Astronaut Annie

by Suzanne Slade, Nicole Tadgell (Illustrator)

Career Day is approaching, and Annie can’t wait to show her family what she’s planning to be when she grows up. But, she must keep it a secret until Friday! So curious family members each ask Annie for a clue. Convinced that she’ll be a news reporter like he once was, Grandpop gives her his old camera and notebook to use for her presentation. Grandma is sure Annie wants to be a champion baker like her, so she offers a mixing bowl and oven mitts to Annie. Hopeful she'll become the mountain climber he aspired to be, Dad gives Annie an old backpack. Mom presents Annie with a pair of high-top sneakers to pursue Mom's favorite sport in high school — basketball.  

Grateful for each gift, Annie cleverly finds a way to use them all to create her Career Day costume. When the big day arrives, Annie finally reveals her out-of-this-world dream to everyone.

(Fountas Pinnell Level M)

Genres: Picture Books, Space, Childrens, Family, Fiction, Stem, Juvenile

36 pages, Hardcover

First published March 6, 2018

About the author

Sibert honoree author of more than 150 books for chlldren.

Reviews

[Bea · Rating 3 out of 5]

3. Stars Each page contains hints and references to Annie's dream. She showed good imagination and creativity in her project. I wish the book had hinted more at what Annie needs to do to make her dream come true but I love Annie's can-do attitude and the book's positive message. Nice mini resource page and bibliography at the back of the book.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this story. Annie has to do a presentation for Career Day. Each of her parents and grandparents ask her what her presentation is going to be about. She gives them a clue and they give her an item based upon what they think her choice will be. I like that the reader gets to guess along with the family (I know the title gives it away) but it is also fun to see how she uses each item they give her in her presentation. Of course this book is all about dreaming and reaching for those dreams. In a world where we are trying to encourage girls in math and science this is a great book. The back gives some basic details about four women that have been in space that were first in an area. There are also sources given to find out more about them. The illustrations are nice, colourful but not too much detail to distract from the topic being shown. I think this is a great book for family, school and class libraries. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title kind of gives it away.

Yes, Annie wants to be an astronaut, when she grows up, but shhh, don't tell her family, who don't seem to know, oddly. They know what is important to make an astronaut though, and they are very encouraging to her, to go for her dreams, even though they each think her dream is something else.

Her grandfather thinks she wants to be a photographer, and her grandmother thinks she wants to be a baker, etc.

It is important to be able to see yourself. Representation is important. It is important that a girl has this dream. It is important that a girl of color has this dream, and it is important that her family supports her in this dream.

Hopefully kids will get a kick out of this book, which has lovely illustrations, to boot.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like this book but at the same time, I find myself a little critical of it as well. Annie has career day coming up at school. She is not supposed to tell anyone what she has chosen, until it’s revealed at school. Each member of her family wants her to like doing what they do. In the end she used each item her family gave her to be who she really wants to be. The illustrations are great, but this is where I get critical. Shouldn’t her family already know what their little girl wants to be by the way her room is decorated? FYI - POC and female in the sciences.

[Nora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annie gave really hard clues.

[Amber Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Astronaut Annie is the story of a little girl getting ready for Career Day at school. In talking with the adults in her life to prepare, she begins to take a little bit from each of their careers in learning about her own. She takes story-telling, courage, flying and much more. She surprises her family by telling them she wants to be an astronaut. The end pages are wonderful, talking about women in science and space. It will be a great book to share with classes and children learning about space, impactful women, careers and much more.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Astronaut Annie is about a young girl named Annie who is preparing for Career Day at school. All week she offers hints to her family and friends about what she wants to be when she grows up. They all find out together on Career Day that Annie has chosen to be an Astronaut! This is a great inspirational story for young girls. I love that it includes nonfiction information at the end about women in space.

[Kareena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book! The way Annie takes parts of her life and family, and brings them all together into what she wants to be makes my heart so happy. Diverse read, girl power, UGH, so good! Also has notes about famous female astronauts in the back. A great addition to any collection.
Definitely going to use it for a summer storytime with older kids.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annie wants people to know what she’s choosing to do during career day. She’s planned by to be an astronaut.

[laurel [the suspected bibliophile] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annie has a secret that she's going to reveal to her family on Career Day. Her family seems to think that Annie wants to grow up to be just like them, but she had bigger plans in mind—much bigger.

Look, I'm not going to lie—the reveal is pretty obvious since it's in the title. "Astronaut" is right here. However, we adults need to realize that younger kids delight in the obvious and might not put the pieces together. Plus, representation matters. What little girl wouldn't want to see another girl in a book—who looks like them—being told that there are endless possibilities out there? Who doesn't want to go to space?

So, chuck the spoilery-title right out the window and delight in the repetitive and inspiring writing, and the illustrations that capture the Annie's mischievous and adventuresome spirit, and the love of her family. Point out the "little" clues she drops along the way (and c'mon, her parents obviously knew what she wanted to do something with space long before her reveal), between the planet pops cereal (delicious), emphasis on the moon, talking of exploration and bravery, and her room, and then go back and point out to your child all of the gifts from her family Annie assembles to build her dream.

Additionally, the back has miniature biographies of pioneering American women in space, and an easily accessible factoid about the moon.

Appropriate for children ages 3-6.

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I liked the idea that Annie, the book's protagonist, plans to be an astronaut--no surprise being given away since it's in the book title--it is a bit odd that her family seemed to have no idea of those ambitions. I would have thought it would be something they'd have at least had a hint about due to what she was probably reading and talking about. Nevertheless, the fact that they all are so supportive of her dreams runs through the story. Young readers will surely relate to hearing what their family members think they might be good at doing or possible future careers, usually related to their own, and even though Annie honors all of these suggestions, she still has her eyes firmly on the stars. It was a cool idea for the school to hold a Career Day like this one giving the students a chance to dress as they would if they were professionals and achieved their career goals. The final pages in which she has used every offering from her family to fashion her costume might make some older readers well up. There's nothing that can stop Annie from achieving her dreams. The illustrations feature smiling faces and supportive, caring family members having flashbacks to their own careers and hobbies. The back matter featuring photos and brief descriptions of four famous women with space careers holds value for anyone who doubts that Annie can make it or that a woman's place is not in space. This title might inspire other youngsters to set their eyes upward as well as considering careers that they had not considered before. Nowadays the sky is the limit for girls as this book shows.

[The Library Lady · Rating 2 out of 5]

I see where this is going. African American. Girl. STEM. Purposeful. Downright didactic.

Despite all that, this book could have been terrific even if you didn't give a hoot about purpose. There is a sweetness to the story, as Annie goes from family member to family member, who all proudly assume she will want to do the same things THEY do, and whose belongings Annie uses for her costume.The illustrations are unremarkable but pleasant.

But that all goes to hell in a hand basket before you even open the book, because the title is a clear giveaway. Do they expect the parents/teachers/librarians who will use this for their "Girls Can Be Anything" "Girls and STEM" "African American" themed lessons/story times to omit the title?

There's some nice stuff about women in space and about the moon at the end of the book though...

[Faten · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are times where we feel that reaching our aspirations may be impossible, but when you read Astronaut Annie it inspires you to never give up on your dream and embrace it, even if it can feel impossible at times. The book Astronaut Annie is about a young girl named Annie who has career day at school and was told to not tell anyone what her dream job is until the day of career day. Each family member of Annie’s has their own speculations that she wants to be just like them. However, Annie ends up surprising them with her dream to become an astronaut. I really love how the book captures Annies passion for exploring the unknown and I loved how the author portrays Annie’s ambitions in a relatable way, telling readers that anything can be achievable if you work for it.

Major themes in this book would be dreaming big and family support. Dreaming big would be a central theme as Annie has a dream to become an astronaut and even though it may not be a conventional choice for most, the book serves as a reminder that no matter what we dream of, with determination we can get it. It inspires young readers to believe in themselves. I said that family support is another theme as Annie’s family give her a couple of things from their own professions that they thought she had aspired to be and she ended up using every single one to create her astronaut costume, and despite the fact that her aspirations were different from theirs, the family ends up showing excitement whenever Annies shares her true dream. This highlights the importance of having others around you who support you and only lift you up.

The main genre of this book is Contemporary Realistic Fiction as it portrays a real life scenario where children have big dreams and aspirations for their futures, while also inspiring children to want to achieve their goals.

Through reading this book, children can learn the value of confidence and never giving up. Annie’s story teaches readers that it is okay to dream big and that if anything, one should be proud of their passions and aspirations even if they differ from what others think. It also emphasizes that one should believe in themselves and keep pushing towards their dreams so they could achieve it one day. Just because something may feel out of the ordinary or impossible, doesn’t mean that it isn’t achievable.

This was a WOW book for me because it tells such an important story and teaches us an empowering lesson in a simple yet inspiring way. It showcases how big dreams can start small and grow with confidence and encouragement. Annie’s determination for wanting to be an Astronaut was uplifting and the support from her family made the story very heartwarming,

Two writing craft techniques used in the book are dialogue and perspective.. The dialogue between Annie and her family adds warmth to the story, making it feel personal and relatable. It also helps to build anticipation for Annie’s final reveal of what her aspirations are. The use of Annie’s perspective immerses the readers into her journey, allowing them to understand her passion firsthand. Both techniques enhance the quality of the writing by creating a strong emotional connection with the audience.


I would consider this book to be an anti-bias book as it challenges traditional gender stereotypes by showing a young girl aspiring to be an astronaut which is a field that historically male dominated. The book celebrates diversity in ambition and encourages readers and it promotes inclusivity and the idea that anyone can achieve their dreams with just the right amount of determination no matter how big their dreams are.

Remember to dream big.

[Leah Cribbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Astronaut Annie was as engaging and as fun as reading a puzzle! Readers got to see how Annie incorporated a little piece of each family member into the big picture of her dream career. In this book, Annie must dress like her future career for career day at her school, and each of her family members thinks she will be dressing up like them. We see how both her parents and grandparents’ curiosity gets the better of them, with each one trying to get Annie to admit she will dress up as their career. Family was a very present theme in this book, as Annie eventually incorporates a little bit of each family member in her career from being bold and brave, exploring new places, and telling the world about her adventures. Following your dreams was also a theme as Annie ends up revealing she will be an astronaut for career day and pursues her dream in the end. The main genre of this book is contemporary realistic fiction, as it follows a fictional family and scenario, however both the family and career day story could have happened in real life. It is also a contemporary book as it was published within the past twenty years. Through reading this book, children could learn that their dreams can be achieved if they set their mind to it, and that you can learn a lot from your family members as each one brings a new perspective. Astronaut Annie was a WOW book for me because of the way the author’s writing revealed a little piece of the whole story at a time, allowing the reader to ask questions and wonder how it will all come together at the end.
Suzanne Slade used imagery to help the reader visualize the family’s reactions during the story, such as “Grandma’s cheeks grew as round as ripe red apples” or “Grandpa’s eyes sparkled as bright as the stars”. These similes help the reader picture just how happy Annie’s grandparents were that she incorporated a little piece of them during her presentation at school. The way in which the story was written by Annie keeping her true career a secret from her family enhanced the quality of the story by allowing the reader to know something the other characters in the book did not know. This allowed the readers to have an omniscient perspective and watch the raw character interactions. Astronaut Annie was an anti-bias book because it showed a little girl from an average, loving family showing her passion for a career and following through, becoming an astronaut. This could be a window book for some children but could also be a mirror book for many young girls who have similar aspirations but doubt their abilities.

[Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Space! Many of us have wanted to go beyond the stars as kids! So, does Annie from the Astronaut Annie book by Suzanna Slade.

In this book, you will read about a young girl named Annie, who aspires to be an astronaut. Annie sets her sights on the stars after learning about the wonders of the universe and developing a strong desire for space travel. The major themes in the book were curiosity, perseverance, and the value of following one's dreams. Examples include Annie's unwavering desire to become an astronaut, her natural curiosity about the universe, and the connections that she creates with loved ones and friends who share her goals. The main genre of this book is (Contemporary) Realistic Fiction. Children reading this book could learn about the wonders of space travel, the work of astronauts, and the strength of perseverance in accomplishing one's dreams. They might also develop a respect for science as a subject and be motivated to follow their own passions and dreams, no matter how high or difficult they may seem. This book was a WOW book for me because it inspires children to reach for the stars and pursue their dreams by displaying their spirit of ambition and curiosity.

Some of the literary devices the author used in writing this book were rhyme and rhythm, for example, to make reading the text enjoyable and entertaining. The author also uses onomatopoeia, like "whoosh" and "zoom", to convey the sounds of space travel and enhance the reader's comprehension of the story. Additionally, the repetition of phrases, like "blast off," emphasizes and reaffirms important themes of exploration and adventure. I would consider this book to be an anti-bias book because it denies gender stereotypes and inspires girls to pursue fields like space exploration and fields of science that are typically associated with boys. Annie is portrayed by the author as a strong, competent heroine who loves science and adventure. This portrayal encourages young readers of all genders to read with a more inclusive and empowering message.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interest Level: K-3; Reading Level: 2.2

@kidlitexchange #partner Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book - all opinions are my own.

Have you thought about what you want to be when you grow up? Well, Annie sure does and she out of this world dreams! Annie is so excited when her school announces that they are having a career day. She rushes home to tell her family. Everyone has an idea of what she can be based off of their experiences. She tells all of them that they will have to wait until Friday at career day to find out. Annie uses something special from each of her family members to create her costume. On the day of career day her family is so excited to see what she wants to become, using something from each of them to accomplish it.

This is such a precious book of family, encouragement, love, and ambition. This is a great read for kids to show them how great it is to have dreams and aspirations. When I read this aloud to my students I will cover up the title so that they will have to make predictions on what Annie wants to be. This is a must read!
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[Jana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a terrific picture book with a story that will be recognizable by all young readers. The young girl in the book, Annie, is super excited because of an upcoming Career Day at her school. As she shares this news with her family, each family member has very specific ideas about what her costume should be. I love the gracious way that Annie accepts each family members' props for her costume while holding firm in her mind how she wants to present her chosen future career. I also love all of the descriptive ways she talks about her future career. She is supposed to keep her choice secret until the school assembly at the end of the week, and so she give all kinds of clues and descriptions without coming right out and saying "I want to be an astronaut when I grow up." What a nice mentor text for descriptive writing! I also think this is a good book to share with young readers to help develop a growth mindset, relaying the message that kids can grow up to be whatever they wish. The book also has some good endnotes that include biographical information about several women astronauts, information about the moon cycles, and resources for further research, making it a good resource to have on the bookshelf.

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not many stories about career day at school, but this one is super-dee-duper!

Career Day is coming up soon at school and Annie can't wait to share what she wants to be when she grows up. She takes in suggestions from her family and rolls them all into what she wants to become. But, shhhh! It's a surprise until Friday....

Slade, a former real-life rocket scientist/engineer, has written an empowering story encouraging girls to persue a career in science. Annie is an integral part of her family and the love and support they give her is palatable. Backmatter includes four short bios highlighting famous women astronaut pioneers, a one page overview of the shapes of the moon as viewed from earth during its monthly orbit, source notes (and citations from internet sources), and a short bibliography of books and websites appropriate for this age group.

Nicole Tadgell's dreamy illustrations appear to have been rendered in pencil and watercolor. They are largely of a patel color palette, making them seem almost like an imagined scenario. They are full of life and action. Readers will want to stop and pour over the details in each image.

Great for Career Day, Women's studies, family stories, and recruitment for science.

Recommended for PreK-grade 5.

[Kadie Hayward Mullins · Rating 4 out of 5]

@kidlitexchange #partner

I think we spend entirely too much time talking about what we want to be rather than what we want to do. The tradition of career day certainly doesn’t help the efforts in changing that conversation but I unexpectedly found myself really enamored with Annie’s career day preparations. Conversations with her family about their careers provide a fun insight into what about their jobs they think Annie would like, though I agree with other reviewers that it is incredibly odd to me that her family doesn’t already know what she wants to be or is interested in. Let us all pretend they do know and are doing their part to help her ‘keep it a secret’ per the career day rules.

The inclusion of non-fiction, captivating stories of women of color in space is a wonderful addition. Though the number of quality children’s books featuring positive portrayals of children of color are increasing, finding these amazing gems is still incredibly valuable. Astronaut Annie did not disappoint in that respect. Representation matters!

Thank you for the @kidlitexchange network for providing a copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own. #kidlitexchange

[Jared White · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a truly beautiful book, both the story and the illustrations.

This is a book at our library and I read through it while on our Youth Services desk (always a dangerous proposition given my tendency to tear up while reading certain picture books). Well, I took the risk...and ended of a little teary eyed because of this one (it's fine as long as a customer doesn't need assistance in the midst of my teariness). The way Annie is able to incorporate a little piece of her parents and grandparents dreams into her own is splendid.

Also, hurrah for another great book featuring a person of color that's not about a historical event! Which the aforementioned are wonderful in their place but much harder to incorporate into general storytimes at the library and less likely to be checked out by patrons just wanting an everyday story.

Overall, a very positive book which features a strong family, a strong STEAM theme (she makes her own costume and wants to be an astronaut), and has a message about pursuing your dreams.

[寿理 宮本 · Rating 4 out of 5]

First thing: The book title is a spoiler. :(

Second thing: ...okay, it's a spoiler only in as far as Annie wants her family to guess what she wants to be when she grows up, and... we aren't given the same chance to guess. Instead, it comes across as her family not grasping that she has BIG dreams, not the somewhat modest ones they think of for her.

I mean, "Annie Reaches for the Stars" could have worked just as well AND given us a guessing game in the process. I don't know if this would have read the same, though, because at least *I* expected more direct astronaut discussion than what's in the story. (Admittedly, I don't know if I would have read it with as much interest, using my suggestion, but the guessing game would have been fun!)

I do like that she managed to incorporate all of her family's gifts in her final costume, though! Also, it does include a few blurbs at the end about actual women in space and aeronautics, at least. I don't hate the book, but for what it is, I think it could have been even better with just a tweak to the title.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Astronaut Annie by Suzanne Slade, illustrated by Nicole Tadgell. PICTURE BOOK. Tilbury House, 2018. $18. 9780884485230

EL (K-3), EL – ESSENTIAL.

A young girl is getting ready for Career Day at her school. Her teacher has told her to keep her dream a secret, but each of the important adults in her life give her something that is special to their lives that she incorporates into her own chosen career – astronaut.

I love so many things about this book. I love that the girl is African American. I love that she talks to her grandparents. I love that she can keep a secret and still incorporate the treasured offerings into her project. And I love that she is dreaming big! A great read aloud, a great discussion starter, a great example of how to approach career day – so many classroom uses.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...

[Richelle Zirkle · Rating 4 out of 5]

With Career Day coming up at school on Friday, Annie has to decide how she wants to dress up. Each of her grandparents and parents ask for a hint in an attempt to determine her decision . When she gives them a clue, they give her an item (shoes, backpack, mitts, etc.) that they think represents her choice. She incorporates the items in the reveal of her choice on Career Day.

I enjoyed getting to see the clues Annie provided even though the title was a giveaway. The illustrations were well done in a muted palette. Additionally, the last few pages focus on real women that have contributed greatly toward our nation's space goals. This title would be a good addition to a public or school library.

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Sonnet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a signed copy of this book from a giveaway.

I really enjoyed this book and plan to give it as a gift in the future. In the story, Annie has to dress up for Career Day as whatever she wants to be when she grows up. Along the way, she gets input from her parents and grandparents about different careers she could have. While all of the careers are good options, Annie wants to be an astronaut (spoilers! j/k) and explore space.

While I enjoyed the story and the illustrations, I absolutely LOVED the inclusion of real women astronauts at the end. Brief information about various women in the field, as well as resources for more information, really won my heart over. It was a perfect way to connect this story with learning more outside of the book.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annie is excited about giving a presentation for school about what she wants to be when she grows up. Each of her family members is excited as well because they think she's interested in being what they were such as a news reporter like Grandpop. Each family member gives her equipment to use for her presentation representing their own passions. What I especially enjoyed about this book is the creative way that Annie takes what her family gives her and uses it to create her own costume representing her own dream. I wish the title of the book was different though, it would have made the big reveal at the end all the more powerful. The title rather gives away Annie's plans. The story is a fun one about finding your own passions in life.

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

One thing I like about this book is the fact that as a reader, you know more than the characters in the book. We know that she wants to be an astronaut for "career day" but her family doesn't. As they try to guess what she will be, they each choose their own career as the one that she'd "like to be." Wonderfully, she has seen the strengths in all the jobs they have and has incorporated the best parts into her decided career as an astronaut. She incorporates pieces of her families careers that represent the best to her into her costume. Finally, I love that there is extra information at the end of the book about female astronauts and what great things they have done.

[sincerely · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's fine. I expected more tbh, but that's okay. We loved the bios about the real astronauts at the back. But the way the story is laid out is a bit hard to follow. And I am REALLY not a fan of secrets in kids books. Don't we know better by now? The story could have been the same without that word, could gave used "surprise" instead. It always shocks me to see children's books using the word secret as this is 101 for protecting kids against sexual abuse and inappropriate situations. I also thought it was odd that her family had no idea what she would choose for career day. BUT I lovedddd the generational support and the amazing relationship with her grandparents.

[Serina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Girl blends her family's desires into what she really wants for her future. Accessible for the 1 and 2nd graders with an actual plot. In comparison to 'Mae Among the S'tars, I much preferred this ones storytelling (although the other had prettier pictures) This one had more of a watercolor, soft style with pictures, but the expressions on everyone's face was realistic and beautiful. And I loved the family supporting her choices vs. Mae where the teacher is discouraging. Overall I really enjoyed the story.

[Westminster Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annie has a variety of interests but harbors hopes and dreams of going someplace only 12 people in history have visited. Her family is very supportive and who knows, someday she may well realize her dream and follow in the footsteps of Sally Ride, Mae Jemison and Ellen Ochoa.

Find Astronaut Annie at the Westminster Public Library!

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annie is excited to tell her family about career day at her school. Each students gets to dress up in a costume that reflects their choice of career and parents can come to watch. Grandpa, Grandma, Mom and Dad all try to get Annie to tell them what career she has chosen, but she is adamant that it remains a secret. Though she does give each one of them a hint.

Includes information in the back about famous women astronauts, the moon and includes a solid bibliography of sources that will help students pursue additional information.