Buckingham, Will. Lucy and the Rocket Dog. Illustrated by Monica Arnaldo. Alfred A. Knopf/Random House Children’s Books, 2017. $16.99. ISBN 9780399554322. 154 Pages. Ages 8-12. P7 Q7
Lucy loved space so much that she built a rocket ship called Prototype I. She knew it would not fly. One day, her dog Laika entered the rocket ship and pushed some buttons. This starts the adventure of Laika heading to space and Lucy continuing her life on earth without her dog. Will Lucy find Laika? You will need to read the book to find out. In 1957 when people were first building rockets to be sent into space, a dog named Laika, which means “barker” was sent into space in a rocket named Sputnik II, but never returned. This inspired the author to write a story about Laika. Children will learn about relativity, worm holes and other space related things. The book is told from Lucy and Laika’s alternating perspectives.
Verdict: This space related book is a nice addition to an elementary school library, public library or individual library. Children will enjoy the adventure and wonder if Laika and Lucy will reunite.
December 2017 review by Tami Harris
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