Book Review: Astronaut Annie by Suzanne Slade, Nicole Tadgell

Astronaut Annie is a picturebook written by Suzanne Slade and illustrated by Nicole Tadgell. Career Day is approaching, and Annie can’t wait to show her family what she’s planning to be when she grows up. But, she must keep it a secret until Friday! So curious family members each ask Annie for a clue. Convinced that she’ll be a news reporter like he once was, Grandpop gives her his old camera and notebook to use for her presentation. Grandma is sure Annie wants to be a champion baker like her, so she offers a mixing bowl and oven mitts to Annie. Hopeful she'll become the mountain climber he aspired to be, Dad gives Annie an old backpack. Mom presents Annie with a pair of high-top sneakers to pursue Mom's favorite sport in high school -- basketball. Grateful for each gift, Annie cleverly finds a way to use them all to create her Career Day costume. When the big day arrives, Annie finally reveals her out-of-this-world dream to everyone.

Astronaut Annie is a picturebook that embraces and expresses the idea that you can be anything you want to be when you grow up. Anne has her  own dream, but has not shared it. I love the variety of options her family encourages her to follow, and hopes for her. I found the little hints (as if the title was not enough to give it away to readers) about what she really wants to be.The illustrations are lively, and add a great deal to the story.  I love that there are no limits placed on her, and while each of the people on her family have their own ideas of what her choice may be- they only offer support not pushes to follow the path they had in mind. I found the additional information in the endpapers about real women in NASA and the moon to be helpful for readers that are interested in learning about people and things involved in the dream of being and astronaut. I also liked that the sources and information for further research is also included.

Early Book Review: Zoo Scientists to the Rescue by Patricia Newman, Annie Crawley

Zoo Scientists to the Rescue, written by Patricia Newman and illustrated by Annie Crawley, is currently scheduled for release on October 1 2017. While the staff at zoos certainly do take care of animals and welcome visitors of all ages, that is not all they do. This book brings young readers behind the scenes at three zoos to meet scientists working to save endangered animals. Meredith Bastian's experiences studying wild orangutans help educate both zoo visitors and the zoo workers who care for captive orangutans. Jeff Baughman breeds black-footed ferrets and reintroduces them into the wild. And Rachel Santymire examines poop from black rhinoceroses at the zoo and in their natural habitat to benefit all black rhinos. Find out how zoo scientists are helping us learn more about these remarkable, at-risk species before it's too late!  

Zoo Scientists to the Rescue is a wonderful book to show young readers the complex and multilayered nature of working with animals. Scientists that work with zoos do so much more that feed lions and clean animal enclosures. Their work is helping the world understand animal biology, health, and behavior while working toward protecting them and conservation.  The text is informative and accessible, with full color photographs and bubbles of additional information that might inspire more interest or desire for further research in young readers. I think this book would be a great resource in school libraries, classrooms, and for interested young readers. I might just be buying my own paper copy for my animal loving daughter.