Review by Booklist Review
Attempting to save humanity by discovering extraterrestrials, intrepid space explorer Aiko lands her ship on a planet ruled by the descendants of canine astronauts. Afraid she'll reveal their happy, hidden world back to those on Earth, the dogs decide to hold her captive, keeping her tethered to a doghouse complete with a water bowl and dog toys. On one of her daily leash-bound walks, the plucky, purple-pigtailed girl saves their leader from becoming a snack for a huge and menacingly be-fanged catfish; after a huge feast (serving up the unfortunate fish, now roasted on a spit), the grateful dogs fix up her spaceship and send her home. Ellegaard's inventive, naive drawing style has an edgy, sophisticated vibe, evoking this fantastic world with undulating foliage packed with swirling patterns and a palette pulsating with pinks, purples, and reds. With a pseudo-serious tongue-in-cheek intensity, Vázquez's translation conveys the drama and upside-down humor of this space-based fable, underscoring debut picture-book author Cayuso's message that a girl can be a dog's best friend.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Aiko, portrayed with pale skin and wide round eyes, is a brave, ambitious astronaut upon whom "the whole of humanity is counting." On a mission to find extraterrestrial life, she lands on a planet run entirely by talking dogs, where she busts her equipment taking a selfie. Toutou, the dogs' poodle leader, explains that the inhabitants, "descendants of the valiant astro-dogs sent into space by humans," are determined to live far from humankind so they can never again be exploited. Mixed-media illustrations by Ellegaard capture the dogs' existence in watercolor textures that offer up a trippy vibe. When Aiko informs the canines that she intends to use news of her discovery to become famous on Earth, "the warm welcome turns icy," and she goes from honored guest to leashed prisoner. But the plot turns once again when Aiko saves Toutou, and a deal is struck: the dogs will repair Aiko's ship, and she'll keep quiet about their planet. Lengthy text by Cayuso melds the dreamy with the matter-of-fact, as someone recounting a dream, making for an offbeat title that's doggone beguiling, too. Ages 4--8. (Oct.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Space exploration gets wacky with an unexpected discovery. Young astronaut Aiko lives by herself aboard Spaceship B-Troot; she travels the universe searching for life. When Aiko spots a new planet, she comes in for a landing. It's a bumpy ride, but she makes it. She transfers to an octopuslike "exploratory capsule" to safely scope things out. At first, Aiko doesn't see anything. But when she finds the perfect spot for a selfie and poses to take it, she accidentally falls from a cliff, and the capsule breaks. Alone, Aiko wanders until she gets lost, then falls asleep. The next day, she awakens, surrounded by a bevy of talking pooches--descendants of the "valiant astro-dogs sent into space by humans." Aiko wants to rush back to Earth to share her discovery. The dogs, still understandably wary of humans, imprison Aiko. But when she proves that she's trustworthy, they agree to let her go--and Aiko promises not to tell anyone about the planet of dogs. But, as the narrator asks, can readers keep the secret? This French import is a fun spin on what might have happened to real-life space dogs. Buoyed by whimsy and a distinct candy-color palette, Ellegaard's cartoon illustrations mix full-page spreads and comiclike panels. Aiko, who has pale skin, is delightfully childlike in both appearance and action. An imaginative treat for dogs and humans alike.(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
