PreS-Gr 1—Cantankerous Astro is an asteroid who shuns interaction, preferring to be alone in his own personal space and time. When a passing satellite collides with him, Astro responds with disbelief and mild oaths. "Good gravity! You've struck me!…. Pluto's revenge! That rotating rogue seems to have knocked me off orbit!" Soon he's hurtling past Mars. Meanwhile, a stargazing Earth girl named Nova catches sight of Astro. Narrowly avoiding an astronaut, Astro zooms past the moon, Earth-bound. Admitting he doesn't like confrontation, he crashes with a huge SMASH! He brushes himself off, admits all was fun (even ticklish), and walks off hand-in-hand with Nova. Astro's journey is lighthearted, bordering on silly. Adults will find the cartoon illustrations humorous. Astro sports a "No Loitering" sign, for example. His arms can be confused with a smiling mouth, at first glance. Most of the text is set on a black night-sky background. Appended fact pages explain things like where asteroids are located, what an orbit is, and if there really is a flag on the moon. Children will be drawn to the absurd story and the boldly colored, zany pictures. VERDICT Good fun for the youngest space enthusiasts, but not to be taken seriously.—Anne Chapman Callaghan, Racine Public Library, WI