Illustrated in full color. Inspired by a description of astronauts asleep aboard the Space Shuttle, Astronauts are Sleeping is a bedtime book that is at once a reverie and a visual tour de force. A bright, eager voice describes three sleeping astronauts whizzing around the earth in a space capsule and asks the thought-provoking question "What do the astronauts see in their dreams?" Magnificent pastels by Allen Garns show planets that are breathtaking, astronauts who are alive, and a galaxy that is lush, deeply textured, and beautiful to look at. And happily, readers do discover what the astronauts are seeing in their dreams: they are seeing their homes on earth and memories of their happy childhoods.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Glowing planets suspended against the dark night skies of deep space set the stage for this dreamy picture book. In hushed, poetic phrases, Standiford (The Bravest Dog Ever: The Story of Balto) muses on what a trio of astronauts might see in their dreams ("Are they dreaming of the stars,/ Monstrous fires in blackest ink/ Clustered into galaxies?"), settling finally on visions of their childhoods on earth-a day at the beach, a walk in the woods, a snack by the fire as snow falls outside the window. The tranquil cadences of the elegant prose cast a hypnotic spell ("The whirling planets spin and hum/ And rock the astronauts to sleep"); coupled with the luminous pastels, the result is magical. Garns (Gonna Sing My Head Off!) makes exceptional use of space, and his generous, uncluttered sweeps of color and light have the effect of making the pages seem larger than they are. In one scene, the astronauts float beneath a trio of planetary orbs while stars twinkle in the distance; the depth of field is extraordinary, and gives readers the feeling that they, too, are drifting through the night. A stellar send-off for the slumber-bound. Ages 3-7.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From School Library Journal
Grade 1-3-Standiford speculates, poetically, about what astronauts dream as they float in orbit: of "...stars-/Monstrous fires in blackest ink/Clustered into galaxies?/Do they dream of dusty Mars,/Where the sun sets blue and skies are pink?" No, she suggests-they dream instead of sunny beaches, misty woods, "Bread dough rising, smells of yeast,/A crackling fire perfumed with pine," and other comforting, Earthly things. Though Garns's impressionistic, spread-filling art interprets the text but loosely-Saturn sports fewer than "seven rings," and rather than "blackest ink," space is a melange of blues and purples-its soft-edged figures and muted light complement the relaxing bedtime cadences perfectly.
John Peters, New York Public Library
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
John Peters, New York Public Library
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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More About the Author
Natalie Standiford was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, but now lives in New York City. She plays bass in the rock bands Tiger Beat (featuring fellow YA writers Libba Bray, Dan Ehrenhaft, and Barney Miller) and Ruffian. Find out more at her web site: www.nataliestandiford.com.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Whimsical and Compelling,
By A Customer
This review is from: Astronauts Are Sleeping (Hardcover)
Finding the right book for children can be a thankless task. Fortunately, the author's fine sense of imagery and subtlety make this a delight for children as well as parents. An antidote to the mindlessness of many children's books, Astronauts are Sleeping mixes the dreaminess of Pink Floyd with the resonant images of Dylan. Highly recommended.
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