Two very different looks at visitors from other space for those budding sci fi fans.
The Spaceman, illustrated and written by Randy Cecil, published by Candlewick, ISBN: 9781536226164.
With his bug eyes and “whoa I cannot believe the wonders I am seeing” facial expressions, The Spaceman makes for one engaging protagonist. He lands on a planet (most likely Earth) on a mission to gather soil. It’s supposed to be a quick visit but chaos involving his rocket ensues, leading to a hilariously depicted chase. Along the way, this misadventure gives our titular hero a chance to take in his beautiful surroundings. Yes, things do not go as planned, but with enchanting encounters with refreshing water, lovely winged creatures (yay butterflies!), and a very very very very friendly pooch, the now-content Spaceman does not mind. Cecil’s book delights on so many levels. The first person narration grabs the reader right away. The Spaceman is diminutive, and Cecil has fun placing with scale, placing him next to flowers, bugs and the tongue-wagging dog that tower over him. Also, Cecil knows how to pace the action, whooshing the reader from one comical event to the next with grace and ease. And Cecil sticks the landing with an adorable ending that satisfies.
Viewfinder, created by Salwa Majoka and Christine D.U. Chung, published by Tundra, ISBN: 9780735268753.
At 144 pages, Viewfinder is not really a picture book. It’s a wordless graphic novel. But it goes so well as a companion piece to The Spaceman I had to pair the two. Viewfinder drops the reader into the world of a young space traveler who goes from planet to planet collecting gems. The character lands on a planet that seems to have been deserted. She discovers an object (which we will instantly recognize as one of those viewfinder toys) that shows her photos of the once vibrant life that existed, and this includes human life. As she moves from locale to locale, trying to figure out the planet’s mysteries (the illustrations effectively convey the blur of motion), the book casts a compelling spell on the reader. The work is sci fi, it’s a mystery, and it’s also surprisingly sweet–probably the cutest dystopia novel ever. And yet Chung and Majoka are not afraid to tap into the sadness of the situation. In a reassuring touch, the creators do manage to give those experiencing this adventure hope. It would make a terrific animated feature.
Mr. Brian's Picture Book Picks 