Zoom, Rocket, Zoom!

PreS-K—The creators of Dig Dig Digging (Holt, 2002) and Stomp, Dinosaur, Stomp! (Walker, 2010) have collaborated anew to introduce outer-space exploration in their signature fashion. The brief, lyrical text is bursting with action verbs paired with bold, colorful cut-paper collage illustrations full of movement and energy. The active functions of numerous exploratory spacecraft are described in lively terms: "Moon buggies are good at roll, roll, rolling,/round wheels turning, soft dust gripping,/across the humpy, lumpy moon…bumpety-bumping./Exploring up in space." Key nouns and verbs pop off the page in large fonts, and the text functions as its own visual element in relation to the illustrations. The diverse and cheerful astronauts walk on the moon, populate the space station, and guide the rockets and space shuttle (although the latter has recently been grounded by NASA). The final spread, with its nocturnal view of the bustling heavens, will no doubt inspire young pajama-clad listeners to peer out their bedroom window into the heavens with wonder and excitement.—Kathleen Finn, St. Francis Xavier School, Winooski, VT