A retired astronaut explains what life is like aboard the International Space Station. Plainly based on memories of his own 5-month space-station mission in 2007, Anderson s (fictive) letters to family and students not only make reference to scientific work and day-to-day routines, but positively fizz with the sense of being on a great adventure: I fly to the bathroom and I even fly when I m going to the bathroom. So cool! and I was like one of those guys who fix wires on utility poles. But in SPACE! Batori captures the exhilaration with cartoon scenes featuring a diverse crew of pop-eyed humans (plus one green extraterrestrial) in various orientations, joined by various imagined animals (It would be neat to have a dog or a cat, but what a mess with no gravity!), floating foodstuffs, and, following an eventual return to Earth, a cheering crowd at a Welcome Home party. The author closes with a more-detailed recap, so young readers with serious questions relating to the physiology of space adaptation syndrome are just as well served as those who are keenly interested in how long astronauts have to wear their underwear. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9-by-22-inch double-page spreads viewed at 83% of actual size.) A tantalizing taste of the (literally) high life. --Kirkus Reviews

School Library Journal STARRED REVIEW With a final page of facts about NASA, astronauts, and living in space, this must-purchase entertains with a combination of zany art, humor, and solid facts for fascinated young readers craving space travel even the armchair kind. -- School Library Journal

We learned, we laughed, we were entertained, and informed. The pictures add to the silliness and perfectly compliment the story. -- Engineering Emily

I just loved the whimsical pictures and the letters home from astronaut Clayton Anderson. He details life on the space station and lets you in on a few space secrets kids will love (e.g. Just how long can you wear underwear in space?). This would also appeal to older readers, especially the PS section where more in depth details of space life are given.

--Always in the Middle blog

Anderson's enthusiasm is infectious, and is sure to lead some readers to consider a career in space. ---- A Kids Book A Day

Astronaut Clayton Anderson spent 152 days in space aboard the International Space Station--and while he didn't mail dozens of letters back to Earth (they would have burned up on reentry!), imagine if he did! These letters from space are full of weird science, wild facts, and outrageous true stories from life in space, complete with hysterical illustrations from Susan Batori. Backmatter includes even more interesting information on space, astronauts, and living among the stars.