A Brave Spaceboy

by Dana Kessimakis Smith, Laura Freeman (Illustrator)

Moving is scary, but not if you turn it into an adventure! A little boy and his even littler brother pretend their journey to a new home is a trip to Mars. They build a rocket ship, equipped with buttons and knobs, and bid farewell to their familiar surroundings. Of course, when you visit a new planet, you should expect to run into Martians! How will our brave astronauts deal with the strangers in their midst? All the opportunities for fun and fantasy are here, in a playful book that allows young tots to let their spirits soar.

Genres: Picture Books, Space, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 20, 2005

Reviews

[Nancy Kotkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

On moving day, a set of twins imagine themselves as rocket pilots on a space mission. Though there are two boys playing together, this story is mostly written in first-person singular POV ("I") rather than first-person plural POV ("we"), so I guess only one of the boys is narrating. Based on both the illustrations and the text, it feels as if it should be "we" narrating and, in fact, the text does meander back and forth. The ending is also a bit unclear; when the narrator says he "now has two best friends," I assume he means his twin and the new girl who came over to play with the twins, but there's also a dog, a set of parents, and another adult. Bold, fun illustrations.

For better treatment of this subject, try Mabel and Sam at Home.

[Nicole Woolwine · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5
2005
Science fiction
2nd-4th grade
This book had me imagining how I was when I was a kid when I became creative with moving boxes and house utensils!
I liked how this book involved imagination and real dreams for a job in real life that not many people feel the need to try and apply for or accomplish! Going to space! This book had a rhythm and rhyme to it, and it was full of colorful pages that made the story much more realistic! within the book the kids act out all real things that would occur if they were headed to space!I read it once, and then twice again because I thought the book was so good! I defiantly have it marked to read to the next classroom I get the opportunity to read too!

[Riah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I suspect parents rate this book poorly because they expect a "space" story. This is really a story about brave kids working through their ideas about moving using imaginative play.

The illustrations are beautiful and depict the literal words as well as so much more story. Ultimately, they make a new friend on this foreign soil that they claim as their own.

I especially love that the illustrator has made this a very universal experience, and also chosen to incorporate a diverse family and neighborhood

[Christine Grant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Facebook Live 2020

[Kathryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

My son seemed to really like it. he kept asking if he knew Buzz Lightyear. overall. it was okay. I never realized it revolved around moving, but I liked the fact that the little boy was African-American, since it seems most books show only white characters. A book that holds my son's attention is always good.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

LOVE the illustrations. This book is about a couple of kids (from interracial parents, which does not play a role but is noticeable) who move to a new home and make a new friend. Good times, noodle salad.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the idea and the illustrations for this book, but the text could have been SO much better if both the author and the editor had read it aloud to a group of children. It reads a bit awkwardly and confusingly.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fairly interesting about moving day and imagination, but the rhythm of the text is awkward.