A Brave Spaceboy [Hardcover]

Dana Kessimakis Smith (Author), Laura Freeman (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Moving is scary, but not if you turn it into an adventure! A little boy and his even littler brother pretend their journey to a new home is a trip to Mars. They build a rocket ship, equipped with buttons and knobs, and bid farewell to their familiar surroundings. Of course, when you visit a new planet, you should expect to run into Martians! How will our brave astronauts deal with the strangers in their midst? All the opportunities for fun and fantasy are here, in a playful book that allows young tots to let their spirits soar.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Gr–Smith and Freeman, who previously collaborated on A Wild Cowboy (Hyperion, 2004), have created another tale that celebrates the power of imagination. After arriving at their destination on moving day, a boy and his younger sibling turn an empty box into a rocket ship and pretend to blast off. The story begins, "I am a boy, a brave spaceboy/I dream of exploring the stars/I'm fixin' up my rocket/so I can zoom to Mars." Together, they face the unknowns of a new place with the courage of astronauts embarking on a voyage to a new planet. Smith's rhythmic language contributes spirited movement to a tale that explores the ambivalent feelings that many children experience during relocation. Freeman's use of bold colors and textures, softened by the rounded shapes of the characters and background objects, adds a vibrant and warm dimension to the text. The illustrations show a mother and daughter arriving at the door with a pie, and the girl, at first shy, is gradually drawn into the game of pretend. By story's end, the young narrator has made a new friend. Featuring an Asian mother and an African-American father, the artwork depicts a diverse family. The harmony between the narrative and the artwork results in a delightful and enchanting book.–Rebecca Sheridan, Easttown Library & Information Center, Berwyn, PA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (April 11, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786809337
• ISBN-13: 978-0786809332
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 10.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,340,595 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun and make-believe in outerspace, November 5, 2005

By 

Rachel Mielke - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Brave Spaceboy (Hardcover)

Smith and Freeman's tale of a valiant spaceboy is witty and adequate for all ages. With just a glance at the text, one would assume that this youthful boy is roaming through space. Yet there is a deeper implication as. Moving day turns in to a magnificent voyage to Mars in a spaceship, in the full space attire, but his ship is a cardboard box and his helmet a metal strainer. When they arrive on Mars they discover an Alien on the red planet, a little girl in green on a red sofa. The pictures are so vibrant giving the readers a warm feeling. This extraordinary tale of make-believe is perfect for any child and for the child in all of the grown-ups too.

5.0 out of 5 stars (RAW Rating: 4.5) - New Adventures, August 17, 2005

By 

The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Brave Spaceboy (Hardcover)

A BRAVE SPACEBOY is a wonderful rhyming tale about a little boy who transforms his moving day into a great adventure. In a new house filled with boxes which need unpacking, he and a couple of his new neighbors decide to pretend they are going into outer space. With colanders and bowls for helmets and an empty box as a spaceship, the three children launch their great voyage into space. On the trip, they use other household items to leave footprints in space, collect artifacts, plant flags and take souvenir photos. Upon his return home, the brave spaceboy realizes that in addition to having fun, he has also made two new friends.

Dana Smith's playful, rhyming words paired with Laura Freeman's detailed and engaging illustrations make this book a real treat to read. A BRAVE SPACEBOY shows just how much fun children can have with ordinary kitchen items, a few empty boxes, and a little creativity. In this age of cable and satellite television, DVD's, video game consoles and the like, children rely on their imaginations less and less. This book re-affirms the simple things in life and will remind parents and teach children just how much fun a little innovation and imagination can be.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay (Children's Editor)
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

5.0 out of 5 stars A BRAVE SPACEBOY, August 16, 2005

By 

THOMAS BRENTT (LODI, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Brave Spaceboy (Hardcover)

I TRULY ENJOYED THIS BOOK AND MY GRANDCHILDREN WERE ENTHRALLED AND CAPTIVATIVED. I THINK DANA SMITH IS AN UNDISCOVERED GEM!! THE ILLUSTRATIONS ARE BEAUTIFULLY DONE. I GIVE THIS BOOK THE HIGHEST MARKS.