BLAST OFF!

Schoolmarms in space? Well, not exactly.

However, there is a one-room school. The Baxters, who present as Black and Latine, are a family of space travelers on the international space station OASIS. Mami and Papa’s work takes them to space, and this year, the station has opened up a school, so Abby and her little brother, Nico, can join their parents in space. The kids are ready for their first day at the OASIS One Pod Schoolhouse. With only 13 students aboard the space station, you might think school would be easy. Not exactly. Third grader Abby makes a new friend, Gracie Chen, who presents as Asian, but clashes with bossy fourth grader Dmitry (depicted as light-skinned in illustrations). The three of them set off on a quest when Abby discovers she has accidently swapped tablets with Mami. And on the day of her mother’s big experiment, too! By grounding the children in a setting that’s simultaneously familiar—the first day of school—and strange (in space), Loney offers an appealing take on the back-to-school story. Characterization is effective, such as Papa and his painfully bad puns (“Why did the little astronaut get in trouble at school?” “Because she kept spacing out!”). Accessible writing brimming with funny lines (“His socks smelled like sweat and peppermint. Who gets toothpaste on their toes?”) will hold readers’ attention. Takashi’s gray-toned illustrations depict a diverse group of students.

Classroom libraries be warned: This one could wind up floating off your shelves.