AstroNuts Mission One

Starred review from July 8, 2019
Scieszka (the Frank Einstein series) and Weinberg (Fred & The Lumberjack) begin a new middle grade series with this tale of ecological stewardship and teamwork centered on the search for a Goldilocks planet: neither too hot nor too cold, and able to sustain human life. As Earth narrates, the dapper AstroWolf leads a team to the Plant Planet. The mission’s engineered, untested animal astronauts include four hybrids: AstroWolf, ultra-organized SmartHawk, nurturing (and electromagnetic) LaserShark, and odiferous StinkBug, all members of NNASA (Not the National Aeronautics and Space Administration). After taking off from their Mt. Rushmore headquarters in a Thomas Jefferson Nose Rocket and making a crash-landing, the team quickly finds that while the lush, lovely Plant Planet is filled with food and the underpinnings of shelter, it seems to be missing a vital component. Alongside trademark Scieszka humor and vivid digital collage by Weinberg, which features engravings from the collection of Amsterdam’s Rijkmuseum, the vital environmental message and the vibrantly imagined, quirky characters will garner hefty enthusiasm for future installments. Ages 8–12. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House.

Starred review from July 15, 2019
Science and silliness intersect when four animal friends research a planet. The Not the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (also known as NNASA) has sent its four superpowered AstroNuts--bubblegum-pink fearless leader AlphaWolf, sunny tangerine SmartHawk, cool blue LaserShark, and lively lime-green StinkBug--into outer space to explore faraway planets. In their top-secret ship, which doubles as Thomas Jefferson's nose on Mount Rushmore, they snot-rocket their way 39 light-years to the Plant Planet. Brimming with verdant vegetation, it looks like an ideal place to relocate Earth's population due to climate change. But upon further investigation, they discover that the sentient, vegetal inhabitants have their own nefarious plans for the AstroNuts. Narrated by Earth, the tale treats middle-grade readers to a hearty dose of science facts that blend seamlessly with a hilarious narrative propelled by booger and fart jokes, making this a fun read-alike for fans of Aaron Blabey's Bad Guys series. Climate change is presented accessibly, as is information about plant cell structure and basic chemistry, making this a must-have for those looking to boost STEM-related titles. The graphic-hybrid design is lively, blending varied typefaces and vivid colors alongside collage illustrations that incorporate images from the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. A winning mix of fun and fact--readers will be eager for the next mission. (Graphic/science fiction hybrid. 7-11)

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September 1, 2019

Gr 2-5-Here is a wacky tale, heavy with glossy pages of vibrant graphics, that will appeal to "Captain Underpants" and "Geronimo Stilton" devotees. Overrun with pollution, Earth's atmosphere reaches uninhabitable levels, forcing NNASA (Not the National Aeronautics and Space Administration) to deploy four mutated animal astronauts (misspelled in transmission as "AstroNuts"). The animals were superpowered with scientific talents to find an ideal planet for relocating humanity. AlphaWolf is the boss, deployed to find intelligent life; SmartHawk is tasked with inspecting the new planets' climates and ecosystems; LaserShark must search for delicious food; and StinkBug seeks shelter. Readers will cheer for these (mostly) heroic and aptly named nuts as they haphazardly explore a seemingly perfect plant planet. VERDICT This first in a new sci-fi series checks key boxes: it is funny, full of nonstop action, and jammed with plenty of science factoids.-Tara Kehoe, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, NC

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2019
Grades 3-6 Scieszka joins creative forces with Weinberg to craft a zany new sf series with serious underpinnings. This first adventure is narrated by the planet Earth, who is quickly becoming uninhabitable for humans due to global warming (thanks to humans). The time has come to find a new home for this pesky species, so four genetically modified AstroNuts are blasted into space to inspect the Plant Planet. Illustration- and stat-filled spreads introduce the team. AlphaWolf is the mission leader, SmartHawk is a planning whiz, super-friendly LaserShark is in charge of (vegetarian) snacks, and StinkBug is the mission pilot and tech officer. As the AstroNuts explore the lush planet, it quickly evolves from promising to hostile. This book is packed with absurdity, misadventure, and science, and it unabashedly demonstrates how environments destabilize when dominated by a single species. Weinberg's collage illustrations are particularly noteworthy for their use of digitized engravings from the Rijksmuseum, incorporating a mini-lesson on Creative Commons. Scieszka's knack for writing with wit and kid appeal guarantees that this will be a popular choice.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)