Space Boy

October 1, 2007
PreS-Gr 1-At bedtime, a noisy household and neighborhood prompt Nicholas to pack his lunch box, don his space suit, and launch himself in his rocket for a landing on the moon. Once there he eats his snack, cavorts on a moonwalk, and enjoys the blissful silence. After a while, he begins to think of home and returns to his spaceship, travels back to his house where all is now quiet, and tucks himself into bed. Simple lines and shapes become much more in the bright watercolor-and-pen paintings. Through varying perspectives and generous spreads, Landry makes the most of his diminutive astronaut set against the wide expanse of the yellow moon and the deep blue space background. Kids who love outer space and rockets will adore this quiet, imaginative adventure, and early readers can enjoy this tale on their own."Marge Loch-Wouters, Menasha Public Library, WI"

Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2007
Nicholas is ready for bed, but with the baby crying, the dog barking, and the radio blaring, he knows its too loud for sleeping. Instead, he packs a picnic, dons his space suit, slips outside to his backyard rocket ship, and blasts off for the moon. Appreciating the quiet there, Nicholas spreads his blanket and eats his picnic before flying home. This picture book offers plenty to enjoy, from Nicholas independence to the simplicity of the watercolor-and-pencil artwork. One incident on the moon is bit odd: The lack of gravity was a problem. The tomato slices rose softly into the atmosphere. They looked as big and round as the earth as they slowly floated away. Yes, this is a fantasy, but literal-minded children could be forming some very strange notions about the moon and its supposed lack of gravity, which lets the tomato slices float off into space, while the grapes remain on the blanket. Still, this is a lovely, childlike adventure for those willing to suspend not just disbelief but also the laws of physics.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)

September 1, 2007
Simple text and cheerful watercolors depict an imaginary nighttime adventure. With his baby sister crying, dog barking, and radio blaring, it is much too loud for Nicholas to go to bed. He decides instead to pack a healthy snack, put on his spacesuit, and head for the peace and quiet of the moon. A bouncy walk through dunes and craters and a satisfying picnic (watch out for floating tomatoes!) is just the thing, until the "beautiful blue earth" calls him home again. Lots of roundness, in circle-shaped illustrations as well as in objects and people, conveys the sense of comfort and calm in Nicholas's brief escape. Landry's pencil-and-watercolor art depicts moonscape and bedroom as equally cozy. The book combines a child's sensibility with a soft parental hand (not to mention soft science), creating a safe and happy space for bedtime.

(Copyright 2007 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)