The Spaceman by Randy Cecil (review)

Reviewed by: The Spaceman by Randy Cecil Natalie Berglind Cecil, Randy The Spaceman; written and illus. by Randy Cecil. Candlewick, 2024 40p Trade ed. ISBN 9781536226164 17. 99 Reviewed from digital galleys R 5-8 yrs In this quiet picture book, our narrator is a tiny, planet-hopping Spaceman devoted to his job, picking up his soil samples and then taking off for his next intergalactic stop. He's used to the monotony of the grind, so when he sees an unexpectedly beautiful flower one day on Earth, he's stunned; unfortunately, while he's distracted, a huge bird flies off with his spaceship. The Spaceman pursues his ship, stopping in wonder to admire the planets' plant and bug life. The planet isn't without its perils—like a dog, "a hideous beast, all covered in fur" that pursues him with its wagging tail—but the Spaceman comes around to find it "a little unrefined perhaps, but charming nonetheless. " When the Spaceman does locate his spaceship high up in a tree, he has an important choice to make about whether to stay on this planet forever with his new, slobbery friend or resume his boring job. 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 vocabulary gives readers a chance to flex their growing reading muscles, and kids with a willingness to consult a dictionary or get an adult's assistance will find this wondrous tale to be well worth the effort. Copyright © 2024 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois