Laika: Astronaut Dog

by Owen Davey

Discover the amazing adventure of the first astronaut dog!

Laika is a stray dog living on the streets of Moscow when she is chosen to be the first ever animal launched into orbit. But her rocket disappears, and everyone thinks Laika is lost forever. In Owen Davey’s imaginative take on a true story, Laika is rescued by new owners and finds the perfect home on a planet far, far away.

Genres: Picture Books, Space, Childrens, Fiction, Animals, Dogs, Science Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 8, 2013

About the author

Owen Davey describes his style as contemporary and nostalgic and likes to use a palette of warm, muted colors. His work has been featured in the New York Times and Jamie Oliver's food magazine. Owen has had many knightly adventures of his own where he lives in Bristol, England.

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although I can relate to the author's longing for a better ending for Laika, the first dog in space, that's simply not what happened, and to indicate otherwise is to ignore the Soviet's desperate race for supremacy in the space race. What is true is that Laika was a stray on the Moscow streets in 1957 until she and other strays were picked up and trained to determine their fitness for a trip in space. When she was selected to fly, there was no way for her ship to return to earth as, I suppose, a dog such as Laika was considered to be disposable. The book's text and digital illustrations show her eagerness to please and her loneliness but don't tell the true but heartbreaking story of her short life. Despite the book's happy ending, her ending was not a happy one; nor was it ever intended to be. For a graphic version of Laika's story, older readers will want to read Nick Abadzis's more honest and emotionally wrenching Laika (2007), but be prepared with plenty of tissues.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I find it hilarious that a bunch of adults are rating this children's book poorly because the ending is false. So let me guess, all of these parents tell their children that Santa, the Tooth-fairy, Easter-bunny, etc. aren't true? It's a cute children's book with a happy ending that covers up the sad ending. An ending that you can tell your child about when they are older if they even remember the book. For fuck sake, it's called knowing your audience. If it told the true ending I'm sure everyone would be bitching about that too.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunately, this is not a very honest story about Laika. She may have indeed died sooner than expected due to a malfunction but she would have died anyway as the Soviets had no way of recovering the spacecraft. Laika's imagined rescue by aliens is comforting wishful thinking but seems a cowardly way of sugarcoating the cruel realities. Great illustrations but poor storytelling. See the graphic novel Laika by Nick Abadzis, a much better told and more honest story for an older audience.

[Melle · Rating 1 out of 5]

The illustrations for this book were gorgeous, and that is the singular nice thing I can say about this book and the event it was based on. On November 3, 1957, the USSR launched a stray dog named Laika upon Sputnik 2 into orbit; Laika died.

This book's retelling, especially in its ending, is a disgusting, intended-to-feel-good, warm-fuzzies lie. This book angered me like nothing else I've read in a long time. It's similar to the feeling I got reading Heaven Is For Real. You as an individual are allowed to believe whatever you want and allowed to relate your perspective; however, if you use your beliefs to manipulate a nonfiction story, don't be surprise when it gets criticized for its subjective elements. I do feel that this book is unjust, manipulative, and patronizing in how it treats its readers. Yes, it would be nice if Laika's sad story had a happy ending, but it did not. She was an abandoned companion animal on the streets of Russia, she was used by scientists, she was experimented on, and she died alone in space because of these choices and decisions made by humans. It seems disingenuous to retell the story in a presumably-more palatable way.

I really want to find the author and ask him what the fuck he was thinking, but I want to find all the people at the publisher (Templar Books, an imprint of Candlewick Press) who okayed this waste of trees and ink and a story and scream at them, "WHAT THE FUCK WERE YOU THINKING?!?!"

Zelda was indifferent to this book and my insertion of creative swearing when reading the ending. It's for the best, I guess.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author imagines an alternate ending for the first dog in space -- Laika finds a loving family somewhere in space. Like many others, I just can't accept this invented fantasy for Laika, especially because there is no clear separation between the factual and fanciful information. A lovely idea perhaps but one that just doesn't work for me in this format.

[Beth · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book completely trivializes history and does children zero favors by changing Laika's fateful end. Steer clear of sharing this one with children. Read it for yourselves, however, to see just how ridiculous it is.

[Julia · Rating 1 out of 5]

NOPE. As a Ruski, I really don't appreciate using Russian lettering to represent English letters. The "A" in Laika is a "D" in Russian. The first of many issues I had with this book. I also, and especially, don't appreciate weird alternate endings for somewhat tragic stories.

[Miss Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found the ending to be unacceptable, others might feel differently.

[Donalyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

The true story of Laika, the first dog in space, takes a weird fantasy turn that confuses young readers and minimizes Laika's sacrifice.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I am delighted by the incredible illustrations (the choice of colors are especially wonderful and there's a great use of diagonals and negative space to draw your eye across every page), I gotta say, this book exists in a weird limbo where the target audience is either a parent who wants to teach their young children about Laika the space dog while also having the mindset of "oh, I also probably shouldn't tell my kid that the dog died a horrible death" or someone who already knows the tale of Laika and wants to feel better about the whole "horrible death" thing.

By the way, knowing the real world context makes some of these pages a real gut punch. The page where Laika gazes into the night sky and wishes that she could find a family that loves her hurts a lot when you know that one of the mission scientists Dr. Vladimir Yazdovsky took Laika home to play with his children. "Laika was quiet and charming ... I wanted to do something nice for her: She had so little time left to live."

Cute book otherwise, but it's probably going to lead to some awkward conversations down the road once the candy coating rubs off and that kid learns that this book was as big of a lie as Disney's Pocahontas. It's a cute lie but it's a lie, and your mileage will vary depending on how much you want to lie to a small child.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Absolutely stunning artwork and interesting take on the Laika story. However if speaking honestly with children is a high priority for you, this will not be an easy read. To the best of my knowledge Laika's greatest problem was not engine malfunction and I suggest you preview this and think carefully before you read it with kids.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations.
Terrible retelling of the first dog in space. (basically an untrue story)
The illustrations are the only reason this book has any stars.

[Alison · Rating 2 out of 5]

Terrific illustrations but very inaccurate storytelling.

[Gijs Grob · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very gorgeous picture book in a neo-mid-century modern style telling the story of the first living being in space, but with a more satisfying ending than that of the real Laika. To marvel at again and again.

[ev · Rating 5 out of 5]

in the words of kexp's host cheryl waters describing julia jacklin's don't know how to keep loving you - this one just gut me :'-((((

[Andrea Tomé · Rating 4 out of 5]

lovely retro style - a story worthy of a very brave little dog

[Susan]

I really liked the art style of this book. I couldn’t make it through reading this to my kid without stopping to sob, because I know that it was never intended for Laika to come back alive. I was wondering how the book was going to handle that, and turns out the author decided to say “oh there was a malfunction and Laika couldn’t come back” and made up an ending that could be construed as Laika finding a family in dog heaven? Or maybe Martians or other aliens? But I think kids can handle the truth, and why write a book about Laika with a fantasy ending? So here I am sobbing about this dog and my kid is like “Let’s read that again!” And I questioned my own judgement about picking this out at the library.

Anyway the graphic novel Laika by Nick Abadzis is amazing.

[Christopher · Rating 2 out of 5]

First, the title should be Laika: Cosmonaut Dog.

Second, the artwork is fun and very Sovietesque.

Third, the ending is a fantasy of the author's and is not true to historical events.

Fourth, the overall story is pretty bland and unexciting with most spreads containing a singular sentence. I guess that makes sense though if you're trying to build a story out of only "The USSR sent a dog to space."

[Marfita]

OMG. I know only too well about Laika. Her story is heart-wrenching. For me, the book is a wretched story of cruelty dressed up with a fanciful happy ending. There was no way to bring Laika back. At least, though, she died soon and did not drift for days or, worse, eternity, still lonely.
I was going to read this to kids and now I don't think I can do it.
Not without totally breaking down.

[Marissa Morrison · Rating 1 out of 5]

Davey tries to rewrite history so that the poor dog who got sent up to outer space by himself to die alone, unimaginably uncomfortable and confused end up... adopted by aliens. WTF.

[Sandy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sadly, these beautiful illustrations are wasted on a book with a horrible ending.

[Jordan B · Rating 3 out of 5]

The art is gorgeous but this is a really bleak story for a picture book! The author attempts to imagine a happy ending but I thought that was even sadder!

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laika the Astronaut by Owen Davey is a picture book based on the life of Laika, the first dog in space. The book gives information about Laika that is true, but alters her story to give her a happy ending, fitting for such a good dog.

I am extremely biased when it comes to stories about dogs and cannot handle when they are sad stories. I do know the true tragic story of Laika and as much as I wish this story could be true for her, it's not. That being said, I still think this is an adorable book and enjoy it quite a lot despite the truth of Laika. Davey uses his book to give Laika the ending she deserves while giving the info that is required to understand her like the fact she is was a stray picked up by scientists and went through a series of tests before being sent up to space solely for the amount of love and loyalty she showed towards the scientists. The art style gives the mid-century vibe with the color pallet and very straight and sharp lines, fitting with the time period and location of the story. I think that without knowing who Laika was, this could be a great children's book about a cute dog who went into space. The downside is if they eventually learn what really happened when they get older.

[Shane · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. This book is so different to what I was expecting! It is visually very interesting, using sharp lines & a muted palette to provide a soviet feel. The story starts as expected - but the author then takes the resolution in a completely different direction.

I was expecting a fictionalised historical tale, a way to introduce students to this part of space history. I guess it still does that, but by introducing a fantasy element I am no longer sure how to use the text.

[Samantha Li · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated the simplicity (there needs to be more simple historical picture books for kiddos. I didn't necessarily appreciate the false happy ending given..

The illustrations are beautiful though!

[Cassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous illustrations and a good story.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made two librarians cry-- on the desk-- ten stars, would absolutely read again. Wonderful illustrations and a touching author's note.

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book with (fortunately) an alternate ending for Laika

[Marcus Gasques · Rating 5 out of 5]

O desfecho que todos teriam preferido para a cadelinha astronauta Laika, escrito e ilustrado pelo autor.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book about the first dog into space! Peaceful alternate ending.