Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me access to this ahead of publication.
Absolutely loved this little space trip. Very fun to read and I know students will enjoy it too. I especially loved Avni's realisation that having a "co-pilot" is much better than having an "assistant". Shoing good cooperation and the formings of a friendship based on equality, and how everyone has their own dreams to bring to the game!

That was super cute. I love that our main character found out what she wanted and what she didn't want. She also understood she needed a coploit and not an assistant. She always found out she wanted to explore new worlds.

This is a great book for kids who want to go to space or learn. It will also help them with decision-making. It will also help with them wanting to explore and expand their imaginations.

I read this book to my son, and he loved it so much. I would definitely want to buy a copy when it comes out.

We follow a little girl who loves to pretend and who LOVES outer space! She’s all alone and wishes she has an assistant to “explore” in her spaceship. I think the intended message is good - it’s supposed to be about making friends and the give and take of that friendship…but it doesn’t quite get there for a kid. A parent would have to explain it. There are selfish moments, but no apology or recognition really, I would have liked the focus on that to be much more clear. The artwork is fantastic however. With some tweaks to focus more on the message, I think this could be a really good book. As it is now, it lacks cohesion in the message and falls a little flat.

I chose this title to review with my 9 year old daughter. She loves space, can't decide if she wants to do "pure science" or be an astronaut, or maybe a chef or a teacher or .......... *grin* Regardless, we enjoy reading together and she knows I review books. So, you get a two-for-one deal today!

Up first, her review. I asked her to tell me 3 things she really liked about the book.

1. The drawings. There was so much to look at! I liked the cat and the dog, and I liked how they showed the imagination pictures.

2. The adventure Avni and Aya went on, and how you could see there would be more adventures.

3. Avni made a friend with an imagination as big as hers!

Now, the mama/librarian/reading teacher review.

What a fun read! The story was cute and the illustrations made the book just perfect. I loved the mission log, the different possible assistants--and why they didn't work out! I absolutely ADORED that my daughter saw herself in the story (we've had a cardboard rocket ship or two in the living room!).

I love the contrasting colors between Avni's imaginary scenes and Aya's, layered over the "real life" images. Even my 9 year old picked up quickly who was "seeing" which drawing.

I'm all about sneaking in important lessons, like the blurb says--teamwork, perseverance, adaptability. Just what imaginative play should look like for kids that age.

Even though I'm in a high school library, I'll be adding this to my collection. I can see it being used in an art class as you talk about perception in art. And I know it would be a delight in our future teacher program.

Overall, we both loved it and we cannot wait to get our hands on a print copy when it's released.

Avni not only loves being an astronaut, she has the imagination for it. She will lead your inquisitive child on a adventure thru space. What is the day in the life of an astronaut? With Anvi Astronaut's log, her mission needs to be completed. She soon finds out she needs an assistant. Will she find one that is dedicated as her?

For the space loving child in your life.

A special thank you to Kid's Can Press and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

Such a creative story! It gives a great example of how you could be "somewhere else" when you haven't left your home. Wonderful use of imagination, especially for kids who might not have a sense of imagination themselves.

The Only Astronaut is a wonderful book about always persevering, even when things are tough. Avni learns that working alone is okay, but what brings real joy is exploring, playing, and being with others. It sends a great message to children of all ages that teamwork makes the dream work!

Excellent! Good story and an important message as well that will allow you to talk with your children after reading the story!

A really cute book about friendship. Will be perfect to read with my space loving kiddo. The illustrations are lovely and I really liked the message.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.
This book is a sweet story of adventures in space and learning to share. The illustrations are lovely and it would be a good gift for a little one, whose expecting a sibling. Overall, a nice story.

What a cute book to read😍

What I learn from this shortest book is that this is really an earlier book to tell that "fail..fail..fail better" so its okay to try!!

Avni, a young girl, enjoys the independence of exploring space (her neighborhood) on her own. She can explore where she wants, when she wants. However, when she realizes that she could use some help, she makes her next mission finding an assistant, and learns the value of cooperation and compromise.

This would be a great book for a teacher of early elementary students. The focus is definitely more on friendship and Avni's search for an assistant than on space, so it's should appeal to a wider audience than just aspiring astronauts.