Before writing up this review of my blog colleague,Roxanne Troup’s latest picture book, Reaching for the Stars illustrated by Amanda Lenz, I was curious to know if she’d always been interested in space exploration. I also wondered if there was any moment in particular that has left a lasting impact on her and may have influenced her choosing this topic to write about.
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“I’ve always loved looking at the stars and trying to find different constellations. The inspiration for this story came in late 2019, shortly after I learned about NASA’s new Artemis program. I thought it would be fun to celebrate all we’ve learned about space and commemorate a woman landing on the moon while we waited for NASA’s “countdown” to launch. (Originally, my title was Countdown to Space.)”
Children are fascinated by our solar system and it’s not uncommon to find books on space exploration geared for even younger children than the target audience of this picture book. Troup has taken this topic and turned it into a rhyming story accessible even to preschoolers. Kids meet four child-like astronauts as they prepare for a mission to the moon. And while the lunar landing Artemis program has been delayed, it doesn’t detract from the fact that it will put “the first woman and first person of color” on the moon.
Space enthusiasts will soar along with the astronauts as they introduce space concepts from take-off to reaching the outer limits while genuinely enjoying their time among the stars and planets.
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“Will we witness the birth of a hot, shiny star,
or spy icy comets zip by from afar?”
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Distant constellations such as Orion, the hunter, and Ursa, the bear are included and will likely invite the very same star-gazing that Troup mentioned above. I also loved learning about GOLDILOCKS ZONES in space: The “not too hot, not too cold, just right” distance from a star where water may exist on a planet’s surface. How cool is that? Space terminology that’s been taken from a fairy tale!”
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Between the lyrical text and the unique kid-friendly art that incorporates actual NASA images collaged with digital illustrations, almost every page turn provides a visual and cosmic surprise.
I asked illustrator Amanda Lenz if the main characters were purposely depicted as children to which she replied:
“Yes, they are all intended to be children—the story is so aspirational around the next generation of space exploration I felt like it was natural to see children exploring … and hopefully that choice makes space exploration feel attainable to young imaginations.” I love this idea and I think it does help children put themselves right into the astronauts’ space boots.
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Whether for home or classrooms, Reaching for the Stars is just the kind of book to spark new interest in this popular subject and invite further deep dives at the bookstore or library. The glossary of space terms is helpful to not only children but their parents and caregivers too. Get your copy today!
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Read a review of Roxanne’s previous picture book here.
GO, GIRLS, GO!
Written by Frances Gilbert
Illustrated by Allison Black
(Beach Lane Books; $17.99, Ages 3-6)
Who said transportation stories are just for boys? Doubleday Books for Young Readers Editor-in-Chief Frances Gilbert never did, and her new picture book, Go, Girls, Go! proves it. This energetic rhyming story with its bold and bright artwork puts girls behind a wealth of wheels to inspire future Danica Patricks, Sally Rides and Molly Williamses.
A dozen diverse and spirited drivers, pilots, motorcyclists and more demonstrate that girls get a kick out of things that go Wooo!, Whirr! and Toot! just the same as boys do. And who knows what future vehicles might strike their fancy when they see themselves positively depicted on the pages of this picture book? Gilbert’s written about girls conducting trains, operating giant cranes and flying planes because anything and everything is possible, especially when powered by girls.
What I especially enjoyed about Go, Girls, Go! was the anticipatory page turns that had me wondering what would come next in terms of rhyme, sound effects—Vroom! Hoot! Clank!—types of transportation and of course, the illustrations. I immediately found myself repeating “Go, Girls, Go!” with as much enthusiasm as a preschooler. In other words, be prepared for multiple, lively read-alouds because this is not a quiet book. It’s also a celebration of girls moving over from the more passive passenger seat and taking control, and that’s something to shout about.
Allison Black’s cheerful, graphic-style illustrations complement Gilbert’s entertaining and fast-paced rhyming prose. Youngsters will happily follow the visuals while learning the words because the modes of transportation are easily identifiable and the rhythmic language is easy to memorize. What a fun way to get excited about things that go Roar! Honk! and Crunch! So make tracks to your local bookseller and get a copy to help your child’s imagination soar.
THE DARKEST DARK
Written by Col. Chris Hadfield
Illustrated by The Fan Brothers
(Little Brown BYR; $17.99, Ages 4-8)
✭Starred Review – Publishers Weekly
The Darkest Dark takes place on July 19, 1969—the night before Apollo 11’s Moon landing. We meet Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield when he was a boy. Chris can’t sleep because “his room was dark. Very, very dark. The kind of dark that attracts the worst sort of aliens.” These creatures, a combination of shadow and imagination, appear on the book’s cover and throughout the story.
Young Chris believes he is an astronaut and, of course, “an astronaut’s work is never done, so astronauts do not like to sleep. But their parents do.” Chris’s parents kick him out of their bed and dutifully check his room for aliens. Finally, the possibility of missing tomorrow’s special event helps Chris fall into his favorite dream.
The next day, most everyone on Stag Island crowds into a neighbor’s living room to watch the Moon landing. When Chris discovers that “outer space was the darkest dark ever,” he views his house’s darkness differently. Chris now understands that “the darkness of the universe was so much bigger and deeper than the darkness in his room.”
The Fan Brothers’ lively and whimsical illustrations creatively blend reality and fantasy. Many pages feature Chris’s pet pug and the not-so-scary mysterious aliens.
The Darkest Dark concludes with biographical information about Chris Hadfield’s journey to becoming an accomplished Canadian astronaut. His personal message and photographs encourage young readers: “The dark is for dreams—and morning is for making them come true.”
