Where's the Astronaut?

Where's The...

by Ingela P. Arrhenius (Illustrator)

Celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the moon landing with little ones by lifting the felt flaps to discover four hidden space-themed friends. Then find the mirror under the final flap! Parents love these books because they are simple yet robust, and little readers adore them because they're fun and easy to play with.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Space

10 pages, Board Book

Published May 14, 2019

About the author

Swedish Ingela Peterson Arrhenius was born in 1967.

Art and design has always played a big part of Ingela’s life and before her career as an illustrator took off Ingela worked as an art director in Stockholm.

Ingela then moved on to study advertising and graphic design at an art school in Stockholm,
In 1992 Ingela set up her own business as a freelance illustrator working on an international level cross advertising, design, publishing and editorial work.

She’s been commissioned for creating print patterns for fabrics, wallpaper, stationary aswell as packaging, product design, home accessories and toys.

Ingela’s posters and designer toys are spread all around the world. She’s passionate about retro style in general which is clearly reflected in her work as well as her joy for typography and colour.

She lives in Stockholm with husband and two boys.

You can follow her daily business at her Instagram: ingelaparrhenius

Reviews

[Judith Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bought this today for my great nephew, whose first Christmas this will be. ❤️🎄

[Tijs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Toegegeven, de Waar Ben Je-serie van Ingela Arrhenius krijgt niet onterecht het verwijt soms in herhaling te vallen. Maar er is een reden dat iconen als Italiaanse pasta of Chinees vuurwerk zo'n lange geschiedenis hebben: waarom zou je perfectie veranderen? Dat weerhoudt de auteur, tevens illustrator, er niet van met ieder nieuw werk in deze fameuze reeks nieuwe accenten te leggen die iedere pagina tot verrassing maken.


Voor wie het plot van deze boeken niet kent: heel platgeslagen volgen we het narratief van een niet nader genoemde verteller die een ontdekkingstocht langs verschillende voorwerpen maakt. Die ontdekkingstocht is niet louter een illustratieve en symbolische, maar ook een letterlijke. De voorwerpen zijn ook fysiek verborgen achter vilten flapjes van allerhande pluimage. Kleuren en vormen wisselen elkaar daarbij in duizelingwekkend tempo af, wat de eentonigheid van de serie prima verbloemt. Want ja, als je een van deze boeken hebt gelezen, kun je redeneren dat je de rest kent. Vervang een vrachtwagen door een kip, en je hebt ongeveer hetzelfde verhaal door de serie heen.


Maar juist door die verschuiving van thematiek speelt Arrhenius slim met de verwachting. Zo ook in Astronaut, Waar Ben Je. Je weet dat er achter de groene flap iets ruimtevaarderigs schuilgaat, maar verdomd als je niet verrast bent door de plotselinge verschijning van de ruimtehond! En toch is er weer de schok als daar plots het titelpersonage van de astronaut verschijnt. 


Dit eerste uitstapje van Arrhenius riching science-fiction is daarmee weer een veilige keuze, maar een die meer dan slaagt.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

First sentence: Where's the engineer? Here she is! Where's the space dog? Here it is! Where's the alien? Here it is!

Premise/plot: This board book is an interactive book to share with little ones. There are felt flaps AND a mirror.

My thoughts: I've enjoyed many books in this series: Where's Mr. Duck? Where's The Giraffe? Where's The Ladybug? Where's The Hen? Where's The Owl? The books are super-predictable but also super-fun to share with little ones. Little ones belong on a lap. Story time is the best.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This lift-the-flap board book allows the youngest readers to interact with the book by lifting a soft felt shape as they join the celebration for the fiftieth anniversary of the moon landing. Beneath the shapes, the child finds an engineer, a space dog, an alien, and an astronaut. The final page asks, “Where are you?” and lifting the moon flap reveals a mirrored surface to reflect the child’s image.

Highly recommended.

[AME22 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Baby A loved the last page!

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where's the Astronaut? by Ingela P. Arrhenius. BOARD BOOK. Nosy Crow (Candlewick), 2019. $9. 9781536207521


BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

This is a super simple board book for the very youngest readers (Ages 0-3) that features people and characters related to space travel--engineers, astronauts, aliens. Each page asks the reader, "Where is...?" and the missing person/character can be found behind a simple lift-the-flap felt piece.

This is the perfect book for babies and toddlers. They will love pulling down the flap to find the astronaut or alien or whatnot, and the illustrations are cheerful and fun. I appreciated that the engineer in question is a woman, though the astronaut is still a man. I do think this is the sort of book that would get trashed very quickly in a library setting as the felt flaps do not hold up super well (needing to be placed back just-so before turning the next page) so it might be better suited as a gift for individual readers.

Reviewer: TC
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...

[briz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is this the same structure as Where's the Giraffe? YES IT IS.
Where's the difference? HERE IT IS.
Is this more socially woke and career-oriented, sacrificing an interest in animals simply living their lives in favor of various individuals pursuing the very edges of human scientific exploration? YES IT IS.
Is this maybe more stressful to young minds and counterproductive to cultivating meditative calm in the Age of Anxiety? YES IT IS.
Do I recommend it anyway? THERE YOU ARE!

[Amy Hesterman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nosy Crow books are a toddler’s delight! This book has especially great memories for me as a Grandma because our first grandson absolutely adored reading it with me when he was approaching his first birthday. As he now approaches his second birthday, he has “graduated” to more complex text. But his favorite thing to do after reading this book was to kiss himself in the mirror on the very last page. 😂

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

A trippy compilation of technicolored imagery that adds fuel to the #stormarea51 fire✨
✨

But seriously… Where’s the Astronaut (don’t mind the library labels!) is a sweet celebration of the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. Tear-proof felt flaps reveal space-themed friends and a fun mirror surprise. I mean, who wouldn’t want to be the babe in the moon? .

[Great Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this lift the flap book with felt, babies can work on positional words while looking for different things in space. A cute mirror is included at the end for interactions.

Reviewer: 7

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect book for informing young ones about space and things related. Nice for young hands with soft felt lift the flaps.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love that this uses felt instead of paper which tears so easily. The illustrations are bright, bold and graphic and so fun.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the felt flaps because I could guide Daphne’s hand to move them. Can’t do that with stiff flaps because you need nails to get underneath. Cute illustrations.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

For: space lovers; readers looking for a sweet lift-the-flap book.

Possible red flags: flaps would be stretched/warped easily; some may find it too simple.

[Anna]

Too cute! Textures and activities and peek-A-boo all in one.

[Aarvik · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful book for toddlers.

[Joel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good use of felt flaps instead of paper ones. Easier for baby to grab. Wish it was a little longer or more detailed

[Maggie Kline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly… this book does magic. Where do they even go?

[Théo Lore · Rating 4 out of 5]

J'ai aimé la Fin🤣

[Castor · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book features 4 space-related characters. The inclusion of the space dog may trigger some sensitive conversations about the fate of Laika… One may need to consider whether it is appropriate to share the sad story of her one-way trip into the space with a child at a young age. The flaps are well-designed to fit the context, e.g. they are planet- and rocket-shaped. There is a mirror on the last page adding extra surprise for the little reader. However, having titles such as ""Mr."" and ""Mrs."" is too stereotypical and unnecessary.

[Feline · Rating 4 out of 5]

1,5 jaar: een flapjesboek! En doordat de flapjes van vilt zijn en goed vast zitten, heb ik deze nog niet weten te slopen. Pappa vindt het heel leuk dat ik nu ook een boek over ruimtevaart heb, al moppert hij wel dat honden in de regel een stuk kleiner zijn dan gasplaneten.

[Mary Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic book for an infant - especially for tummy time. We play the "where's Mama/Papa/etc" game with our young son, so this book is a fantastic extension of that. The book also contains a few sensory items which is fun for bub too.

[Miss Pippi the Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felt lift-the-flap book set in space.
Look for an engineer, a space dog, an alien, and an astronaut.

2020 Storytime Theme: Space
2021 storytime theme: Babies - May the Fourth / Space

Reviewed from a library copy.

[Mesembryanthemum · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cute book! The felt flaps are a brilliant idea. My great-nephew adores it, especially the shiny foil "mirror" at the end. He's 10 months old, and the sturdy pages and felt flaps are holding up extremely well (though he's only had it for 2 weeks). This book is a winner.

[Paul Graham Terpstra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cool book! Who’s is space? Let’s go and see