Review: Ratonauta

Ratonauta (Mousetronaut — Spanish Language Edition)
Author: Mark Kelly (Astronaut)
Illustrator: C.F. Payne
Translator: Alexis Romay
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Kids
Ages 4-8

Inspired by the real-life story of a mouse aboard an Endeavor Shuttle flight, Astronaut Mark Kelly tells us the tale of Meteor, a brave little mouse who enjoys weightlessness and ensures that a mission is successfully carried out–using his size, or lack thereof, to save the day!

Elegantly translated by Alexis Romay, Ratonauta seizes upon the familiar “size isn’t everything” story, but launches the perspective in a unique setting — a space shuttle. In a breezy, matter-of-fact style, it teaches how the smallest among us can make large and important contributions.

Payne’s illustrations bridge life-like and cartoon styles giving sufficient details so that kids will feel like they are on a real-life space mission. Those that remember the old Johnny Quest cartoons will remember the style fondly.

Children will identify with Meteor’s perceived weaknesses as well as his strengths and will cheer his triumphs. Not surprisingly, the English version of the picturebook made it to #1 on the New York Times Best Sellers List.



Ratonauta (Support an Independent Bookstore)*
Ratonauta (Amazon)*

My thanks to Simon & Schuster Kids for providing a Review Copy of this book. All opinions provided herein are my own.

More books for this Age Group can be found here and here.

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