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Astrid and the Space Cadets: Attack of the Snailiens!: A funny space adventure for kids by the creator of Claude
Blast off on an adventure with the Space Cadets! From beloved children's author-illustrator Alex T. Smith, the bestselling creator of the Claude series and How Winston Delivered Christmas, comes a funny and fast-paced adventure through space!
With out-of-this-world illustrations on every page, Astrid and the Space Attack of the Snailiens! is perfect for fans of Grimwood and Bad Guys, and for kids who are ready to read by themselves.
Astrid Atomic, a six year old human person, goes to bed every night like every other six year old human person. But unlike many other six year olds she doesn’t stay there. The minute the lights are off and the coast is clear the Space Cadet siren goes off, her uniform goes on, and 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 - WHOOSH! - she blasts off on board the spaceship Stardust!
Along with her best pals Beryl, Professor Quackers and Zoink, Astrid is given her mission from The Chief - to clean up the Milky Way! But when a nearby alien is in trouble and with giant snaliens around, things aren't likely to go to plan!
Don't miss Astrid and the gang's next adventure in book Astrid and the Space Race from Planet Peril!
With out-of-this-world illustrations on every page, Astrid and the Space Attack of the Snailiens! is perfect for fans of Grimwood and Bad Guys, and for kids who are ready to read by themselves.
Astrid Atomic, a six year old human person, goes to bed every night like every other six year old human person. But unlike many other six year olds she doesn’t stay there. The minute the lights are off and the coast is clear the Space Cadet siren goes off, her uniform goes on, and 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 - WHOOSH! - she blasts off on board the spaceship Stardust!
Along with her best pals Beryl, Professor Quackers and Zoink, Astrid is given her mission from The Chief - to clean up the Milky Way! But when a nearby alien is in trouble and with giant snaliens around, things aren't likely to go to plan!
Don't miss Astrid and the gang's next adventure in book Astrid and the Space Race from Planet Peril!
176 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 7, 2024
3 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
About the author
Alex T. Smith
113 books85 followersAlex T. Smith is the creator of the much-loved and bestselling Claude fiction series for early readers. He was the official World Book Day illustrator in 2014, and other recent accolades include the UKLA Picture Book Award for Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion and the Children’s Book of the World Illustration Award for illustrating Dodie Smith’s The Hundred and One Dalmatians. When not working, Alex enjoys doodling in his sketchbook, reading, people-watching, and eavesdropping. He lives under the watchful eye of his small canine companions, who are a constant source of inspiration to him.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 6, 2024
This was pretty cute SF adventure read for young readers. Definitely aimed at the 5-7 years market. Has some humour and silliness, which my kids sort of enjoyed, though I feel like they were slightly too old for its peak audience.
I've been spoiled by Grimwood for these kinds of books though. Nothing comes close to it.
I've been spoiled by Grimwood for these kinds of books though. Nothing comes close to it.
January 7, 2025
It is time for lift-off! We are going on missions with Astrid and her Space Cadets! Snails! Trash! And more!
I just adore Alex T. Smith’s work, so when I saw this new serie pop up? Well, I needed to have it! And this was just so oodles of fun~
In this one we meet a little girl, looks ordinary, has an ordinary family, but this is a girl who, when she goes to bed, gets up to do space missions along with her motley crew! They have a great starship named Stardust and they help out people wherever they can! If they solve missions they get rewards and there is one giant reward to be won for the first one to complete a whole card (of course, I was instantly rooting for our crew). In this one a mission that shouldn’t have been hard (well, if Professor Quackers invention worked), turns into an even more excited one when someone requires their help with some BIG BIG BIG snails. Did I mention they are hungry? Well, they are. And this person? Has a whole lot of special hopefully-price-winning veggies/fruits and doesn’t want those big snails to eat them. Which I could understand, I was definitely curious how Astrid and her crew would solve this problem… well, I can tell you it involves a lot of distraction, a dash of mechanical mishaps, and a lot of trauma, haha. Because these snails are slimy! I just loved seeing how chaotic it all got, but also how Astrid never gave up even when things seemed to go the wrong way. She is determined to help and I was just cheering for her. Plus, also wishing I could be part of the crew and just help out. Discover all these places! Work for a big price!
I loved that the snails in the end even got a pretty good deal out of things. I won’t tell you what, but I am sure that every reader is happy with it!
The art was oodles of fun! I love how dynamic this book was and how fun it was to read with all the little details, the big illustrations, the fonts that changed.
All in all, this girl would recommend this astro-tastic book to all! Alex T. Smith has done it again and I cannot wait to see what more adventures our motley crew will have!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I just adore Alex T. Smith’s work, so when I saw this new serie pop up? Well, I needed to have it! And this was just so oodles of fun~
In this one we meet a little girl, looks ordinary, has an ordinary family, but this is a girl who, when she goes to bed, gets up to do space missions along with her motley crew! They have a great starship named Stardust and they help out people wherever they can! If they solve missions they get rewards and there is one giant reward to be won for the first one to complete a whole card (of course, I was instantly rooting for our crew). In this one a mission that shouldn’t have been hard (well, if Professor Quackers invention worked), turns into an even more excited one when someone requires their help with some BIG BIG BIG snails. Did I mention they are hungry? Well, they are. And this person? Has a whole lot of special hopefully-price-winning veggies/fruits and doesn’t want those big snails to eat them. Which I could understand, I was definitely curious how Astrid and her crew would solve this problem… well, I can tell you it involves a lot of distraction, a dash of mechanical mishaps, and a lot of trauma, haha. Because these snails are slimy! I just loved seeing how chaotic it all got, but also how Astrid never gave up even when things seemed to go the wrong way. She is determined to help and I was just cheering for her. Plus, also wishing I could be part of the crew and just help out. Discover all these places! Work for a big price!
I loved that the snails in the end even got a pretty good deal out of things. I won’t tell you what, but I am sure that every reader is happy with it!
The art was oodles of fun! I love how dynamic this book was and how fun it was to read with all the little details, the big illustrations, the fonts that changed.
All in all, this girl would recommend this astro-tastic book to all! Alex T. Smith has done it again and I cannot wait to see what more adventures our motley crew will have!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
October 24, 2024
1.5*
The first thing to say is that the look of the book is stunning. But when the pronouns of characters are listed in the opening of the book and one of the characters is non-binary, with the plural 'they/them' (used throughout), and another alien wears a badge with the pride & trans/non-binary flag on, I think you know the author is on a bit of a mission to 'educate' children. And of course the MC has two dads.
(Parents will differ on what kind of content they'll want their kids reading, so some will be very happy about this and some won't.)
But additionally, why oh why did one character have on her outfit two flowers positioned over her nipples?! It's just plain weird and seems very tacky and inappropriate.
'Crikey' was used quite a lot by the main character, which I personally dislike because it's derived from 'Christ Almighty'. So to hear a kid saying it never feels right to me.
Now, apart from all that, the guy is such a fantastic illustrator. This would be perfect for young readers who are ready to move from picture books, but still want lots of illustrations and a light story. But that will depend on whether you like your kids having identity politics shoved in stories about aliens and space adventures.
The first thing to say is that the look of the book is stunning. But when the pronouns of characters are listed in the opening of the book and one of the characters is non-binary, with the plural 'they/them' (used throughout), and another alien wears a badge with the pride & trans/non-binary flag on, I think you know the author is on a bit of a mission to 'educate' children. And of course the MC has two dads.
(Parents will differ on what kind of content they'll want their kids reading, so some will be very happy about this and some won't.)
But additionally, why oh why did one character have on her outfit two flowers positioned over her nipples?! It's just plain weird and seems very tacky and inappropriate.
'Crikey' was used quite a lot by the main character, which I personally dislike because it's derived from 'Christ Almighty'. So to hear a kid saying it never feels right to me.
Now, apart from all that, the guy is such a fantastic illustrator. This would be perfect for young readers who are ready to move from picture books, but still want lots of illustrations and a light story. But that will depend on whether you like your kids having identity politics shoved in stories about aliens and space adventures.
February 17, 2024
Alex T Smith has written something full of adventure, gorgeous illustrations and pure fun here! Who wouldn’t want to be a space cadet helping clean up planets and save gardens from snailiens?! This is going to be a real hit with kids (and certainly is with me!) I can’t wait to see the finished illustrations if these proof versions are anything to go off!
April 14, 2024
Astrid and the Space Cadets! Attack of the Snailiens! by Alex T. Smith is a delightful adventure that blends humour, imagination, and a dash of intergalactic chaos. In this instalment of the series, Astrid and her quirky crew find themselves facing a new, slimy threat – the Snailiens! With their clever wit and out-of-this-world gadgets, Astrid and her friends embark on a mission to save the galaxy from these gooey invaders. Our favourite member of the crew is Zoink! Do you have a favourite?
Alex T. Smith's writing is filled with wit and energy, perfect for young readers eager to explore the cosmos alongside Astrid and her band of wonderful misfits. The story is fast-paced and engaging, keeping readers hooked from start to finish. The font is a great size for early readers (and sleepy Mom’s at bedtime)! The black and white illustrations, add an extra layer of fun to the narrative, bringing the characters and their extraterrestrial escapades to life in vivid detail.
In this adventure we see the Space Cadets sent off on a mission to clean up the Milky Way. Yet when they receive a distress call they must make haste and come to the rescue of Flora Mulch and save her plants from peril. Slimy Snailiens cold destroy everything, especially when Professor Quackers gadgets malfunction. Can they save the day and complete their original mission?
What makes Astrid and the Space Cadets! Attack of the Snailiens! truly special is its blend of humour and heart. Beyond the zany antics and epic battles, there's a message about friendship, teamwork, and believing in oneself that resonates long after the final page is turned.
Overall, Astrid and the Space Cadets! Attack of the Snailiens! is a stellar addition to any young reader's bookshelf. It's a wild ride through the cosmos that will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next instalment of Astrid's adventures. Highly recommended for fans of space, humour, and intergalactic mayhem!
Alex T. Smith's writing is filled with wit and energy, perfect for young readers eager to explore the cosmos alongside Astrid and her band of wonderful misfits. The story is fast-paced and engaging, keeping readers hooked from start to finish. The font is a great size for early readers (and sleepy Mom’s at bedtime)! The black and white illustrations, add an extra layer of fun to the narrative, bringing the characters and their extraterrestrial escapades to life in vivid detail.
In this adventure we see the Space Cadets sent off on a mission to clean up the Milky Way. Yet when they receive a distress call they must make haste and come to the rescue of Flora Mulch and save her plants from peril. Slimy Snailiens cold destroy everything, especially when Professor Quackers gadgets malfunction. Can they save the day and complete their original mission?
What makes Astrid and the Space Cadets! Attack of the Snailiens! truly special is its blend of humour and heart. Beyond the zany antics and epic battles, there's a message about friendship, teamwork, and believing in oneself that resonates long after the final page is turned.
Overall, Astrid and the Space Cadets! Attack of the Snailiens! is a stellar addition to any young reader's bookshelf. It's a wild ride through the cosmos that will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next instalment of Astrid's adventures. Highly recommended for fans of space, humour, and intergalactic mayhem!
April 8, 2025
Astrid has a secret. After her bath, book and climbing into bed, she is not planning to sleep. When the clock strikes 12, she takes off her pyjamas to get ready. She’s wearing her Space Cadet uniform underneath, prepared for action! Climbing into her wardrobe (Intergalactic Transport Pod), Astrid is keen to meet up with her Space Cadet friends for another adventure.
On board their ship, they are soon given instructions by The Chief – their intergalactic boss. With the promise of another gold star for their achievement chart, they are asked to go and clean up a messy part of the Milky Way. They are all hoping that the prize at the end of a full star chart will be something yummy like donuts, so they set off on a clean-up mission.
The job turns out to be so much more than imagined, but a distress call from another planet interrupts them. Giant Snailiens are eating everything in sight. Can Astrid and her alien Space Cadet friends stop them?
The first book in this series for emerging chapter books readers, Astrid and the Space Cadets is not only full of exciting adventure, the interior design of the illustrations, action-packed fonts and chapters draw the reader in even more.
These Space Cadets mean well, but things go wrong, and then very wrong, then incredibly wrong, building the tension to a thrilling climax. Giant Snailiens are a real challenge, but all is not lost.
Would make a great bedtime read as it ends with Astrid climbing back into bed, putting her pyjamas on over her Space Cadet uniform, and falling asleep.
Age – 7+
On board their ship, they are soon given instructions by The Chief – their intergalactic boss. With the promise of another gold star for their achievement chart, they are asked to go and clean up a messy part of the Milky Way. They are all hoping that the prize at the end of a full star chart will be something yummy like donuts, so they set off on a clean-up mission.
The job turns out to be so much more than imagined, but a distress call from another planet interrupts them. Giant Snailiens are eating everything in sight. Can Astrid and her alien Space Cadet friends stop them?
The first book in this series for emerging chapter books readers, Astrid and the Space Cadets is not only full of exciting adventure, the interior design of the illustrations, action-packed fonts and chapters draw the reader in even more.
These Space Cadets mean well, but things go wrong, and then very wrong, then incredibly wrong, building the tension to a thrilling climax. Giant Snailiens are a real challenge, but all is not lost.
Would make a great bedtime read as it ends with Astrid climbing back into bed, putting her pyjamas on over her Space Cadet uniform, and falling asleep.
Age – 7+
March 13, 2024
Meet Astrid who is a small human person and her space cadets Beryl, Professor Quackers and Zoink. Astrid lives a double life for when bedtime comes round she climbs into her wardrobe (an Intergalactic Transporter Pod no less!) and launches into Space. Tasked by her Chief with clearing up Space pollution from the edges of the Milky Way, Astrid and her crew, working for the reward of gold stars for their star charts, are just about to set forth and clear up all the mess when an urgent call for help comes from Flora Mulch from Planet Hortensis! Snailiens have invaded and are gobbling up everything on her leafy planet and her Astro Spuds are in danger! It’s Astrid and her chums to the rescue but stopping giant alien escargot turns out to be a lot harder than it seems!
Cue much hilarity, frolics and fun in this typically pun-filled romp of a story! Alex T. Smith has the ability to create characters that are quirky, hilarious and loveable and you’re quickly immersed in Astrid’s world.
With seven chapters and around 120 pages, this is a really achievable read for independent readers or a great bedtime book to enjoy over a few nights putting on voices for the cast of characters like we did.
Cue much hilarity, frolics and fun in this typically pun-filled romp of a story! Alex T. Smith has the ability to create characters that are quirky, hilarious and loveable and you’re quickly immersed in Astrid’s world.
With seven chapters and around 120 pages, this is a really achievable read for independent readers or a great bedtime book to enjoy over a few nights putting on voices for the cast of characters like we did.
January 24, 2024
Such a fun book to read aloud or to start with independent reading
At night Astrid’s wardrobe becomes a portal to an intergalactic world full of astro spuds, shrinking rays and hungry hungry snailiens.
This book was an absolute joy. It has short chapters so younger readers will be able to tackle it without becoming overwhelmed. It also has a wonderful array of characters so if a grown up is reading it as a bedtime story the scope for silly voices is great.
I love Alex T Smith’s books. His ‘Mr. Penguin’ series sparked a love of reading in my daughter when she started reading longer books and I can already tell that this series will do the same for my younger child.
Thank you to the publisher for a review copy of this book.
At night Astrid’s wardrobe becomes a portal to an intergalactic world full of astro spuds, shrinking rays and hungry hungry snailiens.
This book was an absolute joy. It has short chapters so younger readers will be able to tackle it without becoming overwhelmed. It also has a wonderful array of characters so if a grown up is reading it as a bedtime story the scope for silly voices is great.
I love Alex T Smith’s books. His ‘Mr. Penguin’ series sparked a love of reading in my daughter when she started reading longer books and I can already tell that this series will do the same for my younger child.
Thank you to the publisher for a review copy of this book.
November 25, 2025
Loved reading this with my 3.5 year old. I think it’s been his favourite Alex T Smith book so far. It’s silly, funny and beautifully illustrated. I enjoy it as much as he does. We are already reading both books 2 and 3 simultaneously because he has no chill lol!
March 13, 2024
This would be fun for kinder to early primary aged children. It has an Octonauts/ Paw patrol / saturday morning cartoon vibe. Not as good as the author's other works.
July 6, 2024
Very cute! Very tempted by the next one.
January 9, 2025
It's a wonderfully fun space adventure... Awesome illustrations.
January 20, 2025
Great short novel for kids. We enjoyed reading this at bedtime and liked that all the characters pronouns are at the front of the book and there is a non binary character.
August 14, 2025
Perfect book to read to a young child who you’re starting chapter books with. Lots of humour and pictures to keep them engaged. We really enjoyed it!
April 12, 2024
Is Alex T. Smith a favourite author for you? I know he is for me; I think it is off-the-wall quirky humour that draws me into his stories. It is impossible to do anything other than smile and feel happy after reading one. Now he is back with a promising new series, one that is going to blast us into outer space. With book 1 already out and waiting for you to read it you will be pleased to know the wait for book 2 is not going to be a long one but let us not get too far ahead of ourselves you want to know about this new series first don’t you! The series title is Astrid and the Space Cadets, and it features Astrid Atomic, a 6-year-old human person. Her first adventure, well its zany ~ Attack of the Snailiens is its title and book 2, coming in July is called Race from Planet Peril both of which, I hope, give you a hint at some of the adventures Astrid is going to find herself embroiled in!
Astrid, as I have said is a 6-year-old human person. Every night she goes to bed, just like every other 6-year-old human person. But unlike them Astrid doesn’t stay in bed… As soon as the lights are off and the coast clear (which of course means the human parents are out of sight) her Space Cadet siren goes off, her uniform goes on and she blasts off. Astrid’s spaceship is the Stardust and on it we find Astrid’s best friends, Beryl, Professor Quackers and Zoink, together they are on a mission to clean up the Milky Way. This time however there is an alien in trouble and, with the alien being nearby, the gang want to help. The trouble is there are some giant snailens around which means things really aren’t going to go to plan. That in turn means this book is going to have you laughing out loud and wishing for adventures just like Astrid’s! Of course, with every mission there is a goal too – this time they need to save the galaxy from the snailiens and also win a star for their Superstar Cosmic Star Chart… There is one up for grabs with every story, start reading now to find out if Astrid and her friends can do it!
I write reviews for Armadillo Children's Books and this one appeared in my weekly newsletter, Postbag Picks, in March 2024.
Astrid, as I have said is a 6-year-old human person. Every night she goes to bed, just like every other 6-year-old human person. But unlike them Astrid doesn’t stay in bed… As soon as the lights are off and the coast clear (which of course means the human parents are out of sight) her Space Cadet siren goes off, her uniform goes on and she blasts off. Astrid’s spaceship is the Stardust and on it we find Astrid’s best friends, Beryl, Professor Quackers and Zoink, together they are on a mission to clean up the Milky Way. This time however there is an alien in trouble and, with the alien being nearby, the gang want to help. The trouble is there are some giant snailens around which means things really aren’t going to go to plan. That in turn means this book is going to have you laughing out loud and wishing for adventures just like Astrid’s! Of course, with every mission there is a goal too – this time they need to save the galaxy from the snailiens and also win a star for their Superstar Cosmic Star Chart… There is one up for grabs with every story, start reading now to find out if Astrid and her friends can do it!
I write reviews for Armadillo Children's Books and this one appeared in my weekly newsletter, Postbag Picks, in March 2024.
April 9, 2024
Just what the young reader, choosing a book with full-sized chapters and things for the first time, needs is NOT Pronoun Mangling Indoctrination 101 courtesy of an alien critter, as here. That and the title character having two dads was almost enough to make me bin this as too woke to be worth bothering with. That is as far as it goes down that rabbit-hole, mind – but it doesn't get much further on the path to quality. Somehow our Astrid can go without sleep on a nightly basis, as she zaps off to space, and sorts things out like a good Space Cadet. But here the mission is just trying to clean up the space junk on the edge of the Milky Way when they get an SOS.
The emergency is that someone's garden planet has been invaded by snailiens that will eat her prize-winning pink space potatoes. There's a bit of a hoo-hah there, mostly involving lasers and explosions and turnipy smells, before the whole thing wraps itself up in pretty predictable ways. And it's all just OK – silly fun with the eye to the nonsensical and the 'well, anything can happen in space, whether it makes sense for it to happen in a book or not' attitude. You can't say the Cadets work as a team, as they're too diverse and silly and do that Groot thing of pronouncing everything imaginable the exact same way. At best this is a three star effort, marked down due to the needless confusion I mentioned at the top.
The emergency is that someone's garden planet has been invaded by snailiens that will eat her prize-winning pink space potatoes. There's a bit of a hoo-hah there, mostly involving lasers and explosions and turnipy smells, before the whole thing wraps itself up in pretty predictable ways. And it's all just OK – silly fun with the eye to the nonsensical and the 'well, anything can happen in space, whether it makes sense for it to happen in a book or not' attitude. You can't say the Cadets work as a team, as they're too diverse and silly and do that Groot thing of pronouncing everything imaginable the exact same way. At best this is a three star effort, marked down due to the needless confusion I mentioned at the top.
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