Astronaut Training

by Aneta Cruz, Olivia Aserr (Illustrator)

When Astrid's first space mission goes disastrously wrong, she realizes she needs a bit more training than she thought!Astrid is training to go to space! But as she builds her shuttle, cooks astronaut food, and practices floating in zero gravity, Dad tells Astrid that the ship's construction is too dangerous, she's too little to cook alone, and she's not allowed to flood the bathroom. That night, when Astrid dreams she's an astronaut, the challenges she encounters are overwhelming. Astrid realizes she isn't as ready as she thought. Back on Earth, Astrid turns to her loving and supportive Dad, who helps Astrid continue her astronaut training.

Genres: Picture Books, Space, Childrens, Family, Stem, Juvenile, Science

34 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 8, 2020

Reviews

[Lydia Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great children's book about having a goal and following your dreams. Her dad was there to help her continue following her dreams. Great parenting. I am going to donate this great book to my local library where they have children's reading programs. I highly recommend.

[Miranda Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Astrid's dream was to be an astronaut. At playtime she built a spaceship. At dinnertime she made astronaut food.

Astrid is ready to go to space but she needs to make sure she's ready for all the challenges.

Turns out that building a spaceship in the backyard and using the blender to make space food can be more dangerous and messy than she initially expected.

That night, she talked with her father about her missions and training, and he suggests that her very next mission should be getting a good night's sleep. Very reluctantly, Astrid acquiesces.

"the stars outside her window appeared. She chose the biggest one, made a wish, and...Astrid was an astronaut!"

And so begins her greatest mission yet!

This was a lovely father-daughter story!

The beginning of the story was pure childhood chaos - I loved Astrid's determined expression in contrast to the full-body panic her poor father was experiencing!

Then the middle of the story - where Astrid got to meet and work with the aliens was rather fun. I liked seeing her trying to problem solve and figure out how she can help despite the vast difference in size between her and the aliens.

And the end of the story - I won't give it away but I liked Astrid's compromise and how the characters fit together.

The color palette was quite nice in this one - I love a space-y color scheme and this one did not disappoint.

Overall, this was a rather pleasant book to read!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Astrid dreams of being an Astronaut. She built a spaceship at playtime, made astronaut food and floated in her bath, at bedtime she counted as many stars as she could, but her father told her she had to go to sleep, so she wished on the biggest star and . . dreamed she traveled to a planet where everything was big - too big to do the things she loves, build a spaceship, make food and float in the tub, so she makes another wish on the smallest star, and this time everything on the planet is too small - can Astrid find the place that's just right?

Astronaut training was a delightful story! Aserr's illustrations of the other worlds were whimsical - the stuff dreams are made of. AJ loved predicting what would happen in each place, and she loved the repetition. We also loved that Astrid's father learned a lesson as well. A great bedtime read.

Cross posted to http://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com

[Morgan Tate · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustrations in this book are some my favorite I have seen in this class. They page has a beautiful color page that could really tell the story of Astrid and her astronaut adventures on its own. I love that there is not a single white space on any page think it helps to illustrate the vastness of space. There this a lot that is told through the pictures that I not mentioned in the words, like the frustration of her father as she makes a mess trying to be an astronaut. I also feel like this book does a good job representing facial expression that perfectly describe how the character is feeling without having to say it. But my favorite thing of all is the little turtle you can see follow Astrid throughout the story from her first picture drew to the bathtub and even when in the end her father and her are looking at the star. Overall, I think the illustration are very well done in this book making it engaging and playful read. Definitely would be a Caldecott contender for me.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic copy from Boyds Mills Press through Edelweiss+.
Astrid wants to be an astronaut. Everything she does is connected to this dream. She builds a spaceship; she makes astronaut food; she practices floating in the tub, and she counts the stars. Then she dreams of an adventure traveling to planets that are too big and too small. Throughout the story readers see her dad encouraging and helping her learn. Together, they build a more sturdy spaceship and make astronaut meals. He helps her float and counts the stars with her until she drifts off to sleep to dream again. The text is geared toward elementary level readers and they will be able to read this book themselves or as a read together story.
Charming illustrations help bring the story to life.

[Ariana Bollas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a young girl named Astrid that wants to be an astronaut. In the story she tries to train to become an astronaut but she gets things all wrong, her dad tells her to get some sleep and in her dreams she goes to worlds where things are either too big or too small, she wants to come back to where things are just right. She wakes up and asked her dad to help her with her missions. They work together and Astrid understands that she needs more training to become an astronaut. The theme of this book would be about determination and not giving up. I chose this book because it gives children a sense of how their dreams can become true.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Astrid loves all things about space and dreams of being an astronaut. Her daily activities allow her dream to grow as she begins exploration of things astronauts eat, build, and do, but she is too little for her to do this on her own. The father daughter relationship in this picture book is adorable and fun and worth sharing! I love stories like this one and know there are others who will, as well. The illustrations are bright, fun, and support the loving relationship of this parent and his child.

[Darlene Ivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Astrid wants to be an astronaut when she grows up and now spends her waking hours living that dream with a self-made spaceship, homemade astronaut food, and bath time floating in "space". In her dreams, she goes into space, but everything is all wrong. She is too small or too big for the new planets she visits and it isn't until she returns to Earth and works with her father that her dreams become real. Goldilocks visits space, with a father that helps her make it just right.

[FM Family · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 4.5 year old really enjoyed this one which was a surprise since I don't typically think of her as being super into Space. Kind of a Gulliver's Travels story of a little girl exploring space in her imagination (for real?) and coming back to earth to keep learning more. Nice single dad story with an emphasis on learning and exploration. The illustration style wasn't really for me, but my kid liked it a lot overall.

[Addie Spike · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. I loved how the main character is a young black girl with a single father. The author does a good job inspiring children to follow their dreams and make their dreams a reality. The illustrations are engaging and colorful.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An adorable story of a girl who longs to be an astronaut and spends all her time training. When she visits two different planets in her dreams, she realizes she's not quite ready to be an astronaut yet.

[Riley Gullett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and the story that went along. Great for kids and also to encourage relationships with parens/guardians! I love the story was predictable in a way but also you didn't know exactly what was going to occur. The pictures and illustrations were very well thought out

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little girl with a supportive dad dreams of and prepares for a career in space exploration.

[Cheryl Olivera · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very enjoyable. Great for children with big dreams. Illustrations are very colorful and bright. A cute little story, that is out of this world fun.

[Lisa Schmid · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated story about following your dreams no matter how big or out of this world!

[Wanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful. Thanks

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imaginative story, colorful illustrations, great for a space-themed storytime.

[wildct2003 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story

[Lori Tart · Rating 5 out of 5]

For all little one who dream big and for all of the parents who love and support them. Aneta Cruz has captured that journey in this wonderfully written and illustrated picture book.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars for this obsessed about space story

[Tory · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an adorable space-themed take on Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

[Alana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daughters second Blind Date with a book pick. Super cute book. We are loving all things science and exploration these days.

[Ashley Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing can keep Astrid from reaching for the stars! This determined young lady is always in training- with a little help from her dad, of course.

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about a father and his daughter who wants to be an astronaut.

[Y.Poston]

an inventive story of space exploration

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute art (style obvious from the cover), a great story about imagination and a dash of reality

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS IS SOOOOOOO FREAKING CUTE OMG!! I love the artwork, I love the story. ALSO you can't name your child Astrid and NOT expect her to be an astronaut