CHARACTER COUNTS: Life on Mars

Life on Mars
By Jon Agee
Dial Books for Young Readers, 2017. Picture Book.

An astronaut traveled from Earth to Mars to see if there was any life there. The astronaut has brought a box of chocolate cupcakes as a gift—but the astronaut doesn’t find anyone to give them to. Astute readers will chuckle at the astronaut’s lack of perception (for there is life on Mars…and it is following the astronaut around). Basically this is a book about a kind astronaut who just doesn’t see the shy Martian that is following him (or her—you can’t really tell and the book never says) around. Seriously, kids will love how blind the astronaut is. And then they will enjoy the kind gift of chocolate cupcakes and the way the Martian helps the astronaut find her (or his—seriously can’t tell what gender this astronaut is) spaceship. Well done, Agee. I am anticipating the chuckles already!

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