The Spaceman

A quirky, original picture book.

Humorous, poignant, and oh-so-satisfying.

The soft palette, in apt greens and blues, reinforces the charm of the bucolic landscape.

Exiting its spaceship, the itinerant spaceman of this picture book's title immediately deems this latest stop on a soil-collection tour to be "a rather ordinary planet." But as the being loses its spacecraft and the story unfolds, first-person narration and close-hatched illustrations by Cecil (Douglas)--whose oil brushstrokes imbue every object with remarkable depth--show readers that not only has the orange, space-suited figure arrived on Earth, but also that it is diminutive compared to the planet's insects and flowers. Alarmed at first, the spaceman takes a multi-page, aerial tour via butterfly and is filled with wonder; its once world(s)-weary face, which features a hairless head and googly eyes, now wears an expression of unadulterated happiness. Befriended by a slobber-happy pooch, the character realizes, "What a surprise it was to hear myself laughing. To find myself playing. What a joy to simply sit together enjoying the gentle breeze." Responsibilities on other planets await--but what if leaving this paradise were to become impossible? With its openhearted protagonist and self-affirming ending, this sojourn celebrates the profound joy that comes with finally finding where one belongs. Ages 3-7. (Apr.)

Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

"Written from the spaceman's viewpoint, the narrative flows well from one discovery to the next. In Cecil's oil paintings, the colors become clearer and brighter as the story progresses, and so does the story's tone. Like the lovable spaceman himself, this is one of those quirky, original picture books that appeal to many adults as well as children. . . . A quirky, original picture book." —Booklist (starred review)

"This story ticks all the boxes. Clever narrative that humorously mimics 19th-century travelogues, check. Engaging illustrations that enrich and amplify, check. Endearing characters, double-check. . . . Humorous, poignant, and oh-so-satisfying." —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"With its openhearted protagonist and self-affirming ending, this sojourn celebrates the profound joy that comes with finally finding where one belongs." —Publishers Weekly

"The Spaceman is adorably orange, bald, and Muppet-like in his little spacesuit, and simple, smudged outlines for the hills, stars, and plants allow Cecil's oil illustrations to shine in all their textures. There's plenty of clever humor to be found in the Spaceman's dry, absurdly technical descriptions of our planet, and the premise encourages youngsters to reflect on everyday aspects of nature that are often taken for granted." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books