Pop-Up and Play: Spaceship - by Joalda Morancy & Neon Squid (Board Book)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

From the mind of rocket scientist Joalda Morancy comes this out-of-this-world carousel pop-up book, which unfolds to create a futuristic spaceship--perfect for young space fans!

Open Pop-Up and Play: Spaceship to reveal four quadrants showing different parts of the spaceship, with interactive elements in each one:

Quadrant 1: The flight deck--with a moving window of the universe, astronauts popping out of airlocks and a secret cupboard full of alien specimens that wriggle with a twist of a wheel

Quadrant 2: The living quarters--with a canteen, a gym with an astronaut that runs along a moving treadmill, cryogenic sleeping chambers, and astronauts on the toilet!

Quadrant 3: The workshop--featuring a 3D space rover, a greenhouse, and a wheel that you turn to make astronauts float past the window

Quadrant 4: Touchdown on an alien planet--a dramatic final scene of the spaceship landing on a planet, astronauts exploring outside and moving shooting stars

This unique pop-up book has been created by Joalda Morancy, a rocket scientist who has worked on a lunar lander that will take the NASA Artemis astronauts to the surface of the moon, alongside paper engineer Renee Jablow and award-winning illustrator Paul Boston.

The book is designed to encourage imaginative play, and everything is based on real science. So, when they're not peering into a space toilet, kids will also be learning about STEM topics such as why astronauts need to exercise in zero-gravity conditions, how plants will need to be grown to feed crews on intergalactic missions, and why aliens are probably more common in the universe than we think.

So what are you waiting for? Lift-off is in 3, 2, 1...

About the Author

Joalda Morancy is a rocket scientist and science communicator. They currently work as an Avionics Systems Test Engineer at Blue Origin working to build a permanent human presence on the Moon. They graduated from the University of Chicago with a degree in Astrophysics and are also pursuing a doctoral degree in spacecraft controls at the University of Washington. Joalda is the author of two previous books for Neon Squid: Aliens and How to Survive on the Moon. Joalda is passionate about doing science communication with the general public, especially with younger kids. Coming from a marginalized background has inspired them to help those with similar stories who are interested in STEM.

Renee Jablow is a paper engineer based in Los Angeles who creates pop-up and novelty paper designs. Her paper engineering career began as a young child, taking apart envelopes, paper bags, and milk cartons. She has paper engineered more than seventy children's books, including designing paper models for Harry Potter, Star Wars and Game of Thrones.

Paul Boston is an award-winning children's illustrator who studied illustration and sequential design at Brighton University in the UK. Paul lists his inspirations as 1950's children's books, antique maps and diagrams, 17th Century engravings, gothic art and Japanese prints; to name just a few! Paul's fun and playful style has a wide appeal and has been commissioned across the whole spectrum of publishing including activity books, educational titles, and picture books.