Book review: A Day in the Life of an Astronaut, Mars, and the Distant Stars, by Mike Barfield, illustrated by Jess Bradley

Barfield, Mike. A Day in the Life of an Astronaut, Mars, and the Distant Stars. Illustrated by Jess Bradley. Aladdin, 2023. $16.99. ISBN 9781534489219. 120 pgs. Ages 9-12. P9Q9

Open this graphic non-fiction book and plunge into a trip across the galaxy! Full of comic style graphics, this book does not have to be read from the beginning. Instead, one can open to any page and dig in! The book is split into three sections: The Solar System, Outer Space, and Space Travel, and all sections contain facts from anthropomorphic space items.There are ‘secret diary’ entries from things like the sun, a hairy star (Halley’s Comet), a space monkey and more. Another recurring entry is the “A Day in the Life of” featuring all sorts of things including a black hole, the golden record onboard NASA’s Voyager 1 space probe, and many other interesting items. The targeted audience will especially appreciate the spotlight on space poo!

Verdict: A must for both the library and the classroom. This book can be used as a resource full of facts on space, and also an enjoyable book to browse through for hours. Students will appreciate the humor and cartoon characters, and teachers will appreciate the tons of facts to learn.

Review by Denyse Marsh.