FUTURE ASTRONAUT

This board book makes tongue-in-cheek comparisons between an astronaut’s special skill set and a growing baby’s.

“Ground control to Major Baby: / Could you be an astronaut?” As this board book lays out the parallels between an astronaut and a baby, the answer seems to be, “Yes!” Even though all of the comparisons aren’t exact, of course, they are adorable and sure to elicit a smile. The text “Astronauts need healthy hearts, good eyes, and strong teeth. / Baby’s heart and eyes and tooth are in tip-top shape” is accompanied by a picture of an astronaut of color and a white baby with one prominent tooth, each receiving a thorough checkup. Both have specialized swim gear, work in small spaces, and speak several languages—all jokes that older children and parents will enjoy. All of the children and astronauts are diverse: refreshingly neither majority white-presenting nor majority male-presenting. Black’s illustrations echo an animation aesthetic. The people have large eyes, the colors are bold, and the pages are uncluttered. Though babies aren’t quite ready to blast off and leave their families behind, the story ends with a lovely picture of a sleeping baby dreaming of the “journey ahead.” The last two pages offer “Fun Facts” about astronauts that, while certainly interesting, are arguably appropriate only for readers outside the book’s target audience.

Inclusive characters and appealing illustrations make this a fun and factual trip to space.