Mousetronaut Goes to Mars

K-Gr 3—Introduced in Mousetronaut (S & S, 2012), pint-size ace Meteor is back, secretly training for America's first human mission to Mars. When he doesn't make the crew list, he stows away and carefully stays hidden as he observes onboard life during the six-month journey to the red planet. Once in orbit, a failed engine means the landing will be scrubbed-the one remaining engine isn't strong enough to carry a human. That's when Meteor offers his small self as mission savior and becomes the first mouse on Mars. Payne's signature mixed-media artwork is realistic yet playful and gives readers a glimpse into space flight with excellent use of spreads. The themes of persistence and how immaterial one's size is are strongly present and will resonate with children. The four-page afterword discusses the history of Mars and mankind, what a flight to Mars would entail, and the benefits of space exploration, and offers details about the planet. While preschoolers will enjoy the tale, the afterword also makes this title perfect to share with primary-grade students in units on planets and space exploration.—Marge Loch-Wouters, La Crosse Public Library, WI