astrid, her father, and her discreetly pictured absent mother have brown skin and dark hair. One endmatter page offers informational paragraphs on space shuttles, astronaut food, and gravity, but this book aims to inspire more than educate. It's confusing for the text to refer to rocket boosters and fuel tanks next to an illustrated retro-stylized spaceship that has neither. It's downright incorrect to say that orbits happen "because of the way gravity works in space"; gravity works the same way in space as it does on Earth. (This book was reviewed digitally with 8.5-by-22-inch double-page spreads viewed at 91% of actual size.) A fun read, though its narrative may gratify adults more than children. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.