Mousetronaut Goes to Mars

by Mark Kelly, C. F. Payne (Illustrator)

Overview

Meteor the mousetronaut returns to outer space in this exciting story from #1 New York Times bestselling author and retired NASA astronaut Commander Mark Kelly and renowned illustrator C.F. Payne.

3-2-1…blast off! The smallest member of the team, a mouse named Meteor, is back on board and ready to come to the rescue on an interplanetary adventure! With lively illustrations by award-winning artist C.F. Payne, this charming new mousetronaut adventure will inspire imaginations of all sizes! Includes detailed scientific back matter.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781442484269
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
Publication date:	10/01/2013
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	165,383
Product dimensions:	9.90(w) x 10.20(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD620L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Mark Kelly is a retired astronaut and US Navy Captain. He flew his first of four missions in 2001 aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour, the same space shuttle that he commanded on its final flight in May 2011.

C.F. Payne has illustrated more than a dozen picture books, including the Texas Bluebonnet winner Shoeless Joe & Black Betsy and Turkey Bowl, both written by Phil Bildner. He also illustrated the New York Times bestsellers The Remarkable Farkle McBride and Micawber, both by John Lithgow. He teaches at the Columbus College of Design, where he is the chair of the Illustration Department. C.F. Payne lives with his wife and children in Cincinnati, Ohio. Visit him at CFPayne.com.

Editorial Reviews

Astronaut Mark Kelly who wrote Mousetronaut continues the story about Meteor, an astronaut who is a mouse. In this adventure, Meteor goes on a mission to explore the red planet, Mars. He prepares for the important event by observing the astronauts as they study and plan for the flight. Meteor exercises along with the astronauts to stay physically fit. When the day arrives to announce the crew for the mission, Meteor was not on the list. However, this clever mouse is determined to participate in the mission and he finds a way to stow away on the Galaxy. Once the rocket reached Mars, the astronauts are faced with equipment problems and Meteor is ready to help save the mission. Illustrations fill the pages with Meteor’s efforts in preparing for the event and saving the day with his heroic work. Some children may find the afterword pages to be interesting because the information covers details about the planet Mars and space exploration. Reviewer: Carrie Hane Hung AGERANGE: Ages 4 to 8.

Children's Literature - Carrie Hane Hung

2013-09-15
When NASA announces the crew of the upcoming Mars mission, Meteor the Mousetronaut is, shockingly, not on the list. No matter; the little mouse isn't about to let his training go to waste. He packs his spacesuit and stows away on the Galaxy, floating out to scavenge crumbs while the human crew sleeps. After six months, the Galaxy reaches Mars orbit--but one of the landing craft's engines fails, and the remaining one isn't strong enough to transport even one human. Meteor volunteers for duty and, equipped with a tiny American flag, descends to the Red Planet to gather rock samples. Six months later, he returns to Earth to be welcomed as a hero with the other astronauts. While this story inevitably lacks the freshness of Meteor's debut (Mousetronaut, 2012), Kelly's prose and storytelling have matured, and Meteor's enthusiasm is as infectious as ever. Payne's delightfully regular-looking, multiethnic and gender-inclusive crew displays the same winning combination of heroism and lumpiness (the mission commander has an endearingly potatolike face) that distinguished the first adventure. Perhaps what's most striking about this book, though, is the four-page afterword, in which Kelly summarizes the history of Mars exploration and discusses the potential for a real manned mission. His eloquence in advocating for a vigorous space program bespeaks both passion and experience. Rodent or no, Meteor sure is one heck of a space ambassador. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews