AstroNuts Mission Two: The Water Planet
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that AstroNuts Mission Two: The Water Planet is the second installment in Jon Scieszka and Steven Weinberg's zany graphic-novel series that sends our well-meaning, oddly superpowered heroes AlphaWolf, StinkBug, LaserShark, and SmartHawk in search of a new planet for humans. Because, as cranky narrator Planet Earth reminds us, the current one is not long for this world at the rate we're going. Climate change, global warming, pollution, and other threats loom large in the story, as does assorted slapstick violence like one group of clams planning to steam another, bad guys planning to amputate a character's paw to get his pawprint without his consent, and villains wiped out by an asteroid. Much gross-out humor involving slimy substances and poop. Lots of comic treatment of cultural/historical icons. For example, the AstroNuts' spacecraft is actually Thomas Jefferson's nose from Mount Rushmore. Strong message of collaboration, teamwork (however flawed your teammates), and saving the planet.
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What's the Story?
ASTRONUTS MISSION TWO: THE WATER PLANET sends unlikely superheroes AlphaWolf, LaserShark, SmartHawk, and StinkBug off in their spacecraft (aka Thomas Jefferson's nose from Mount Rushmore) on a mission to find a new home for humanity. Because, as narrator Planet Earth keeps pointing out, the current one won't last long at the rate things are going. When they get to their destination, it does seem like it might be their long-sought "Goldilocks" (not too hot, not too cold, just right) planet. And, better yet, the current residents, who are clams, seem really eager to swap it for old, polluted Earth. Perfect, right? AlphaWolf thinks so, but then they've promised him a medal and a monument. As his friends soon discover, things are a bit more complicated than they've been led to believe.
Is It Any Good?
A visit to the planet of the clams unfolds amid wild visuals, slapstick humor, snarky observations from Earth (the narrator), and the best efforts of unlikely superheroes to achieve their mission. And maybe have a little fun with their latest enhancements, like shark fins and duck feet. There's a laugh a minute -- sometimes several -- in AstroNuts Mission Two: The Water Planet, but also a serious message that saving Earth and humanity from the deadly threats of climate change, pollution, and the like is up to all of us.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how AstroNuts Mission Two: The Water Planet uses wacky comedy to deliver a serious message about the perils of climate change, pollution, and other threats to life as we know it on Earth. How do different stories raise awareness of the problems and suggest what we might want to do about them? What other examples do you know?
As the narrator comments, "Have you ever noticed that humans have an amazing ability to think they are most right -- exactly when they are most wrong?" Has this ever happened to you? What was going on, and how did it turn out?
Do you and your friends participate in Earth Day activities or other environmental work? What do you do, and what do you like about it?
Book Details
- Author: Jon Scieszka
- Illustrator: Steven Weinberg
- Genre: Graphic Novel
- Topics: Adventures, History, Science and Nature, Space and Aliens
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Chronicle Books
- Publication date: August 25, 2020
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 8 - 12
- Number of pages: 228
- Available on: Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: July 26, 2021
Our Editors Recommend
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AstroNuts Mission One: The Plant Planet
Animal superheroes battle creepy plants in zany sci-fi tale.
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Greta's Story: The Schoolgirl Who Went on Strike to Save the Planet
Accessible intro to Swedish teen climate activist's work.
-
A Perfect Planet
Another Attenborough epic on Earth's majesty and fragility.
For kids who love graphic novels and learning about climate change
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