Astronuts Mission Two: The Water Planet - by Jon Scieszka (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Now in paperback! The second book in the laugh-out-loud series by children's literature legend Jon Scieszka.

"[I]n true Scieszka style, the majority of the book is a joyful exploration of what he does best--make the known seem absurd and the absurd seem perfectly reasonable. A funny, ridiculous journey into space infused with a thoughtful ecological message." --School Library Journal

AstroWolf, LaserShark, SmartHawk, and StinkBug are ready for a new mission to find a planet fit for human life after we've finally made Earth unlivable. When they splash-land on the Water Planet, they find power-hungry clams, a rebellious underwater force, and a world full of too-good-to-be-true. Can this aquatic world really be humans' new home? And why are these clams so eager to swap planets?

The AstroNuts series continues "with all the same punchy puns and visual panache as its predecessor. Scieszka skillfully weaves facts about climate change and environmental and social commentary into his jet-propelled zaniness, bringing a subtle undercurrent of relevance into a seemingly goofy tale. . . . A high energy follow-up proving silly can still be smart." --Kirkus Reviews

POPULAR SERIES: The AstroNuts Mission series has taken off with starred reviews and lots of love for the first two titles. These books are LOL funny and will delight kids who gobble up series like The Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The 39-Story Treehouse, Big Nate, Dog Man, and Captain Underpants.

FUN AND SCIENTIFIC: Each book incorporates STEM elements in an entertaining way, and readers will recognize quite a few dilemmas the AstroNuts face from current events on Earth. Teachers and librarians love them as much as kids do. Space, science, and talking animals: There's something here for everyone!

GREAT FOR RELUCTANT READERS: Featuring cool topics and bright art, and relying on visual literacy and minimal text, this is a quick, easy, and fun read.

BELOVED AUTHOR: Jon Scieszka is the author of many bestselling children's books, including The True Story of the Three Little Pigs! and The Stinky Cheese Man. He was the first National Ambassador of Young People's Literature and is a passionate reading advocate.

Perfect for:

• Kids ages 8-12
• Readers seeking fun elementary school chapter book series
• Family and classroom read-aloud
• Parents, grandparents, teachers, librarians, and educators looking to introduce STEM and environmental topics to children
• Fans of Jon Scieszka
• Readers who love series like Dog Man, Big Nate, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and Captain Underpants

Review Quotes

"Graphs, anatomy charts, and infographics give the pictures and text a tongue-in-cheek gravitas that will have delighted readers returning for more. Weinberg's use of collage is charming. . . [I]n true Scieszka style, the majority of the book is a joyful exploration of what he does best--make the known seem absurd and the absurd seem perfectly reasonable. A funny, ridiculous journey into space infused with a thoughtful ecological message."--School Library Journal

"The lovable aerospace animal assemblage returns in search of another hospitable planet for Earth's inhabitants. . . . [Astronuts Mission Two] continues with all the same punchy puns and visual panache as its predecessor. Scieszka skillfully weaves in facts about climate change and environmental and social commentary into his jet-propelled zaniness, bringing a subtle undercurrent of relevance into a seemingly goofy tale. With its now-familiar collages utilizing a dazzling psychedelic array of color, the series will delight fans, although this volume is a fine jumping-in point for new readers as well. A high energy follow-up proving silly can still be smart."--Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Steven Weinberg writes and illustrates kids' books about dinosaurs, roller coasters, beards, and chainsaws. He lives in the Catskills in New York.