BABY ASTRONAUT

Toddlers learn about some of the aspects of being an astronaut.

Dressed in a jaunty red spacesuit and sporting two cute ponytails on either side of her round face, Baby Astronaut is ready for liftoff. Accompanying her on the space shuttle is a little owl. Once in space Baby Astronaut can see the moon, stars, Mars, Venus, and Earth. She also conducts some experiments: “Can plants grow in space? Yes! / Can ants live in space? Yes!” Young readers are also introduced to the concept of gravity at a very simple level. In companion title Baby Oceanographer, a baby with just a wisp of a brown curl dons a wetsuit and flippers to explore the ocean. This baby’s sidekick is a very expressive little red crab. Once in the ocean, Baby encounters a dolphin, an octopus, other marine life, and even a volcano. Readers are also introduced to waves and salinity: “Baby Oceanographer tests ocean water and fresh water. / Ocean water has salt. Fresh water has no salt.” Baby Astronaut has olive skin and black hair, and Baby Oceanographer presents white. The concepts in both books are presented simply, and the illustrations are uncluttered and engaging; such details as a mohawked comet and a yellow submersible add humor.

A cute infant-scientist offering that’s better tuned to its audience than many of its ilk.