AIKO AND THE PLANET OF DOGS

Space exploration gets wacky with an unexpected discovery.

Young astronaut Aiko lives by herself aboard Spaceship B-Troot; she travels the universe searching for life. When Aiko spots a new planet, she comes in for a landing. It’s a bumpy ride, but she makes it. She transfers to an octopuslike “exploratory capsule” to safely scope things out. At first, Aiko doesn’t see anything. But when she finds the perfect spot for a selfie and poses to take it, she accidentally falls from a cliff, and the capsule breaks. Alone, Aiko wanders until she gets lost, then falls asleep. The next day, she awakens, surrounded by a bevy of talking pooches—descendants of the “valiant astro-dogs sent into space by humans.” Aiko wants to rush back to Earth to share her discovery. The dogs, still understandably wary of humans, imprison Aiko. But when she proves that she’s trustworthy, they agree to let her go—and Aiko promises not to tell anyone about the planet of dogs. But, as the narrator asks, can readers keep the secret? This French import is a fun spin on what might have happened to real-life space dogs. Buoyed by whimsy and a distinct candy-color palette, Ellegaard’s cartoon illustrations mix full-page spreads and comiclike panels. Aiko, who has pale skin, is delightfully childlike in both appearance and action.

An imaginative treat for dogs and humans alike.