Oh No, Astro!

by Matt Roeser, Brad Woodard (Illustrations)

Asteroids! Planets! Astronauts!
In this charming debut picture book, a grumpy asteroid named Astro is thrown out of orbit and takes an unexpected journey through space!

Astro is a cranky asteroid who just wants everyone to respect his personal boundaries. But when a satellite knocks Astro out of orbit, he is forced to embark on an epic adventure through space…whether he wants to or not!

Filled with playful illustrations and tons of cool facts about space, this picture book is a must-have for all the future astronauts who are ready to journey through the galaxy.

Genres: Picture Books, Space, Childrens, Science, Storytime, Humor, Stem

40 pages, Hardcover

First published April 19, 2016

Reviews

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Asteroid wants personal space but is forced to make friends by an intrusive satellite. Also you learn a bit about the movement of planetary bodies.

[Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The text is fictional and humorous but the end information providers readers with facts about asteroids.

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

And, by the skin of my teeth, I MAKE IT TO MY 2017 READING GOAL!!! It's probably because I basically took 2 months off reading when my job was really hard and also I discovered podcasts and it got really cold and I slept a lot. But I still did it, even if the last couple (ok, a dozen) were picture books. Next year I'll be better, but dang, it feels great!

And what a good one to end on. I must read everything else by this author and illustrator. This book is funny as heck (did you know some asteroids just need their personal bubble unviolated?), it's about a little girl who's an astronomer, and it has a nail-bitingly tense climax when the asteroid starts turning into a meteor. Read to find out the shocking ending!

Bye, 2017! And hello, 2018!

[Lee]

Adorable space book. ;-;

[Ada · Rating 5 out of 5]

So cute!! I'm going to have to incorporate "Good gravity!" into my lexicon of exclamations.

[Set · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Astro likes his "Space" but learns to share the room with other bodily planets. Very cute allegory.

[Marfita · Rating 2 out of 5]

Astro the asteroid has a too-close encounter with a satellite and is sent careening out of his orbit and eventually into the Earth's atmosphere.
Not sure how I feel about this book. It provides a great opportunity to discuss asteroids and other elements of the solar system (which are explained at the end of the book with amusing comments) with kids in a non-threatening way (despite the look of surprise/terror on Nova the earth girl watching his progress with a telescope). I don't have a problem per se with anthropomorphizing celestial bodies (after all, we give them names), I just tend to look at them differently. I worry about Astro's stand-offishness from his bumptious neighbors. Is the author going somewhere with that? What will a child take away from this desire for unviolated personal space?
And when he heats up in the Earth's atmosphere and starts to break apart ... "It tickles!"? I cringed for him. But, in the end he decided it was all fun and he and Nova walk off together into the ... moonset.
The illustrations are bright and simple. I'm tempted to use it for storytime, once I get over my unease and if I can find some more space stories (but not the one about Laika) and a fun craft. It would nudge me out of my typical orbit of holiday and animal stories and that's all for the good.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure: my friend Matt wrote this book.

That said, it is everything you could possibly want in a picture book about a cranky asteroid who gets knocked out of orbit! The illustrations have a delightfully retro style and Astro's expressions and tiny flailing arms, combined with exclamations like "Pluto's revenge!" make for a hilarious read.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE cutest astronomy book ever! I read it to my son at the library, and liked it so much I purchased it. There's a dictionary of sorts at the back describing what certain terms used throughout the book mean. Humorous and educational.

[Nancy Kotkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story is slight. Love the author's sense of humor. Also really appreciate the science facts in the back of the book.

[Shaina Cade · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sassy, expressive asteroid, with plenty of LOL curses to entertain (“Good gravity!” “Pluto’s revenge!”). This is the second space themed personified planets picture book I’ve read and loved (usually I’m creeped by sentient inanimate objects), so maybe going with Stardust vibes is how you get to readers like me. Besides being full of cute moments in the story, the book ends with “A Selection of Space Facts” which is just full of silly jokes. Now that’s the way to my heart. (“Asteroids have a fairly typical circular path, but orbits, like certain aunts, can also be highly eccentric.”)

[Molly Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story about an asteroid named Astro. He is minding his own business in outer space when he is knocked out of his orbit. He starts hurdling towards the earth.

I found this book to be very amusing. The asteroid has a sarcastic sense about him, which I found enjoyable. This is a book that provides fun facts while also providing a good laugh.

I think this would be great to use in a second grade classroom. This would be good to use during a space unit, along with a nonfiction book about asteroids.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Astro is perfectly happy minding his business and keeping to himself in the asteroid belt when a satellite gets too close and throws him out of orbit. Now Astro is out of his element and an adventure he never really wanted. The back of the book has factual information on asteroids.

A clever way to teach kids about asteroids/meteorites by having one narrate his fall to earth. The back matter is educational but also told with a touch of humor. Definitely recommended to kids or classes learning about asteroids, enthusiasts for all things space, and curious readers.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a funny informational fiction book. If you just read the main story, it's a quick read. The backmatter is worth reading though - especially if you have older kids (elementary school) as it is written in an easy-to-understand way with plenty of humor.

Astro the asteroid gets knocked off his orbit, speeds through space, and ends on earth!

The story will appeal to space lovers and can be used when teaching about space and our solar system.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Astro is an asteroid in the asteroid belt way out in space. One day a man-made satellite collides with him and sends him off his usual course. He zooms closer to Earth and on through the atmosphere, landing in a little girl's backyard, much smaller than when he began.

This is an amusing story that teaches about asteroids at the same time. In the back of the book are very interesting science questions and answers.

Great illustrations.

[B.G. Clyde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Astro, the asteroid just wants his space. An evil satellite charges into Astro’s space and sends him tumbling past Mars, zooming past the moon and smashing into Earth and the backyard of budding astronomer. An exciting book that introduces children to the thrills of space. Fun facts are included about asteroids, meteors, Mars, and the Moon. The exciting pictures make the cold, rocky Astro absolutely loveable.

[Laken Slate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a masterclass on informational fiction. At 31, I learned new things about asteroids, while cracking up at the Sheldon-like main character. The back matter continues the comedy, as the MC leads readers through the facts found in one of his own favorite books. My favorite line: As Astro flies through space, it's clear he's going to crash. He yells, in terror, " I don't like confrontation!"

The pictures are fantastic, and I just can't say enough about this little book.

[JaNeal · Rating 5 out of 5]

The back-matter was so good, I also shelved this on my non-fiction shelf. I was skeptical when I pulled this off the shelf (it's hard to find great fiction about inanimate objects), but Roeser pulled it off. I think teachers who are doing space units would love this book. It was playful, fun, and simply well done!

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a humorous picture book about an asteroid who falls out of orbit. This would be a great pick for teaching onomatopoeia and some great vocabulary such as; celestial, satellite, loitering, gravity, orbit, distraught, humiliating, and confrontation. I really like the space facts in the very back. This wold be a great picture book to include in a science unit.

[Eleanor W · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting...
I have not read a book about an asteroid before. Lots of bear books....why so many bear books!?

This asteroid wants his own space and no one bothering him...but by the end of the book I think he has a change of heart.

if you have a child that loves space this would be a fun read.

[Stacy Renee (LazyDayLit) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Astro might be an asteroid hanging out in the Asteroid Belt, but he just wants his space! Then a satellite knocks him off course and he goes spinning through space, straight towards Earth!

This is a really fun look at asteroids and what happens when they enter Earth's atmosphere.
Fantastic illustrations!

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got someone who likes to do what they've always done? Astro understands them. Astro stays in Astro's orbit. Until......

Fun plot, concise explanations, and art that has a midcentury modern feel mixed with whimsy.

Some subtle humor is thrown in to A Selection of Space Facts at the end. Don't miss it. Pluto wouldn't like it.

[Pamela Strickland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe this doesn't have more 5-star reviews! I picked this up at our local library for our 5-year-old grandson. I decided to check it out before introducing it to him, and was absolutely delighted! So clever! I immediately went online to see what else this author has on offer and am so disappointed not to find any other titles. More please!

[Eme87 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read aloud!

Astro likes his personal space, but he has to deal with meeting new people when he gets bumped into by a satellite. The fun pictures and silly story will leave kids laughing and wanting to read more about asteroids!

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very proper asteroid loves his personal space. When a nosy satellite bumps him off course, he hurtles through space not knowing where he will end up. Pluto's revenge! Might he be on an adventure that he might actually like?

Good for preschool and older kid storytimes.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot better before I got to the Q&A at the end. To be fair, I am probably not the intended audience of this book, and, when I was seven, I probably would have thought that was hilarious.

[Trisha Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a funny story about an asteroid who wanted his personal "outer space" he then crashed in to earth, and there is an unexpected outcome. I like how the story followed a traditional narrative with a beginning middle and end. It's a great and engaging Storytime pick for older kids.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story of an unfriendly asteroid who has an encounter with a satellite and sets off on an unexpected adventure that results in a new friend. The illustrations in this book are very fun and engaging for children. My kids enjoyed the book.

[Thomas Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book teaching kids about asteroids. It does a wonderful job teaching things to kids of all ages, and it even has some more detailed scientific things about asteroids in the back for the older kids and adults. Super fun!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book certainly does not dispel the common confusion between asteroids and meteors, it is a nice book for introducing these concepts. The ending is a little strange, but the whole thing went over just fine in preschool storytime.