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The Spaceman
A tiny Spaceman arrives on a new planet, ready to perform his monotonous tasks—collecting samples, labeling and filing them, and moving on to the next planet. But pausing to look around, the Spaceman is dazzled by the beauty of his surroundings. And when a large bird makes off with his ship, he’s forced to venture out into this new world—planet Earth—on foot. Marveling at a varied landscape of flowers, butterflies, and other wondrous creatures, he finds a pond to float in and a goofy, slobbery beast who seems to want to be his friend. Could it be that the Spaceman has found a new home?
40 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2024
162 people want to read
About the author
Randy Cecil
33 books38 followersRandy Cecil has illustrated many books for children, including LOOKING FOR A MOOSE by Phyllis Root, And HERE'S TO YOU! by David Elliott, He is also the author-illustrator of GATOR and DUCK. Randy Cecil lives in Houston.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
May 31, 2024
It is downright alarming to realize that your new favorite picture book author/illustrator has been creating books since at least 1996. It is worse if you’re a children’s book specialist who prides herself on her picture book memory, and you’ve come to crushing realization that you’ve been reading said “new” author/illustrator for literally years and years and year. Run through the list of Randy Cecil’s books on his website and it’s downright embarrassing how many you’re going to see and coo over. “He did the art for How Do You Wokka-Wokka?” “Oh, HE’S the one who did Lucy!” “ Dusty Locks and the Three Bears was him?!?” But maybe I’m not so totally off. The thing about Randy Cecil is that he has an elastic style and never really does the same book twice. If you compare the first book he ever illustrated to his latest title, The Spaceman you’re going to find them to be enormously different. Charming? Inevitably. But different. For my part, there is no doubt in my mind that Mr. Cecil actually gets better and better with each book he does. His last book, Douglas, was very good, earning itself multiple starred reviews, sure. But for my part, he’ll have a hard time ever topping The Spaceman. Quiet, unassuming, delightful, funny, and with just enough science fiction in there, I’m just gonna say it: I love this book. You know who else is going to love this book? Kids. All of them. Without question.
There was nothing about our planet that seemed out of the ordinary to the spaceman. Not at first, anyway. With a job that primarily consists of taking soil samples, he was caught unaware by the beauty of a flower in the midst of his work. Not paying attention, he failed to notice the large black bird that flew off with his spaceship until it was winging its way, away from him. Now he’s marooned on a strange planet and must find the spaceship or all is lost. Still, sometimes when things look their worst, it gives you the excuse you need to stop, look around, put aside your assumptions, and enjoy where you are.
I have read The Spaceman multiple times. I can remember scenes from it with a crystal-like clarity I usually only reserve for a very few books in a given year. Yet if you had asked me, point blank, to tell you whether or not the book had text or was wordless, I think my initial instincts would have been to say, “wordless.” I don’t know why. It is NOT wordless by a long shot. And not only does it have text, but the text is actually written in the first person from the point of view of the spaceman himself! What’s more, he has a rather elegant and eloquent method of speech. I don’t encounter sentences like, “But all my thinking came to naught,” or, “A little unrefined perhaps, but charming nonetheless,” in picture books half as often as I should. It’s that little dash of formality that just lifts the entire book above the pack, to my mind. And consider how fun it would be to tell this tale to a child in the style of Richard Attenborough or something along those lines. However you choose to do it, the book’s readaloud capabilities are strong. Even just reading it in my head I knew precisely where to put the cadences when I came to a line like, “But then again … one does have one’s responsibilities.” But perhaps my confusion stems from the fact that visually the book creates multiple iconic images that just stick in the little gray cells of the brain.
Mr. Cecil has, in recent years, has pared his books down a smidge and focused much more on the little heroes. A mouse in Douglas. A small dog in Lucy. The titular heroes of Horsefly and Honeybee. When he illustrates the books of other people, that’s when he’ll draw huge things like dragons or dinosaurs, but given his druthers, he seems to feel more comfortable reducing everything down to essentials. This little spaceman is no exception, though there’s something unique about his look. Maybe it’s the fact that he resembles, as one co-worker of mine pointed out to me, a Muppet. It’s something about those ping-pong-like eyes, the shape of the nose, the expression on his face, and maybe the way he rages against his fate, little fists waving in the air, like a tiny King Lear or Job. For my part, what I like best about him, I think, is how his entire face changes when he smiles. For the first half of the book he has a rather somber expression on his face. His mouth may gape in wonder from time to time, but it isn’t until he falls into a pond and just lies there, floating, that Cecil imbues him with this huge grin that stretches from one side of his punim to the other. It’s delightful. Much along these lines the cover of this book, by the way, is far cleverer than you might realize at first glance. If you look at him, you can see that Cecil has drawn the spaceman's mouth so perfectly that like the Mona Lisa you can believe him to feel whatever emotion you want. And yes, that’s right. I just compared The Spaceman to the Mona Lisa. My regrets? They are few.
I’d be amiss if I didn’t say a couple words about the color palette too. As I’ve mentioned, Mr. Cecil has spent the last few years making books about little animals and creatures. And while the aforementioned Horsefly and Honeybee was brightly hued, the more recent books like Douglas and Lucy were black and white. It can actually be quite hard, sometimes, for an illustrator to convince their publisher to put out a colorless book, so I commend Mr. Cecil’s ability to do so. Nonetheless, you can’t look at The Spaceman and not think that here we have a book that is destined to be colorful. From the spaceman’s own Oompa-Loompa orange face to the red of the flower that initially entrances him and the butterfly that takes him on a ride, color is key to the storytelling. According to the publication page, Randy Cecil has painted this book in oils. His technique then leaves distinct brush lines on the page, giving everything an almost tactile look and feel. Who knew that oils could be so funny? Mr. Cecil is able to wring a lot of visual humor out the spaceman's eyeballs alone. And later in the book, there’s even a wordless four panel sequence that’s as adept as any Buster Keaton film. Perhaps that explains in part why I remembered the whole book as wordless. Visually, it can be just that strong.
When you’re a kid, you sometimes end up with responsibilities. Adults think that this is a good thing. You may disagree from time to time. You’re also rather small, and maybe sometimes you just want to stop for a moment and stare at a flower or play with a dog or swim in a pond. And maybe there’s also something in this little spaceman’s story that is going to appeal to children far beyond the tale itself. After all, many of us may remember when we ourselves were small and the world (including its dogs) seemed massive. A lot of picture books try to show, rather than tell, how we should stop and smell the roses. A lot of picture books fail in this endeavor. The Spaceman in contrast, does not fail. It knows precisely how to tell a droll, funny, charming little story in precisely the right way. Randy Cecil has been holding out on us, folks. A contemporary classic (and I don’t use that term lightly) this is a little bit of interstellar storytelling that is bound to remain in your brain long after you’ve closed its cover. Sublime.
There was nothing about our planet that seemed out of the ordinary to the spaceman. Not at first, anyway. With a job that primarily consists of taking soil samples, he was caught unaware by the beauty of a flower in the midst of his work. Not paying attention, he failed to notice the large black bird that flew off with his spaceship until it was winging its way, away from him. Now he’s marooned on a strange planet and must find the spaceship or all is lost. Still, sometimes when things look their worst, it gives you the excuse you need to stop, look around, put aside your assumptions, and enjoy where you are.
I have read The Spaceman multiple times. I can remember scenes from it with a crystal-like clarity I usually only reserve for a very few books in a given year. Yet if you had asked me, point blank, to tell you whether or not the book had text or was wordless, I think my initial instincts would have been to say, “wordless.” I don’t know why. It is NOT wordless by a long shot. And not only does it have text, but the text is actually written in the first person from the point of view of the spaceman himself! What’s more, he has a rather elegant and eloquent method of speech. I don’t encounter sentences like, “But all my thinking came to naught,” or, “A little unrefined perhaps, but charming nonetheless,” in picture books half as often as I should. It’s that little dash of formality that just lifts the entire book above the pack, to my mind. And consider how fun it would be to tell this tale to a child in the style of Richard Attenborough or something along those lines. However you choose to do it, the book’s readaloud capabilities are strong. Even just reading it in my head I knew precisely where to put the cadences when I came to a line like, “But then again … one does have one’s responsibilities.” But perhaps my confusion stems from the fact that visually the book creates multiple iconic images that just stick in the little gray cells of the brain.
Mr. Cecil has, in recent years, has pared his books down a smidge and focused much more on the little heroes. A mouse in Douglas. A small dog in Lucy. The titular heroes of Horsefly and Honeybee. When he illustrates the books of other people, that’s when he’ll draw huge things like dragons or dinosaurs, but given his druthers, he seems to feel more comfortable reducing everything down to essentials. This little spaceman is no exception, though there’s something unique about his look. Maybe it’s the fact that he resembles, as one co-worker of mine pointed out to me, a Muppet. It’s something about those ping-pong-like eyes, the shape of the nose, the expression on his face, and maybe the way he rages against his fate, little fists waving in the air, like a tiny King Lear or Job. For my part, what I like best about him, I think, is how his entire face changes when he smiles. For the first half of the book he has a rather somber expression on his face. His mouth may gape in wonder from time to time, but it isn’t until he falls into a pond and just lies there, floating, that Cecil imbues him with this huge grin that stretches from one side of his punim to the other. It’s delightful. Much along these lines the cover of this book, by the way, is far cleverer than you might realize at first glance. If you look at him, you can see that Cecil has drawn the spaceman's mouth so perfectly that like the Mona Lisa you can believe him to feel whatever emotion you want. And yes, that’s right. I just compared The Spaceman to the Mona Lisa. My regrets? They are few.
I’d be amiss if I didn’t say a couple words about the color palette too. As I’ve mentioned, Mr. Cecil has spent the last few years making books about little animals and creatures. And while the aforementioned Horsefly and Honeybee was brightly hued, the more recent books like Douglas and Lucy were black and white. It can actually be quite hard, sometimes, for an illustrator to convince their publisher to put out a colorless book, so I commend Mr. Cecil’s ability to do so. Nonetheless, you can’t look at The Spaceman and not think that here we have a book that is destined to be colorful. From the spaceman’s own Oompa-Loompa orange face to the red of the flower that initially entrances him and the butterfly that takes him on a ride, color is key to the storytelling. According to the publication page, Randy Cecil has painted this book in oils. His technique then leaves distinct brush lines on the page, giving everything an almost tactile look and feel. Who knew that oils could be so funny? Mr. Cecil is able to wring a lot of visual humor out the spaceman's eyeballs alone. And later in the book, there’s even a wordless four panel sequence that’s as adept as any Buster Keaton film. Perhaps that explains in part why I remembered the whole book as wordless. Visually, it can be just that strong.
When you’re a kid, you sometimes end up with responsibilities. Adults think that this is a good thing. You may disagree from time to time. You’re also rather small, and maybe sometimes you just want to stop for a moment and stare at a flower or play with a dog or swim in a pond. And maybe there’s also something in this little spaceman’s story that is going to appeal to children far beyond the tale itself. After all, many of us may remember when we ourselves were small and the world (including its dogs) seemed massive. A lot of picture books try to show, rather than tell, how we should stop and smell the roses. A lot of picture books fail in this endeavor. The Spaceman in contrast, does not fail. It knows precisely how to tell a droll, funny, charming little story in precisely the right way. Randy Cecil has been holding out on us, folks. A contemporary classic (and I don’t use that term lightly) this is a little bit of interstellar storytelling that is bound to remain in your brain long after you’ve closed its cover. Sublime.
August 17, 2024
A fun story about a space explorer told in first person. The spaceman is temporarily stranded on a planet, which annoys him until he starts really exploring and experiencing his surroundings. The dry humor made me smile. Would be fun to read to a class and ask them to write about what they might discover on a planet that would make them want to stay.
June 11, 2025
An outstanding book about having fun and recognizing the extraordinary. It’s interesting to have him describe Earth from an outside perspective.
Read
June 20, 2024See my full review here: https://www.yabookscentral.com/the-sp...
THE SPACEMAN is a cute and intriguing picture book that looks at Earth from another perspective. A small Spaceman arrives on a planet, where he is collecting the usual samples. However, things go awry when his spaceship is taken by a feathered creature. As he follows after it, he notices stunning things that make this planet unique. After he makes a new friend, he finds his spaceship, but he decides that he would rather stay than keep traveling on.
What I loved: This is a joyous story of new discovery and appreciating the beauty in our planet. The writing style is unique, told from the story of an alien who has landed on Earth. His small size gives new perspective as he enjoys flowers, bugs, and even a pond. Ultimately, he finds joy and belonging, feelings that will resonate with young elementary school aged readers.
The story is easy to follow and creates a small disconnect between the text and the images, as children will recognize the animals and things he does not yet know. This invites children to explore on their own and think about the things they see everyday in a new way. The writing is approachable and the length great for older picture book readers who will also appreciate the humor in the things the Spaceman does not yet know and the way the story concludes. The illustrations capture the story well and tell the story alongside the text.
Final verdict: THE SPACEMAN is a creative and intriguing picture book that invites children to see the world around them with new eyes and celebrate the little things.
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
THE SPACEMAN is a cute and intriguing picture book that looks at Earth from another perspective. A small Spaceman arrives on a planet, where he is collecting the usual samples. However, things go awry when his spaceship is taken by a feathered creature. As he follows after it, he notices stunning things that make this planet unique. After he makes a new friend, he finds his spaceship, but he decides that he would rather stay than keep traveling on.
What I loved: This is a joyous story of new discovery and appreciating the beauty in our planet. The writing style is unique, told from the story of an alien who has landed on Earth. His small size gives new perspective as he enjoys flowers, bugs, and even a pond. Ultimately, he finds joy and belonging, feelings that will resonate with young elementary school aged readers.
The story is easy to follow and creates a small disconnect between the text and the images, as children will recognize the animals and things he does not yet know. This invites children to explore on their own and think about the things they see everyday in a new way. The writing is approachable and the length great for older picture book readers who will also appreciate the humor in the things the Spaceman does not yet know and the way the story concludes. The illustrations capture the story well and tell the story alongside the text.
Final verdict: THE SPACEMAN is a creative and intriguing picture book that invites children to see the world around them with new eyes and celebrate the little things.
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
February 14, 2025
sweet and charming story about finding home. the artwork is vibrant and eye catching 🤩
November 1, 2025
I thought this was a lovely interpretation of a crash landing on Earth.
August 28, 2024
A story of a small space explorer and how his ordinary, sample-collecting life turns into something he never expected when his ship is taken by a mysterious, flying creature! As he explores this new, strange planet, he finds joy around every corner in every thing, big and small. He contemplates resuming his sample collecting, but after experiencing the simplicity of this planet, he decides to stay and begin a new adventure.
October 13, 2024
Ok I loved this. It was cute and had me giggling at the end.
November 25, 2024
A whimsical story about a tiny spaceman who lands on Earth and is immediately enchanted by its beauty. When a bird steals his space ship, he is distressed. Later the spaceman is frightened by a "hideous beast." However he learns to appreciate the change from his monotonous routines and begins to have fun with the creature that "at first appeared somewhat hideous was, in fact, not without its charms." "What a surprise it was to hear myself laughing. To find myself playing." This joyful picture book with its gentle humor, sweet message about appreciating the wonders of the natural world, and satisfying ending will be a fun book to read and share.
September 27, 2024
Our story begins with a tiny, orange-skinned spaceman who lands on what he initially perceives as an ordinary planet. His job, as he solemnly informs us, is to collect soil samples, label them, and move on to the next destination—a monotonous routine he carries out with diligent precision. However, this particular planet is unlike any he has encountered before. As the spaceman becomes captivated by its mysterious beauty, his focus shifts from the mundanity of his tasks to the extraordinary world around him.
Telling the story from the spaceman’s first-person perspective is a masterstroke by Cecil. The spaceman’s voice, formal yet endearing, evokes a sense of nostalgia and humour that will delight both older readers and young listeners alike. This tone, combined with the spaceman’s wide-eyed observations, is charmingly reminiscent of a Bill Bryson-esque narrative, adding a layer of innocence and wonder.
Cecil’s use of oil paints gives the illustrations a rich, textured feel, with each brushstroke adding depth and warmth to the pages. The colour palette is both vibrant and subtle, with the orange hue of the spaceman’s skin and white suit standing out against the soft greens and blues of the planet’s landscape—impressive for such a tiny creature. What initially seems like an ordinary planet is soon revealed to be teeming with life—flowers, butterflies, and a friendly yet “hideous” beast that turns out to be a dog. The juxtaposition of the spaceman’s small stature against the planet’s large flora and fauna emphasises his vulnerability and the vast beauty of the world he has stumbled upon—a subtle invitation for readers to contemplate the significance of their surroundings.
Ultimately, this is a story about finding joy in the unexpected and learning to appreciate the world around us. The spaceman’s journey from duty-bound explorer to joyful participant is touching and uplifting. When he finally finds his spaceship lodged in a tree, he faces a choice: return to his old life of routine and monotony, or stay on this extraordinary planet where he has found happiness and friendship. The decision is made with a delicate touch of humour and grace that resonates deeply.
Cecil’s storytelling is as thoughtful as it is whimsical, inviting readers to pause, look around, and perhaps see the world in a new light. This beautifully crafted picture book captures the essence of discovery, wonder, and the unexpected beauty found in the most ordinary of places—a gentle reminder to stop, breathe, and appreciate life’s simple pleasures, preferably, with a dog.
I would give this book 6 stars
Telling the story from the spaceman’s first-person perspective is a masterstroke by Cecil. The spaceman’s voice, formal yet endearing, evokes a sense of nostalgia and humour that will delight both older readers and young listeners alike. This tone, combined with the spaceman’s wide-eyed observations, is charmingly reminiscent of a Bill Bryson-esque narrative, adding a layer of innocence and wonder.
Cecil’s use of oil paints gives the illustrations a rich, textured feel, with each brushstroke adding depth and warmth to the pages. The colour palette is both vibrant and subtle, with the orange hue of the spaceman’s skin and white suit standing out against the soft greens and blues of the planet’s landscape—impressive for such a tiny creature. What initially seems like an ordinary planet is soon revealed to be teeming with life—flowers, butterflies, and a friendly yet “hideous” beast that turns out to be a dog. The juxtaposition of the spaceman’s small stature against the planet’s large flora and fauna emphasises his vulnerability and the vast beauty of the world he has stumbled upon—a subtle invitation for readers to contemplate the significance of their surroundings.
Ultimately, this is a story about finding joy in the unexpected and learning to appreciate the world around us. The spaceman’s journey from duty-bound explorer to joyful participant is touching and uplifting. When he finally finds his spaceship lodged in a tree, he faces a choice: return to his old life of routine and monotony, or stay on this extraordinary planet where he has found happiness and friendship. The decision is made with a delicate touch of humour and grace that resonates deeply.
Cecil’s storytelling is as thoughtful as it is whimsical, inviting readers to pause, look around, and perhaps see the world in a new light. This beautifully crafted picture book captures the essence of discovery, wonder, and the unexpected beauty found in the most ordinary of places—a gentle reminder to stop, breathe, and appreciate life’s simple pleasures, preferably, with a dog.
I would give this book 6 stars
September 7, 2023
The wonders of space zooms down into the awesomeness of life through the eyes of a small spaceman.
The tiny spaceman spends his time traveling through the universe to collect soil and surface samples form various planets. He leaves his little space ship, collects a sample, and off he goes again. It might seem mundane, but every now and then, he sees something special.
This is one of those wonderful picture books, which masterfully balances illustrations and text to let the combination perform its magic. While the short text makes a nice read-aloud or reading exercise for those more sure of their words, it also gives just the right amount of setting and happenings to keep the reader on top of the story. The illustrations carry the rest as they follow the tiny spaceman on his adventure and add the emotions and small details, which make things really hit home.
The tiny spaceman doesn't seem tiny, at first, but his true size slowly becomes clear, and this adds a bit of tension even when none is apparent. The reader is lead to let their own experiences and realizations seep in as they watch the spaceman explore the new surroundings...which won't be so 'new' to the reader. This also allows the reader to understand the spaceman's thoughts on the surroundings and helps to see the word through new eyes. The tale leaves with a warm and content message, which will have readers viewing things slightly differently.
It's a cute, simple read with quite a bit of impact, and that in a very positive way. I received a DRC and really enjoyed the story.
The tiny spaceman spends his time traveling through the universe to collect soil and surface samples form various planets. He leaves his little space ship, collects a sample, and off he goes again. It might seem mundane, but every now and then, he sees something special.
This is one of those wonderful picture books, which masterfully balances illustrations and text to let the combination perform its magic. While the short text makes a nice read-aloud or reading exercise for those more sure of their words, it also gives just the right amount of setting and happenings to keep the reader on top of the story. The illustrations carry the rest as they follow the tiny spaceman on his adventure and add the emotions and small details, which make things really hit home.
The tiny spaceman doesn't seem tiny, at first, but his true size slowly becomes clear, and this adds a bit of tension even when none is apparent. The reader is lead to let their own experiences and realizations seep in as they watch the spaceman explore the new surroundings...which won't be so 'new' to the reader. This also allows the reader to understand the spaceman's thoughts on the surroundings and helps to see the word through new eyes. The tale leaves with a warm and content message, which will have readers viewing things slightly differently.
It's a cute, simple read with quite a bit of impact, and that in a very positive way. I received a DRC and really enjoyed the story.
January 19, 2025
A tiny astronaut becomes stranded on planet Earth after a large bird flies away with his spaceship.
Told in first person, a teeny-tiny spaceman arrives to take soil samples on a planet. His job is apparently to travel from planet to planet taking soil samples, analyzing them, and then filing the results. This time, however, things take an unexpected turn when a crow picks his spaceship and flies away with it.
The spacemen is forced to venture out into this unknown planet (Earth) in the hopes of finding it. He encounters strange new creatures. He is initially frightened by the dog but is enchanted by the butterfly.
He shifts from being apprehensive of his new environment to enjoying himself as he explores the fauna and flora. The dog returns, and the two play together.
.
The illustrations were done in oil paint.
As a writing major, I appreciated the use of the word "one" instead of "you" to speak about a person in a general sense.
As an adult reader, I wondered about the ending. How is the tiny spaceman going to survive on Earth without money, food, and shelter?
Told in first person, a teeny-tiny spaceman arrives to take soil samples on a planet. His job is apparently to travel from planet to planet taking soil samples, analyzing them, and then filing the results. This time, however, things take an unexpected turn when a crow picks his spaceship and flies away with it.
The spacemen is forced to venture out into this unknown planet (Earth) in the hopes of finding it. He encounters strange new creatures. He is initially frightened by the dog but is enchanted by the butterfly.
He shifts from being apprehensive of his new environment to enjoying himself as he explores the fauna and flora. The dog returns, and the two play together.
.
The illustrations were done in oil paint.
As a writing major, I appreciated the use of the word "one" instead of "you" to speak about a person in a general sense.
As an adult reader, I wondered about the ending. How is the tiny spaceman going to survive on Earth without money, food, and shelter?
February 7, 2025
An alien scientist who travels from planet to planet collecting soil samples, finds his routine collection suddenly interrupted when a local creature makes off with his spaceship. Is this disaster, or a wondrous happenstance?
I had heard this talked about as a possible Caldecott winner this year, and I can see why. The illustration style does stand out as rather unique. It's also a story that encourages you to look around and enjoy the little things you may take for granted or be too busy to notice. The vocabulary and manner of speaking of the spaceman makes this book sound a little old fashioned. Which is not bad, an alien should sound a bit different from normal, right? He kind of sounds like a Victorian gentleman explorer out of a Jules Verne novel. And I'm guessing that's why it doesn't have a shiny sticker gracing the front, but I liked it. And I like the encouragement to enjoy the beauty around us that we might take for granted.
I had heard this talked about as a possible Caldecott winner this year, and I can see why. The illustration style does stand out as rather unique. It's also a story that encourages you to look around and enjoy the little things you may take for granted or be too busy to notice. The vocabulary and manner of speaking of the spaceman makes this book sound a little old fashioned. Which is not bad, an alien should sound a bit different from normal, right? He kind of sounds like a Victorian gentleman explorer out of a Jules Verne novel. And I'm guessing that's why it doesn't have a shiny sticker gracing the front, but I liked it. And I like the encouragement to enjoy the beauty around us that we might take for granted.
May 6, 2024
Dare I write that this is a cute book? Randy Cecil tells of a spaceman who has the dull task of flying from planet to planet in his little spaceship (see that cover!), taking soil samples. It's routine and dull! When a bird steals his ship, he has some time to walk around and look for it, and in the search, he begins to notice what a marvel this planet is, showing him so much beauty. He struggles with the idea that he's never noticed all these beautiful things and he even meets a big, hairy animal that becomes a friend. He's never before had one! In the midst of other details, he believes a life decision must be made. Also illustrated by Cecil in cute, colorful, but quirky pages, it's a delight. There must be an audience out there who will love talking about this spaceman!
Thanks to Candlewick Press for this copy!
Thanks to Candlewick Press for this copy!
March 31, 2025
A diminutive orange spaceman emerges from his ship to collect soil samples from the planet on which he lands and at first thinks is rather "ordinary". When his spaceship is carried away by a bird, he is stranded and frightened by a dog he encounters. Hanging on a butterfly, he takes a tour and is amazed by the landscape with its variety of creatures and beautiful flowers all of which loom larger than his small form. He and the dog become friends, laughing and playing and "enjoying the gentle breeze". The spaceman decides to stay in this "extraordinary" place where he is so joyful.
This is a delightful story full of humor and the pleasure the character feels being in a place where he is so comfortable. Adding to its appeal are the colorful oil illustrations which are both expressive and amusing. This book is recommended for ages 3-7 by the SEPA Book Reviewers.
This is a delightful story full of humor and the pleasure the character feels being in a place where he is so comfortable. Adding to its appeal are the colorful oil illustrations which are both expressive and amusing. This book is recommended for ages 3-7 by the SEPA Book Reviewers.
July 2, 2024
A small alien arrives on earth to collect soil samples. It is a rather dull job but someone has to do it! But this planet is different. And our small protagonist quickly finds himself distracted by a beautiful flower. Uh oh! His spaceship is stolen by a bird! As he races after the bird, he is overwhelmed by the beauty he sees -- flowers, butterflies, insects -- even a hairy, waggy-tailed beast.
When he finally finds his ship, he has a big decision to make!
Hint - some day, you might find a small spaceship at the bottom of a pond!
I really enjoyed this tale of finding joy and making positive choices. Plus the illustrations were whimsical and delightful!
When he finally finds his ship, he has a big decision to make!
Hint - some day, you might find a small spaceship at the bottom of a pond!
I really enjoyed this tale of finding joy and making positive choices. Plus the illustrations were whimsical and delightful!
July 8, 2024
Have you ever read a book about a subject that you wouldn’t have necessarily picked, only to be pleasantly surprised?
That’s how this sweet book was for me!
This book is about a spaceman whose job is to travel from planet to planet for soil samples. While collecting samples on earth, he encounters a “hideous beast,” that he initially runs from. He soon befriends the beast and finds himself laughing and having a good time. This must come to an end, as he remembers he has responsibilities.
Does our little spaceman return to his job, or has he found a new home (and himself)?
The illustrations are wonderful, and the story is sweet. This would be a great book for your little guys and gals.
That’s how this sweet book was for me!
This book is about a spaceman whose job is to travel from planet to planet for soil samples. While collecting samples on earth, he encounters a “hideous beast,” that he initially runs from. He soon befriends the beast and finds himself laughing and having a good time. This must come to an end, as he remembers he has responsibilities.
Does our little spaceman return to his job, or has he found a new home (and himself)?
The illustrations are wonderful, and the story is sweet. This would be a great book for your little guys and gals.
June 3, 2024
A little spaceman lands on a new planet and proceeds with his typical steps of collecting, labeling, and filing samples. But on this planet, which seems boring at first, his spacecraft is stolen by a large bird. His quest to retrieve it leads him to discover the extraordinary discoveries in this place. The illustrations are made up of brightly colored oil paintings which enrich the story considerably. The text, written like a 19th century travelogue, is engaging and humorous. This book will gain fans.
September 17, 2024
I instantly fell in love with the tiny, hardworking spaceman whose life seems to be one monotonous task after another. That is, until he lands on a colorful planet where a bird steals his spaceship! As he searches for it, he encounters a friendly dog, gets swept away by a butterfly, and even floats peacefully in a pond. The Spaceman is then faced with a choice—return to his routine or embrace this world filled with small but meaningful wonders. The illustrations are lovely, and the story is charming in its simplicity.
December 9, 2024
What initially appears to be a variation on The Little Prince, . If you like this give Dalmartian, another space story published this year (2024) a try.
February 28, 2025
A space creature visits planet earth to do what he does: collect samples and file them. But when a bird takes off with his spaceship, how is he supposed to leave earth to visit the next planet. But earth sure is interesting! As he travels along the land he has many interesting new experiences and makes new friends. When he eventually discovers his spaceship, he has a choice to make. Will he choose to reclaim the ship and continue his duties? Or will he choose to remain on earth and enjoy life?
A rally cute story. Recommended for stoytime.
A rally cute story. Recommended for stoytime.
March 28, 2025
A tiny little spaceman lands on earth and is collecting, labeling, and filing away dirt samples. He has done this for many planets and will do so for many more. But, when a bird takes his spaceship away, this little spaceman is left with no other choice than to explore this new planet. He discovers that it is not as ordinary as he had thought. On the contrary, it is quite extraordinary!
Readers can see and appreciate earth from this spaceman's point of view. To him, the mundane and ordinary to us, is not at all to him.
Readers can see and appreciate earth from this spaceman's point of view. To him, the mundane and ordinary to us, is not at all to him.
June 6, 2024
The Spaceman has an important (but boring) job: he flies from planet to planet, collecting soil samples. But when his spaceship is stolen by a curious creature on a seemingly ordinary planet, The Spaceman at last has time to explore, laugh, play, and make friends. Does he really want to be a Spaceman now?
Unexpected and fun. Kids will enjoy being "smarter" than the Spaceman by recognizing the hallmarks of planet earth.
Unexpected and fun. Kids will enjoy being "smarter" than the Spaceman by recognizing the hallmarks of planet earth.
June 18, 2024
A little spaceman discovers planet Earth, is surprised by its beauty, and decides to stay. Oh, that abandoning a boring job and escaping unpleasant responsibilities were so easy!
Nevertheless, this sweet story is useful for noting setting and point of view/perspective.
The theme of appreciating the delights of our own planet can tie in with Earth Day or science lessons about the solar system.
Nevertheless, this sweet story is useful for noting setting and point of view/perspective.
The theme of appreciating the delights of our own planet can tie in with Earth Day or science lessons about the solar system.
August 13, 2024
“I must confess, at first glance I thought this a rather ordinary planet. I’ve seen my share of planets. It’s my job.”
As he explores the latest planet on which he has landed, a bird steals his spaceship. In pursuit of his stolen property, he discovers just how beautiful the planet is. Should he find his spaceship and continue on with his responsibilities? Or should he stay and enjoy himself?
Fun illustrations.
As he explores the latest planet on which he has landed, a bird steals his spaceship. In pursuit of his stolen property, he discovers just how beautiful the planet is. Should he find his spaceship and continue on with his responsibilities? Or should he stay and enjoy himself?
Fun illustrations.
December 16, 2024
The Spaceman is all about finding your place, your people. When an interstellar explorer lands on Earth in a beautiful patch of nature and is welcomed by a loving dog, he experiences a sense of contentment heretofore lacking. He knows he is home, even if it nothing like his place of origin. Compelling prose and rich illustrations bring you to the Spaceman's side where you feel what he feels. The Spaceman is a moving book I heartily recommend.
December 29, 2023
*I received this book as a DRC. The Spaceman, by Randy Cecil, is a well-written book. The protagonist spends his days working on planet after planet, until one day, he discovers one that is extraordinary. It was fun to see this journey take place, with the words encapsulating the phrase, "less is more." I enjoyed this book! I am confident that kids will like it too.
April 24, 2024
I received an ARC of this book for my honest opinion.
A Spaceman has arrived on Earth and isn’t impressed at first. This adorable book is all about really looking and exploring nature and embracing a home when you find it. A really cute book for a gentle introduction to nature and the love of dogs.
A Spaceman has arrived on Earth and isn’t impressed at first. This adorable book is all about really looking and exploring nature and embracing a home when you find it. A really cute book for a gentle introduction to nature and the love of dogs.
June 14, 2024
Sweet illustrations in this picture book, ranging from the white and brown spotted dog to the orange alien...but I don't want to give anything away here. Just read the book, wonder, and smile. This is a book best enjoyed with a friend.
Themes: space, humor, dogs, surprises
Ages: 1-3rd grade (too abstract for littles to get)
Pub year: 2024
Themes: space, humor, dogs, surprises
Ages: 1-3rd grade (too abstract for littles to get)
Pub year: 2024
July 18, 2024
A cute, colorful and sweet story about embracing change and making the best of a difficult situation. Author/illustrator Randy Cecil uses humor and lots of imagination to tell his story of a little spaceman stranded on a planet that looks a lot like Earth and how he makes a new friend and learns to appreciate the beauty of his new home.
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