A Brave Spaceboy - Hardcover

PreSchool-Gr–Smith and Freeman, who previously collaborated on A Wild Cowboy (Hyperion, 2004), have created another tale that celebrates the power of imagination. After arriving at their destination on moving day, a boy and his younger sibling turn an empty box into a rocket ship and pretend to blast off. The story begins, "I am a boy, a brave spaceboy/I dream of exploring the stars/I'm fixin' up my rocket/so I can zoom to Mars." Together, they face the unknowns of a new place with the courage of astronauts embarking on a voyage to a new planet. Smith's rhythmic language contributes spirited movement to a tale that explores the ambivalent feelings that many children experience during relocation. Freeman's use of bold colors and textures, softened by the rounded shapes of the characters and background objects, adds a vibrant and warm dimension to the text. The illustrations show a mother and daughter arriving at the door with a pie, and the girl, at first shy, is gradually drawn into the game of pretend. By story's end, the young narrator has made a new friend. Featuring an Asian mother and an African-American father, the artwork depicts a diverse family. The harmony between the narrative and the artwork results in a delightful and enchanting book.–Rebecca Sheridan, Easttown Library & Information Center, Berwyn, PA
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