Astro Girl by Ken Wilson-Max

Astro Girl by Ken Wilson-Max

Review Copy from Candlewick Press

Astro Girl begins, "Astrid had loved the stars and space ever since sh could remember," and we see a little girl peering out her window, into the night sky with a telescope. Gazing up at the sky with her best friend, she promises to bring him an asteroid when she is an astronaut.

Astrid's father tells her all the things she will need to know and do if she becomes an astronaut, from eating food out of a tube or package, to getting used to zero gravity and falling asleep on her own among the stars. As they bake rocket shaped cookies together, Astrid assures her father she can do all of those things. As Astro Girl comes to a close, Astrid puts on her favorite space t-shirt - at last it is time to go get mama.

And here Wilson-Max gives readers a stellar surprise, turning this already unique and diverse book into a true standout - Astrid and her Dad are headed to the space center where her mother has just returned from a space mission! Not only has Wilson-Max written and illustrated a book with characters of color and with a dad who is a nurturing primary caregiver, he also shows readers a woman - and a woman of color - astronaut! Two pages of back matter include recap what Astrid learns about being an astronaut and introduces readers to five women astronauts.

Astro Girl isn't just a book about a child dreaming about what she wants to be when she grows up, it's about a child wanting to be what she sees. I am grateful to Ken Wilson-Max for giving all the children who read his marvelous book the chance to see what they can be!

Pair Astro Girl with Mae Among the Stars

Written by Roda Ahmed and illustrated by Stasia Burrington, this picture book biography introduces readers to young Mae Jemison, her dreams of becoming an astronaut and some of the challenges she faced.