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Nuts in Space
An elite crew has finally found the Lost Nuts of Legend. But will they get home before something happens to the nuts?
An elite crew has finally found the Lost Nuts of Legend. Now all they have to do is go home. But — oh, dear — if only it were that simple. Everyone is starving, the Star Nav is broken, the neighbors are distinctly unfriendly, and it was a really bad idea to stop at the Death Banana and ask for directions. Will the crew find their way home? And, most importantly, will they get home before something happens to the nuts?
An elite crew has finally found the Lost Nuts of Legend. Now all they have to do is go home. But — oh, dear — if only it were that simple. Everyone is starving, the Star Nav is broken, the neighbors are distinctly unfriendly, and it was a really bad idea to stop at the Death Banana and ask for directions. Will the crew find their way home? And, most importantly, will they get home before something happens to the nuts?
32 pages, Hardcover
First published April 3, 2014
1 person is currently reading
71 people want to read
About the author
Elys Dolan
26 books24 followersElys Dolan grew up in a part of England that consists almost entirely of trees and cows, and she was named after a department store in Wimbledon. She’s never let either of these things hold her back and recently graduated from the Cambridge School of Art. She was awarded second place in the Macmillan Prize and was also short-listed for the Waterstone’s Picture This Prize. She lives in Cambridge, England.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
November 25, 2017
This story about the fun adventure the Lost Nuts take is very funny. This book has lots of speech and thought bubbles, labels, and other fun characteristics that can be used to teach students about text features. This book is best for middle elementary students, and is not best suited for whole group read a louds as I feel it takes away some of the humor. A great science fiction book for younger kids.
September 9, 2016
Read this one in Dutch, but I will will be writing a review in English.
So I recently discovered Elys Dolan on Twitter, I fell in love with her art and decided to go on a quest to read all her books (both her own works, and those she co-authored/just illustrated). Most will be bought as the libraries here don't really have her works, or like Library #1 just have one book and in Dutch.
This book was such a delight, and I laughed at all that happened. This motley crew is searching for some super-special nuts, when we enter the story they found them, and this book is all about their journey home, and the struggle not to eat those nuts. You see they are out of food storage and they are terribly hungry. Especially Squirrel can't keep himself from drooling over the nuts.
Now you would say, ah, well they will just be home soon. Yes, if they even knew where there home was again. :P
You see them visit all sorts of planets, get in all sorts of trouble which made me laugh so hard. Those poor guys, they truly have no luck.
The ending just made me laugh (especially since I hadn't expected that character to do that), though it also felt a bit futile. So they are just going to do x again? Shouldn't they go to y to get some food at least? Or is this just me that I was scratching my head and being a bit confused at it all?
Unlike most picture books this has its pages stuffed with a lot of stuff, believe me, you won't just be able to look at the pictures and read the story, there is a lot going on and you do need to follow a certain route to read them.
The art, well as I said I love Elys Dolan's art. :)
Also I loved the introduction at the beginning of the book, especially the Fox one made me laugh because of how he looked at that chicken. Who thought that was a good idea? :P
Their outfits (on the cover, but also in the book) reminded me of Star Trek.
All in all, I would recommend this book to everyone.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
So I recently discovered Elys Dolan on Twitter, I fell in love with her art and decided to go on a quest to read all her books (both her own works, and those she co-authored/just illustrated). Most will be bought as the libraries here don't really have her works, or like Library #1 just have one book and in Dutch.
This book was such a delight, and I laughed at all that happened. This motley crew is searching for some super-special nuts, when we enter the story they found them, and this book is all about their journey home, and the struggle not to eat those nuts. You see they are out of food storage and they are terribly hungry. Especially Squirrel can't keep himself from drooling over the nuts.
Now you would say, ah, well they will just be home soon. Yes, if they even knew where there home was again. :P
You see them visit all sorts of planets, get in all sorts of trouble which made me laugh so hard. Those poor guys, they truly have no luck.
The ending just made me laugh (especially since I hadn't expected that character to do that), though it also felt a bit futile. So they are just going to do x again? Shouldn't they go to y to get some food at least? Or is this just me that I was scratching my head and being a bit confused at it all?
Unlike most picture books this has its pages stuffed with a lot of stuff, believe me, you won't just be able to look at the pictures and read the story, there is a lot going on and you do need to follow a certain route to read them.
The art, well as I said I love Elys Dolan's art. :)
Also I loved the introduction at the beginning of the book, especially the Fox one made me laugh because of how he looked at that chicken. Who thought that was a good idea? :P
Their outfits (on the cover, but also in the book) reminded me of Star Trek.
All in all, I would recommend this book to everyone.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
May 28, 2015
Unbearably cute and fun!
October 9, 2019
This is a book which can help capture the interest of children. Set in space in the set-up of a mix of Star Trek and Star Wars, it is something that will appeal to young children. It is humorous and has a mixture of prose and cartoon speech, which works very well. It can be used throughout the curriculum, but I like the fact that it links science and English together. Children could make poems based upon the storyline or recreate the narrative of one of the characters. However, despite it's ability to be used in science and English lesson, I feel as though it is a book which children will take pleasure in reading.
August 17, 2017
I found this book to be very funny. A little hard to read out loud all the conversation bubbles above each characters name at times and have fluidity as you're telling the story. My daughter is only 20 months old. She tuned in. Fun to make up different voices for the characters. Enjoyed some of the adult humor that comes along with this book.
November 30, 2018
I haven't seen a children's book make me laugh out loud in a long while. This book is one of those that uses the whole page and has little miniscenes going on in every inch of the book. It's so funny. The characters are great and well-defined without going through a lot of boring introduction. SUch a great Star Trek parody but also is doing its own thing. Very LOL book.
February 3, 2021
Funny cartoon-like space story about the crew of a spacecraft hurrying home with the Lost Nuts of Legend lose their way and become very hungry. None of the inhabitants of the planets are friendly. And the crew is hungry and stop at the Death Banana and their nuts disappear so they must return to space to find them. Circular type story and the author/illustrator has a lot of fun with this.
October 26, 2017
Not for storytime, just for fun and because I really liked Weasels. These books are full of cute (and appropriate) references for adults as well as lot of fun illustrations and extra tidbits for kids to explore. This is a good fun read for kids to independently explore.
September 10, 2019
This was silly and fun and full of lots of little sci-fi references sure to go over most of the heads of those for whose age it is appropriate.
I enjoyed it a lot, not even sure my 9-year old read it, though it was in her room for a week. 🤣
I enjoyed it a lot, not even sure my 9-year old read it, though it was in her room for a week. 🤣
July 12, 2023
The story is chaotic and random, and the author tries too hard to be funny. With the wordy text, constant speech bubbles for characters that add little to nothing to the story, and random labels on things, this would be torture to read aloud.
September 11, 2017
One of my favorites! Love the QR Code narration option! Too cute.
November 29, 2017
OK read this in the library today to a class, made me laugh, reference to Star Trek, Star Wars and was feeling very Pigs in Space as well. Half the jokes the children didn't get.
May 5, 2019
Strange
June 15, 2019
Many pictures
Funny illustrations
Funny situations
Great to read to the class
Funny illustrations
Funny situations
Great to read to the class
February 20, 2020
An odd story, but perfect to keep children's attentions and encourage making up backstories for the scenes within the book.
May 12, 2023
Nothing bad, just not for me. Way too much going on. Very busy illustrations and lots of extra word bubbles that don't really add to the story.
June 16, 2023
Amazing.
October 18, 2016
Very funny, filled with lots of sci-fi connotations! Star Wars vs Star Trek!
May 19, 2014
Elys Dolan’s follow-up to the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize shortlisted 'Weasels' is fantastic. This is a riotously funny space-based caper, involving a crew of woodland animals on a mission to return home after securing the Lost Nuts of Legend. Everything turns a little calamitous though – the Star Nav is broken, the map has been chewed, and everyone is getting a little hungry...
Using a style that combines traditional story layout and plenty of character captioning, what results is a story that can be read in a variety of ways. 'Snippety' and funny, this is ideal for all children, but especially those who struggle, or are a little reluctant when it comes to longer form reading. The detail on each spread means that it is an absolute joy to pore over, and there is no ‘wrong’ way to approach it. (You are a genius, Elys Dolan, truly.)
There are a lot of references for Star Wars and Star Trek fans, but what will wash over a younger reader’s head really doesn’t matter as it is so engrossing in the picture detail and humour. Read it through, read it backwards, spot details you’ll have missed, and laugh heartily. There's not much else to wish from a reading experience, is there?
Go on. Treat yourself. Go a little nuts.
Using a style that combines traditional story layout and plenty of character captioning, what results is a story that can be read in a variety of ways. 'Snippety' and funny, this is ideal for all children, but especially those who struggle, or are a little reluctant when it comes to longer form reading. The detail on each spread means that it is an absolute joy to pore over, and there is no ‘wrong’ way to approach it. (You are a genius, Elys Dolan, truly.)
There are a lot of references for Star Wars and Star Trek fans, but what will wash over a younger reader’s head really doesn’t matter as it is so engrossing in the picture detail and humour. Read it through, read it backwards, spot details you’ll have missed, and laugh heartily. There's not much else to wish from a reading experience, is there?
Go on. Treat yourself. Go a little nuts.
January 25, 2018
Am I the only parent who really doesn't enjoy reading this type of book out loud? (Don't answer that.) It's one of those books where each character has a dialogue bubble next to them, various things on the page have silly labels, and there's very little text that narrates the story. It's like a comic book for little kids. I just think it makes for a really awkward read-aloud, and all of these type of books I've read so far try REALLY hard to be funny without succeeding. I think my kids could enjoy them more once they can read them to themselves. Just not my type of book. Sorry.
Edited to add: What really bugs me about this book is the words used that are just the type of words you don't want little kids picking up and saying to each other: "I kill you!" "I hate you" "stupid"
A book that could be a fun Star Wars (and other) parody gets ruined by stuff like that kind of talk in a children's book. I read it to my child again today (it came home as a school library book), and the format didn't bother me nearly as much as it did in the past. The main thing that got to me was the page with the killer bears and the not so cute things they said. I'm still really not a fan of this book.
Edited to add: What really bugs me about this book is the words used that are just the type of words you don't want little kids picking up and saying to each other: "I kill you!" "I hate you" "stupid"
A book that could be a fun Star Wars (and other) parody gets ruined by stuff like that kind of talk in a children's book. I read it to my child again today (it came home as a school library book), and the format didn't bother me nearly as much as it did in the past. The main thing that got to me was the page with the killer bears and the not so cute things they said. I'm still really not a fan of this book.
November 24, 2015
What a fun book! The crew of the Super Stealth Covert Cruiser have found the Lost Nuts of Legend and are about to return home. Unfortunately, they have run out of food and someone ate the directions for home. They visit the space station cafe, a small moon inhabited by green aliens who are allergic to nuts, a forest planet where the bear citizens try to eat them, and The Death Banana, hoping someone knows the way ask home.
I was fully engaged in this book! It was fun to read what each animal was saying and thinking thanks to the conversation bubbles- they add personality to the crew and the other characters they come in contact with. The crew costumes (not so subtly) allude to Star Trek, and the groups of creatures they meet are obviously modeled after Star Wars. It's a very creative, colorful, and funny kid's book!
I was fully engaged in this book! It was fun to read what each animal was saying and thinking thanks to the conversation bubbles- they add personality to the crew and the other characters they come in contact with. The crew costumes (not so subtly) allude to Star Trek, and the groups of creatures they meet are obviously modeled after Star Wars. It's a very creative, colorful, and funny kid's book!
September 3, 2015
The idea behind this book was obviously very cute, but the execution has a small problem...it's a picture book for readers old enough to know Star Trek, Star Wars, and maybe the Muppets TV show well enough to catch the references. So, parents may find the book to be more entertaining than the kids they are trying to read it to.
So, after you read the title aloud and launch into reading it to a child, you will find yourself trying not to crack up at references which will make no sense to the child.
Or, if the child is old enough to read the book alone, many of the references will be over his or her head.
If you know any adult science fiction fans who wouldn't be offended by receiving a picture book as a present, buy this for them, and the will enjoy it.
So, after you read the title aloud and launch into reading it to a child, you will find yourself trying not to crack up at references which will make no sense to the child.
Or, if the child is old enough to read the book alone, many of the references will be over his or her head.
If you know any adult science fiction fans who wouldn't be offended by receiving a picture book as a present, buy this for them, and the will enjoy it.
September 11, 2015
Crazy, silly picture book with lots of science fiction references, humorous asides, and general silliness that will be a hit with older picture book readers. Many of the jokes will be over most kids' heads (such as the badger who, while evading stormtrooper-like monkeys in the Death Banana, slips on a banana peel while shouting, "This is such a predictable joke!"), but there is something here for everyone, so they won't care. There's not much story between the jokes, but readers will be laughing hard enough that they won't care about that, either.
My nerdy 12-year-old will love this, and so will his dad.
My nerdy 12-year-old will love this, and so will his dad.
March 8, 2017
This book didn't resonate with me. It has a good dose of silliness, and a strong Star Wars/Star Trek hook that might appeal to fans of those franchises. For me, it seemed too hard to read, particularly aloud to a child. Each page has only a line or two of narrative, but is full of characters with individual dialogue bubbles, none of which connect to what the other characters are saying. This may be more suitable for kids who can read it for themselves, or perhaps an exceptionally patient child (and parent) but that would seem to be a very narrow audience.
March 15, 2016
picture book paradoy of old space movies (star wars, star trek, space balls, etc.)
An elite crew of furry animals is celebrating the discovery of the Lost Nuts of Legend. Now all they have to do is bring this mythical snack safely home. If only it were that simple. Everyone is starving, the Star Nav is broken, the neighbors are distinctly unfriendly, and is was a really, really bad idea to stop at the Death Banana to ask for directions. Will our heroes ever find their way home? And, most importany, will the Lost Nuts of Legend make it with them?
An elite crew of furry animals is celebrating the discovery of the Lost Nuts of Legend. Now all they have to do is bring this mythical snack safely home. If only it were that simple. Everyone is starving, the Star Nav is broken, the neighbors are distinctly unfriendly, and is was a really, really bad idea to stop at the Death Banana to ask for directions. Will our heroes ever find their way home? And, most importany, will the Lost Nuts of Legend make it with them?
March 19, 2016
picture book paradoy of old space movies (star wars, star trek, space balls, etc.)
An elite crew of furry animals is celebrating the discovery of the Lost Nuts of Legend. Now all they have to do is bring this mythical snack safely home. If only it were that simple. Everyone is starving, the Star Nav is broken, the neighbors are distinctly unfriendly, and is was a really, really bad idea to stop at the Death Banana to ask for directions. Will our heroes ever find their way home? And, most importany, will the Lost Nuts of Legend make it with them?
An elite crew of furry animals is celebrating the discovery of the Lost Nuts of Legend. Now all they have to do is bring this mythical snack safely home. If only it were that simple. Everyone is starving, the Star Nav is broken, the neighbors are distinctly unfriendly, and is was a really, really bad idea to stop at the Death Banana to ask for directions. Will our heroes ever find their way home? And, most importany, will the Lost Nuts of Legend make it with them?
December 17, 2014
Was recommended this, I think in an end of year book list, but wouldn't rate it that high.
Picture book about animals returning in a space ship from finding "The lost nuts of legend", and are on their way home. They get lost with no food and have to ask the way home.
A take-off of Star Wars with some wacky humour thrown in.
Text too small and pictures too busy to use at storytimes.
For an older reader.
Picture book about animals returning in a space ship from finding "The lost nuts of legend", and are on their way home. They get lost with no food and have to ask the way home.
A take-off of Star Wars with some wacky humour thrown in.
Text too small and pictures too busy to use at storytimes.
For an older reader.
June 7, 2015
Tricky to review and rate. Aimed at K-3 crowd, it is really takes a lot of "bubble" reading and some knowledge of Star Wars and Star Trek to get the most out of the story...so 3 stars for the kids and 4 stars for the adults. Captain Moose and his crew have found the legendary Lost Nuts of Legend and are trying to get home with them but they run out of food and get lost besides. You and the kids could read this every night for a week and not catch all the plot points. Just plain silly stuff.
October 6, 2015
A crew of animals celebrates their discovery of the Lost Nuts of Legend and now they must bring the mythical snack home safe and sound. When the Star Nav breaks down neighbors are very unfriendly and everyone is hungry. This book is about the adventure the animals embark on to find their way home with the Lost Nuts of Legend. I just thought this book was ok. The book could not keep my interest or attention. This book might be better suited for boys to read.
October 13, 2015
The zany story of a crew of woodland creatures returning home from an epic quest for the Lost Nuts of Legend. This silly caper is full of Star Trek and Star Wars references and lots of small jokes in the detailed illustrations. The large format gives plenty of room for an expressive cast of characters in an expansive setting as the urge to snack on the legendary nuts grows irresistible. A fun pick for individual reading. Recommended.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews