Overview

Lovingly illustrated, this wry and gentle fantasy will speak to adults as well as children—and cast the familiar in an astonishing new light. A tiny Spaceman arrives on a new planet, ready to perform his monotonous tasks—collecting samples, labeling and filing them, and moving on to the next planet. But pausing to look around, the Spaceman is dazzled by the beauty of his surroundings. And when a large bird makes off with his ship, he’s forced to venture out into this new world—planet Earth—on foot. Marveling at a varied landscape of flowers, butterflies, and other wondrous creatures, he finds a pond to float in and a goofy, slobbery beast who seems to want to be his friend. Could it be that the Spaceman has found a new home? This simple and sophisticated story filled with deadpan humor offers surprises on each lively spread. From a veteran creator comes a delightfully droll story radiating warmth and the wonder of the new, reminding us to look up from our mundane lives and embrace discovery.

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9781536226164

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Reviews

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

Author Information

Randy Cecil is the author-illustrator of Douglas, Duck, and many other highly acclaimed picture books. He is also the illustrator of James Howe’s Brontorina and Tyrone O’Saurus Dreams; Elizabeth Bluemle’s How Do You Wokka-Wokka? and My Father the Dog; Barbara Joosse’s Girl and Dragon series, and numerous other books for young readers. He lives in Texas.

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